Census to cost over Rwf12.8bn

The Acting Director General of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Diane Karusisi, has said that the National Census, slated for next year, will cost US$21.3 million (over Rwf12.8 billion) Karusisi was speaking during a-one-day workshop on the validation of districts and sectors’ situation assessment report on administrative data system. She noted that the census exercise is slated to run from August16 to 30 next year, adding that it will include population and housing census. “I call upon the entire population to adhere to the rules and regulations concerning the National Census and to clearly understand the importance of this Census because it will help our nation to achieve sustainable development in all aspects,” Karusisi said. She noted that NISR has completed mapping the whole country as part of the preparatory process, adding that institution will carry out a pilot census on August 16 this year. The workshop aimed at disseminating the findings of the tests carried out in districts and sectors to understand how statistics on agriculture, education and population are collected. She said that local officials at the sector level lacked equipment for data collection and filing, but observed that NISR had distributed computers to all the 30 districts in order to address this challenge. Karusisi, however, said that district officials in charge of statistics were not using the computers appropriately. She said that her institution would continue to carry out more advocacy campaigns for people to realise the importance of statistics. “Once we get a common understanding that statistics are important for the country, then we will be able to properly use the equipment and resources that are in place,” she observed. She said that NISR will design a harmonised system and train those responsible to enable them to carry out their daily statistical duties effectively and efficiently. Karusisi noted that statistics officers at the local level are overwhelmed by other responsibilities from the central government. She, however, added that putting in place a harmonised and efficient system to address specific needs of the country, in terms of data collection and compilation, would enable such officers perform statistical duties proficiently. She further requested the government to provide a budget line for statistics at the local administrative levels. Ends