The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) has announced its readiness to conduct the 5th National Population and Housing Census.
LISGIS said with the availability of credible and regular modernized data symbolizing the various characteristics of the population and similar to both regional and international development plans, it remains crucial to the Government of Liberia to aid the implementation of programs aimed at stimulating the national developmental agenda.
Speaking at the regular MICAT press briefing Thursday in Monrovia, LISGIS Deputy Director General for Information and Coordination, Mr. Wilmot F. Smith, assured the Government and the public that the institution is competent and prepared to conduct Liberia’s fifth but first digitized National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) this October 24 to November 7, 2022.
According to him, the law permits it and the urgency demands the conduct of the census.
It can be recalled on September 6, 2022, the House of Representatives agreed with the Senate for the 5th NPHC to be held in October this year.
The National Legislature has, by and through a Joint Resolution, designated October 24 to November 7, 2022 as the period for the conduct of the 5th Liberia National Population and Housing Census.
He indicated that the actual Census enumeration require the recruitment, training and mobilization of 16,560 persons nationwide, adding that the LISGIS has received applications from over 29,000 and by the end of September 2022, qualified applicants will be shortlisted and informed how to check their applications.
Smith noted that LISGIS has undertaken several years of prudent planning and implementation of various aspects of the pre-Census activities, emphasizing that LISGIS and its technical partner, the UNFPA, along with all its international development partners are set and ready to conduct the Census Enumeration come October 24 through November 7, 2022.
Though Liberia has been lagging behind in conducting its Census, he said, by national legal stipulated periodicity, Liberia is in conformity with many others under the United Nations guidelines on censuses to conduct the NPHC every ten years.
He further explained that 21,000 tablets and power banks and other materials, including raincoats, life jackets, among others needed for the conduct of the census have been procured.
“LISGIS is prepared and ready to conduct the census and there are substantial financial resources for the exercise,” Smith indicated.
He added that the training for 592 trainers of trainees will be commence on September 26 to October 5, 2022 in six Statistical Regions, adding that training for 17,029 enumerators and supervisors will begin mid-October at 148 training sites nationwide and the census enumeration equipment (Tablets) are at advance stage of provision.
Smith also added that logistical plans for equipping, developing, mobilizing and monitoring 15 county officers, 154 District Census Officers, 2,760 Supervisors and 13,800 Enumerators are being reviewed daily at LISGIS Command and Control Center, noting that the training for 110 Master Trainer has been completed.
“This is a national call and we need everyone to act as ambassador during this year’s census,” he encouraged participants
Meanwhile, Smith thanked the Government of Liberia, UNFPA, World Bank, Governments of Sweden and Ireland, USAID, among others, for the many support towards the conduct of the census.
