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The Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census is
the second such exercise to be undertaken since independence
in
1990. A Census is a major activity for a country and
provides information about a country’s demographic, social and
economic characteristics. Government policymakers and legislators
use the Census results as important indicators of a nation’s
economic situation as well as for planning and evaluating
many government programs. The press, students, academics,
and the
general public also use the results.
In the beginning of the Census project, the Central
Bureau of Statistics took a decision that the cartographic work
for the 2001 Population and Housing Census should move from
traditional cartographic methods toward digital mapping and
the development of a Geographical Information System (GIS).
Compared to traditional sketch maps, a digital approach encourages
higher accuracy, which results in better products, and supports
a wider range of applications that can be used also for the
dissemination of the Census results.
Together with Statistics Sweden, Swedesurvey is supporting
the Central Bureau of Statistics in promoting the GIS development
within the organisation through capacity building in data analysis,
exchange and management by:
- Supervise activities carried out by the demarcation
teams and acting as an interface between CBS and external consulting
companies in technical matters.
- Assist in the production of various types of maps needed
the different surveys undertaken by the Bureau and other stakeholders.
- Contributing to the development of concepts, methodologies
and guidelines for the maintenance of the databases based on
realistic assessments of costs and effort involved.
- Developing manuals, training packages and quality standards
to be used in the day-to-day work and provide guidance and technical
supervision to staff members.
- Together with the staff at the Central Bureau of Statistics
develop and implement options for analysing, presenting and
disseminating integrated statistical and geographical data and,
develop methods of collecting additional data for the existing
databases in close cooperation with major stakeholders.
- Providing human resource development in the form of
on-the-job training as well as advising in various types of
short-term and long-term training needed in the field of GIS/cartography.
- Assisting in the procurement of additional software
and peripherals in accordance with the needs of the GIS office.
 Integrated with the census cartographic work, it was
requested that information about different social indicators
such as schools, clinics, community projects, etc. should be
collected. This information is stored in a point database, e.g.
the NamPlan database. Together with various types of base line
data available, the exercise aimed at collecting data that could
be the basis for a national planning tool for future development
and monitoring.
To keep the NamPlan database up-to-date, Swedesurvey
is also assisting the Central Bureau of Statistics in the development
of mechanisms for maintaining the NamPlan based on data from
source ministries and organisations. The development also aims
towards making the data Internet ready in order to reach a wider
circle of users. The goal is to offer a coordinated approach
to data access and dissemination, which at the same time is
user friendly and sensitive to the needs of the users.
Anders Rydén
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