However, from the look of things, it appears the country is now set to conduct this important exercise in April 2024.
Census is a fundamental undertaking that provides policymakers with requisite information on how to plan and implement development initiatives. Prior to the census proper, a pilot census is conducted to enable authorities to test the tools and all other related elements required in the census.
On Tuesday, The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBOS) began a pilot census training and data collection for its field workers on data collection.
Accurate data is vital and helps in making decision on which areas or sectors need what and in what quantity.
It is through this exercise that vital information from education and health status, access to drinking water, life expectancy, availability of jobs at the local level, culture and religion, and language to migration patterns are monitored and generated.
The information generated also helps the private sector including businesses on how to plan their activities.
For instance, urban Gambia with its challenges in housing needs; thus, this kind of exercise helps the government to measure the number of additional houses to be built to meet the needs of that particular locality.
At this point we commend the Ministry of Finance, UNFPA and the World Bank for all their support in ensuring that The Gambia conducts a successful population and housing census.
Also, we want to implore communities to be willing to give accurate statistics to these field workers in view of the fact that accurate data is key in any development. They should always remember that these fieldworkers are collecting this data to help the government in its development undertakings.
What is even pleasing about this year’s exercise is that for the first time, the country will be using digital format using -Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI). This is indeed laudable. It might be cost effective but is the perfect way of storing information. In fact the most important aspect is that it brings one’s data within a click of a button. So this would also avoid the old system of dealing with information, which sometimes ends in missing information here and there.
Countries around the globe are moving away from the old system of storing data and The Gambia can’t be left behind in this transformational process.
At this point, we want to commend GBOS and all partners for their foresight in migrating from old format to a new digital system to be in tandem with new innovation.