Reliable data matter only when they reach the people who make decisions.
Across his tenure as UNFPA Regional Adviser in Demographic Analysis, Dr Richard Dackam Ngatchou led efforts to turn census results into concrete tools for planning, budgeting, and accountability. His 2004 UNFPA guide, Recensement général de la population et de l'habitation : des produits pour répondre aux besoins des programmes de développement, became a reference for transforming statistics into policy assets.
The Problem
Many national statistical offices in Africa completed censuses successfully, yet the data often stayed unused. The main barriers were:
- Results released as static reports with little analytical content
- Weak links between census variables and sectoral programs
- Limited capacity to design accessible, policy-focused outputs
These gaps meant that censuses consumed major budgets but delivered minimal policy impact.
The Framework: From Data to Decision
1. Define Outputs Before Enumeration
Design census questionnaires around the products policymakers will need later — population by age, employment, migration, housing, gender, and youth indicators tied to national plans.
2. Develop Thematic "Census Products"
Instead of one final report, produce multiple short thematic reports — e.g., Youth and Employment, Gender and Migration, Urbanization and Housing Deficit.
3. Disseminate Through Policy Channels
Distribute results via planning ministries, parliament briefings, and media summaries. Translate key findings into actionable recommendations, not just tables.
4. Build National Data Portals
Dr Dackam Ngatchou promoted early digitization and open-access formats to improve transparency and enable researchers, journalists, and ministries to use data directly.
Country Experience — Applying Dissemination Strategy
🇨🇬 Republic of Congo (2005)
- Integrated census results into national poverty-reduction strategy papers (PRSP)
- Thematic briefs on youth and reproductive health guided social-sector budgeting
🇸🇳 Senegal (2003)
- Introduced training for policy writers on interpreting census data
- Generated concise policy notes for ministries — a practice later adopted by Gabon
🇬🇦 Gabon (2007)
- Produced bilingual summary reports for cabinet distribution and donor meetings, strengthening national ownership
Key Publication Excerpts
"Les produits du recensement sont les instruments de dialogue entre statisticiens et décideurs."— R.D. Ngatchou, UNFPA Dakar, 2004
"A census that speaks the language of policymakers creates its own audience and justifies its own cost."
Long-Term Impact
- Institutional adoption of "Census Product Units" within several national statistical offices
- Improved policy uptake by linking data to development indicators (MDGs → SDGs)
- Served as reference for UNFPA regional guidelines on census communication strategies
These practices directly inspired the African Census Coordination Mechanism's push for thematic reporting and digital dashboards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why is data dissemination critical after a census?
Because without targeted outputs, census data sit unused. Dissemination ensures information informs health, education, and infrastructure policies.
Q2. What makes Dr Dackam Ngatchou's framework unique?
It integrates technical design and communication from the start — treating data as a strategic development product, not an afterthought.
Q3. How can small countries adopt it?
Start with one high-priority thematic product (e.g., Youth and Employment) to prove value, then expand gradually.
Related Publications
- Recensement général de la population et de l'habitation : des produits pour répondre aux besoins des programmes de développement (UNFPA Dakar, 2004)
- Strategies of Dissemination of Census Products: Lessons Learnt from Some African Countries (UNFPA Technical Paper, 2005)
- Mobilisation des ressources nationales pour les recensements en Afrique (UNFPA Regional Workshop Paper, 2003)
Related Insight Pages
About Dr Richard Dackam Ngatchou
Demographer and former UNFPA Representative in Gabon, Congo, and the DRC. He has dedicated his career to connecting data, governance, and human development across Africa.
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