NAY PYI TAW—International advisers have given a “thumbs up” to the Myanmar Government’s efforts to organize the country’s upcoming census, stating they are “greatly satisfied and comfortable with the level of preparedness” and adherence to global standards in census taking.
The International Technical Advisory Board (ITAB), a group of 15 demographic, statistical and census experts, held two days of consultations with representatives of the Department of Population (DoP) and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, to ensure that the upcoming exercise will comply with international standards.
The census will be conducted between 29 March and 10 April of this year.
“A successful census is a significant challenge that requires strong logistical planning, government leadership and the positive support throughout the country,” ITAB co-chair Dr. Werner Haug, said in a prepared statement for a press conference after the talks.
The statement emphasized the importance of a successful census: “A census is more than counting all the people of Myanmar. It is the backbone of the statistical system. It provides a comprehensive picture of the social living conditions of the people, and is essential for planning the provision of health care, education and employment.” Data collected at regional and local levels will help identify the demand for schools, health care facilities, doctors and teachers, and show where improvements are needed in employment, water supply, sanitation, electricity and roads.
As Myanmar conducts a population and housing census, its first in over 30 years, it will join a “club” of over 200 nations that have done so, representing 90 per cent of the world’s population.
“The world’s eyes are certainly on Myanmar at this time,” the ITAB statement noted. “The international community is very keen to see a successful census in Myanmar and for Myanmar to have the statistical information needed to provide the basis for policy making, government administration and community discussion in this time of reform.”
“During the course of the past year, we have seen significant improvements in technical capabilities of the Department of Population, especially in areas of mapping, data scanning and processing, and recruitment and training,” the statement continued. “The Board appreciates the hard work, openness and dedication of the staff members of DoP which was most impressive ... and we are confident that the appropriate preparations are in place to set the stage for a successful 2014 census.”
The visiting experts discussed a draft plan prepared by the Department of Population detailing how the collected census data will be used in policy planning, academic research and public dialogue. The draft report focuses on the education, health and employment sectors. The Board said it was pleased with the “comprehensive nature of this plan” and emphasized the importance of ensuring that the census data is made widely available and widely utilized.
The Board extensively discussed the issue of ethnicity and plans for coding people’s responses to the question about ethnic identity. It welcomed the provision for all respondents to self-identify as they desire. ITAB confirmed that international standards specify that the census should capture data as reported by each person. The DoP provided assurances that this process would be followed and all responses captured and coded.
ITAB strongly encouraged the Government to publish the data in accordance with the principles of transparency and the application of international standards, and in a timely manner.
Paul Cheung, ITAB co-chair, concluded the press conference by stating, “DoP have done a good job. Now the rest is up to the people of Myanmar.”
For more information, contact:
Malene Arboe-Rasmussen, arboe-rasmussen@unfpa.org, tel. + 95-154-291-019, ext. 148
