By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
Statistics Sierra Leone, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sierra Leone, has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a credible, inclusive, and people-centered 2026 Population and Housing Census. This follows the successful conclusion of a three-day self-evaluation workshop on the Pilot Census conducted in December 2025.
The high-level workshop brought together key stakeholders and technical experts to critically assess the outcomes of the pilot exercise, a crucial component of the country’s broader census preparedness strategy. The initiative aims to strengthen the quality, transparency, and reliability of the upcoming nationwide enumeration.
Discussions during the workshop focused on reviewing both operational and technical processes, identifying strengths and gaps, and generating practical, evidence-based recommendations to improve future census activities.
Participants engaged in extensive deliberations on administrative and field operations, data collection methodologies, logistics, stakeholder engagement, and the effective use of technology throughout the pilot phase.
The forum attracted a diverse group of participants, including senior management and technical staff of Statistics Sierra Leone, census coordinators, district census officers, publicity officers, field supervisors and monitors, data analysts, subject-matter specialists, representatives from key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as members of the donor community.
Addressing participants, the Statistician General of Statistics Sierra Leone, Andrew Bob Johnny, emphasized that the self-assessment exercise demonstrates the institution’s strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. He noted that the lessons learned from the pilot census will play a vital role in refining strategies and ensuring the effective implementation of the main census scheduled for December 2026.
Also speaking at the event, UNFPA Quality Assurance Specialist Samuel Palmer highlighted the importance of a national census as a cornerstone for informed planning, equitable resource allocation, and sustainable development. He reaffirmed UNFPA’s support to the Government of Sierra Leone and Statistics Sierra Leone in delivering a credible and inclusive census.
He further stressed the need for sustained collaboration, strengthened capacity building, and adherence to international best practices as essential elements for a successful census process.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the level of collaboration and openness demonstrated during the workshop, noting that such inclusiveness fosters collective ownership of national data processes. The interactive sessions provided a valuable platform for sharing field experiences, addressing challenges encountered during the pilot phase, and proposing innovative solutions.
Key outcomes from the workshop are expected to inform critical decisions, particularly in areas such as training, deployment strategies, public awareness campaigns, and improvements in data collection and management systems.
Statistics Sierra Leone has reiterated its commitment to producing high-quality, timely, and reliable data to support national development planning and policy formulation. The successful completion of the self-evaluation workshop marks a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward a more efficient, transparent, and impactful 2026 Population and Housing Census.
