IOM donates 100 tablets to S. Sudan Bureau of Statistics
March 18, 2021 (JUBA) – The International Organization for Migration, (IOM) on Thursday handed over 100 tablets to South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in preparation for the upcoming Population Estimation Survey (PES) in the country.
PES is hybrid census that will provide updated data on the country’s population.
The survey which will be conducted in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the initial step in the broader preparedness for conducting the national population and housing census, that will provide an update to the 2008-census population estimates, including basic demographic statistics to support government’s planning, development interventions and humanitarian service delivery.
The tablets, the agency further noted, will be used for field collection of household level data allowing for seamless transmission of data from the field level to the central database for further processing.
The equipment will also reduce intensive manual data entry, it said.
The chairperson of the NBS, Isaiah Chol Aruai, expressed his gratitude to IOM for the timely donation which with enable them carry out the PES exercise.
He said equipment would serve the purpose for which they were intended.
“As a government, we wholeheartedly appreciate the role of IOM as a longstanding partner and for their generosity,” explained Aruai.
“This donation demonstrates IOM’s commitment to the Population Estimation Survey exercise which will lay the foundation for the national census that will follow,” he added.
A member of the National Technical Committee, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) also provided extensive technical support to NBS and UNFPA, particularly with the delineation of enumeration areas using high-resolution satellite imagery.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Peter Van der Auweraert, IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission, said “IOM’s priority is to support both the people of South Sudan and the authorities of South Sudan on the road towards a brighter future and a long-lasting peace.”
“With this donation, we are moving one step forward towards strengthening the collaboration and partnership while pursuing a joint goal towards improving availability and quality of administrative and operational data on South Sudan, for the benefit of all citizens – ensuring that no man, woman or a child is left behind,” he added.
IOM and NBS have been working closely on various aspects of the data management and data collection process, within an existing Cooperation Agreement between the two organizations.
(ST)