UNITED NATIONS, New York - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has begun work with the Central Statistics Office in Afghanistan on the design of a National Population and Housing Census. The census responds to the urgent need for up-to-date and reliable information to aid the reconstruction process.
Afghanistan has never had a complete census of its population. The last attempt to conduct a national population census was in 1979 and that operation had to be abandoned before enumeration was completed due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation.
An initial capacity building phase is already underway. Computer equipment has been provided to the Central Statistics Office and extensive staff training programmes have begun in areas ranging from information technology to field cartography. It is estimated that the entire census process will require over 20,000 personnel.
The current target date for the completion of the countrywide census is mid-2005, an ambitious goal given the time required to organize the preliminary fieldwork necessary to ensure the accuracy of the census. Preliminary fieldwork involves the detailed mapping of settlements throughout the country and the listing of all houses and households to be counted in the census, including nomads, displaced persons and returning refugees.
UNFPA is currently assisting the Central Statistics Office to prepare budgets and work plans to help secure the much needed financing from donors. Rapid mobilization of longer-term donor support is critical in order to complete the census by the target date. The initial planning and capacity-building activities are receiving substantial financial support from the governments of Luxembourg, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway.
An early start to census operations is essential. If the preliminary fieldwork is begun immediately, the Central Statistics Office should be able to provide initial information by the end of 2003 on the number and distribution of dwellings, households and people for each geographic area directly from the fieldwork records. While this information will not be as comprehensive or accurate as the full census results, their early release should be of tremendous value to the numerous government, local and international agencies engaged in reconstruction and development programmes.
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UNFPA is the world's largest multilateral source of population assistance, with programmes in 142 countries. Since it became operational in 1969, the Fund has provided some $5.6 billion to developing countries to meet reproductive health needs and support sustainable development.
Contact Information:
Abubakar Dungus
Tel.: +1 (212) 297-5031
Email: dungus@unfpa.org
Micol Zarb
Tel.: +1 212 297 5042
Email: zarb@unfpa.org