HANOI, 3. April 2009: The 2009 Population and Housing Census was launched Friday throughout Vietnam. And for the first time, the United Nations agencies in the South East Asian country will jointly monitor the census with the aim to strengthen quality of the census.
The Census is carried out from 1 to 15 April 2009 to collect data on population size, structure and distribution, as well as information on education, qualification, economic activity in the last seven days, disability, fertility, reasons of death to estimate the maternal mortality rate-
Further on information on housing conditions such as floor area, number of rooms, safe water use, telephone and computer usage and type of fuel used for cooking.
Data provided by the 2009 Census are key to assessing implementation of the 2001-2010 socio-economic development and to prepare the 2011-2020 socio-economic development plan.
In addition, the Census will help update and compare population and other development indicators with reference to the past censuses as well as provide information which is useful for monitoring implementation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (2015 Målene).
It is estimated that 300.000 enumerators and about 6.000 Government officials and staff members from central to commune level will participate in the census operations.
The preliminary results of the Census will be disseminated by July 2009 and the full census data will be available by the third quarter of 2010.
The total cost of the census is around 33 million US dollar. Of this, the State will cover 30 million of the expected costs, while the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) will contribute 3 million.
Reportedly, UNFPA has assisted in planning of the Census, design of the questionnaires, the testing, pilot, training and monitoring process, and has also supported publicity of the Census.
It will also appoint staff to be members of the monitoring trips to ensure the quality and success of the Census.
Kilde: The Push Journal
