By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
As Sierra Leone gears up for its sixth Decennial Population and Housing Census in 2025, a high-level Assessment and Support Mission comprising technical experts from the United States Census Bureau, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has arrived in the country. The mission’s goal is to assess and evaluate Sierra Leone’s readiness to conduct a successful digital census while providing critical technical support.
The event commenced on Monday, January 13th, 2025 and will end on Friday 17th January, 2025 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, marking a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s census preparations. The delegation, consisting of seven technical experts, aims to review key components of the census process to identify areas requiring additional support and collaboration.
The mission is set to assess logistical arrangements and resource mobilization efforts, evaluate technological infrastructure and data management systems, analyze the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the census and examine human resource capabilities and project management structures.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, highlighted the pivotal role of the census in effective national planning during her address. She underscored its importance in resource distribution, electoral district delineation and evaluating development interventions. Reflecting on extensive preparations, including meetings with international partners such as the World Bank, UNFPA, USAID and the US Census Bureau, Kenyeh Barlay emphasized the Government’s legislative and financial commitments to the census. These include the establishment of a dedicated census funding account at the Bank of Sierra Leone, regular updates from the Statistician General and hosting high-level meetings to support the initiative.
She expressed optimism about achieving the ambitious timeline for the census scheduled for December 2025 and reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to transparency, accountability and inclusivity in the census process.
UN Resident Coordinator, Sarafin Wakana, lauded the commencement of the assessment mission as a critical step toward understanding Sierra Leone’s evolving needs and aspirations. She stressed that census data would provide invaluable insights into the population’s size, distribution and characteristics, shaping policies and resource allocation for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social services.
She commended Sierra Leone for its commitment to transparency and inclusivity, urging stakeholders to actively participate in the process. “This census is about the people, the population and advancing the country,” she stated.
Sebeso Lumuma of UNFPA echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the critical role of census data in identifying population needs and crafting policies to address them. She highlighted UNFPA’s dedication to collaborating with Sierra Leonean authorities and international partners to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive census aligned with international standards.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, reiterated the Government’s unwavering support for the census, describing it as a “civic necessity” that reflects the nation’s identity. He emphasized the need for public engagement and understanding of the census process, ensuring it resonates with citizens at all levels.
“Our goal is to ensure that the 2025 census is embraced by Sierra Leoneans, not just in words but in meaningful action,” the Minister said. He pledged his Ministry’s full support in fostering nationwide participation and awareness.
World Bank Country Manager ,Abdul Wanger, highlighted the transformative potential of updated data in shaping development strategies. He commended Sierra Leone’s progress in modernizing its consumer price index (CPI) and initiating a nationwide household survey to provide contemporary insights into poverty, education, housing and other socio-economic indicators.
“The completion of the census lays the groundwork for future projects and sustainable development,” Abdul Wanger stated, pledging continued collaboration and support from the World Bank.
Statistician General, Andrew Bob Johnny, outlined the vital role of accurate and timely data in decision-making and sustainable development. He emphasized the importance of the census in collecting detailed statistics on population characteristics, spatial distribution and household organization.
He acknowledged the support from UNFPA, the US Census Bureau and other organizations in technical areas such as cartographic mapping, pilot census activities and public awareness. He welcomed the visiting experts and all attendees, affirming Statistics Sierra Leone’s commitment to producing reliable data for national development.
As the 2025 census process gains momentum, stakeholders remain focused on ensuring its success through collaboration, innovation and adherence to international best practices. The Assessment and Support Mission will play a critical role in addressing challenges, harnessing collective strengths and laying a solid foundation for Sierra Leone’s development goals.
