By: Saidu Jalloh
The United States of America Census Bureau Advisors has in press release dated on the 17th 2025; assured of providing technical support to Sierra Leone’s 2025 National Census. U S Census Bureau together with United Nation Population Fund [UNFPA], United Nation Economics Commission for Africa [UNECA], and Statistic Sierra Leone held an assessment meeting last week regarding plans to support the 2025 Housing and Population Census.
In the press, U S Census Bureau opined that the visiting mission noted strong capacities in many areas as well as in which more work is necessary in order to prepare for a credible. The missions together with Statistics Sierra Leone agreed on the following recommendations.
In that they agreed that, an adequate timeline based on the necessary steps to achieve a technically credible census be prioritised over consideration.
They continued that, to enable preparatory work to proceed, statistics Sierra Leone urgently required the immediate release of budgeted funds
They added that to build credibility and guard against politicization of the census, plans must include inclusive oversight mechanisms.
U S Census Bureau concluded by expressing their commitment and willingness to provide technical support throughout the census process to help ensure credibility of results.
In another update, UN Resident Coordinator, Safari Wakana revealed that Statistics Sierra Leone should provide data that would inform policy making, mobilisation, resource mobilisation and distribution. She said in Sierra Leone, census would help identify the gaps and opportunities and enabling approach to development for citizens.
Wakana announced that the success of the census would offer invaluable insight into the population size, distributions and characteristics by providing comprehensive snapshot and the information is essential in different ways.