Many African governments face rising census costs and declining data reliability.
During his years as UNFPA Regional Adviser for Demographic Analysis and Research, Dr Richard Dackam Ngatchou developed a framework that allows national statistical offices to conduct accurate, policy-relevant censuses at sustainable cost.
His approach was first tested in Senegal in 2003 and has since influenced census operations across Western and Central Africa.
Key Framework: Three Levers of Cost-Effective Censuses
1. Integrated Census Planning
Link cartography, enumeration, and processing under one operational plan. This prevents duplication and shortens delivery time.
2. Digital Cartography & GIS Mapping
Adopt early GPS mapping to correct enumeration boundaries and reduce fieldwork expenses. First applied in rural Senegal, later in Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
3. Policy-Oriented Data Analysis
Design thematic "census products" (youth, gender, migration) aligned with national development plans. Turning data into policy products attracts domestic funding and donor confidence.
Case Example — Senegal 2003 General Population and Housing Census
Challenge:
Outdated maps, fragmented institutions, and limited analytical capacity risked delays and poor data quality.
Approach:
- Formed a multi-agency task force (National Statistics Office + Ministry of Planning + donor partners)
- Piloted GPS mapping in rural zones
- Trained national experts through regional workshops
- Produced thematic reports tied to poverty-reduction and gender-equality frameworks
Outcome:
Census completed on schedule with unprecedented accuracy; the model was replicated in Burkina Faso (2006) and Cameroon (2005).
"Data reliability improves when technical rigor, national capacity, and policy relevance are addressed simultaneously." — R.D. Ngatchou
Regional Adoption & Long-Term Impact
- Institutionalized through UNFPA Technical Guidelines and the African Census Coordination Mechanism
- Informed UN Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses (Rev. 3)
- Supported domestic-funding advocacy ("data as national capital")
- Countries highlighted: Senegal, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Niger
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why are censuses so expensive in developing countries?
Transport, mapping, and data entry account for over 60% of total cost. Duplicated workflows and donor dependency add further strain.
Q2. How can countries lower costs without losing accuracy?
Early GPS mapping, integrated workflows, limited yet strategic variable selection, and domestic financing all reduce overhead.
Q3. What lessons from Senegal apply today?
Inter-agency collaboration and clear post-census product planning remain the best predictors of timely delivery.
Related Publications
- Strategies for Reducing Census Costs: Regional Experiences of Western and Central Africa (UNFPA 2001)
- Recensement général de la population et de l'habitation : des produits pour répondre aux besoins des programmes de développement (UNFPA Dakar 2004)
- Status of Censuses in Western and Central Africa (UNFPA/PARIS21 Expert Meeting, Pretoria 2001)
Related Insight Pages
About Dr Richard Dackam Ngatchou
PhD (Sorbonne), former UNFPA Representative in Gabon, Congo, and DRC. Over 40 years improving demographic governance through evidence-based policy and national capacity building.
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