About N$706 million has been allocated to the 2023 Population and Housing Census, scheduled to take place this year.
This information was disclosed during a presentation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census update to stakeholders, including members of the diplomatic corps and development partners.
Alex Shimuafeni, the Statistician-General and CEO, emphasised that the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) will pave the way for innovative approaches, data-driven policies, and evidence-based decision-making.
"I am deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of statistical integrity, ensuring the confidentiality of data, and promoting transparency in the dissemination of results. Our collective efforts will not only produce accurate and reliable data but also foster trust in our statistical systems, enabling stakeholders and decision-makers to make well-informed choices for the betterment of our societies."
Salomo Hei, the Chairperson of the NSA, highlighted that the upcoming 2023 Census will significantly improve the ability to monitor progress towards the attainment of national development plans and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Hei further emphasised that the census will offer accurate baselines, benchmarks, and indicators, which will be instrumental in evaluating progress and identifying areas that require additional support.
"In the past, the NSA has successfully executed its mandate and continues to do so. Having previously carried out three censuses, we are now in full swing to conduct the 2023 Population and Housing Census."
Gift Malunga, the UNFPA Representative, says the census is taking place at a crucial moment when there is an increased demand for all countries to enhance their data and statistical capabilities.
"The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) provided support in ensuring the availability of the 13,000 tablets to be used during census enumeration. Furthermore, the UN strengthened the capacity of NSA staff and provided technical support for post-enumeration analysis through census advisors.'