Quality assurance in population and housing census SUDAN’s EXPERIANCE in QUALITY assurance of Censuses By salah El din. A . Magid OUR EXPERIANCE IN 5 CENSUSES 1955-2008

Sudan's experience in censuses: The census is an important source for the provision of information to know the general situation of the population and planning for development in all its forms, economic and social. Sudan conducted five censuses in the period from 1955/56 to 2008 and planning to conduct the 6th census in 2018.

Sudan adopts four stages for the implementation of censuses as follows:. 1) The Preparatory stage. 2) The actual count of the population. 3) Data processing and extraction of tables. 4) Data analysis and dissemination phase The quality assurance program is adopted during these four stages, from the start of the preparatory stage until the publication of the final report

Quality assurance of census Quality assurance (QA) is a way of preventing mistakes or defects and avoiding problems, in censuses management the quality assurance is so important to provide a good data presenting the situation in population.

Quality elements : * Quality during the implementation of the census phases * Measurement of quality after implementation

Quality assurance of census Quality assurance mechanisms for census operations The broad participation of stakeholders (governmental and community organizations and international observers to ensure transparency and prioritization of data required and quality

General structure of census: The higher committee of the population census: * Follow up the preparatory processes for census and follow-up performance until the census is successful. * Reporting to the Presidency of the Republic on the progress of the census. * Raise the final result of the census for the presidency of the Republic for approval.

General structure of census: The technical committee : The main tasks of this committee were: 1) Review the plans, budgets and time plans for the implementation of the census activities. 2) Reporting to the higher committee of the census. 3) Design and review all enumeration tools (such as census forms, questionnaires and manuals) and develop technical concepts and methods for conducting the census.

General structure of census Continue: 4) Technical monitoring of all census works, including preparation of maps, collection and processing of data, and extraction of final census results. 5) Ensuring that all phases are implemented with the highest standards of accuracy required. 6) Raising the census results to the higher committee for approvl.

General structure of census Continue: Financial Committee The most important tasks of the Committee are: 1. Ensure the flow of financial resources of the census according to needs and according to census schedule. 2. Coordinate with donors to ensure donor flows of resources flow according to plan. 3. Ratification of the needs of the census.

General structure of census Continue: continue: 4. Follow-up of disbursement and all financial transactions to ensure that they are carried out according to sound bases and according to the financial laws of the general auditor. 5. Periodic reports to the Higher committee on the financial performance of the census.

General structure of census Continue: Media Committee for Census The tasks of the Committee can be summarized as follows: 1. Develop the strategy of the media campaign for the census. 2. support all the media agencies in favor of the census campaign. 3. Enlighten citizens about the census and attract citizen support and cooperation with census workers. 4. To submit periodic performance reports on its work to the Higher committee

General structure of census Continue: Monitoring and Follow-up Committee:    A committee that was created specifically for the fifth census, which was never seen before in previous censuses Tasks of the Committee: 1. Follow-up and monitoring the operational activities of the census at all stages. 2. Ensure that the work conforms to the agreed international standards. 3. Ensuring comprehensive coverage in the enumeration process.

General structure of census Continue: Continue: 4. Ensure that transparency criteria are applied in each step of the enumeration process. 5. Submit periodic reports, including recommendations, when necessary, to the Higher committee. 6. Submit a final report on all stages of the census to the Higher committee. 7. Provide written advice to the Higher committee when necessary.

General structure of census Continue: Committee of Transport and Communications Tasks of the Committee: Among the most important tasks of the Committee: 1. Communicate with government agencies to provide vehicles for various census purposes. 2. Providing rental vehicles to meet the needs of each state.

General structure of census Continue: 3. Providing the tankers through the transport room of the Employers' Chamber to transfer the census equipment to and from the different states. 4. Purchase containers to transport the census equipment in particular forms to ensure their safety. 5. Secure census warehouses and census equipment between center and states

General structure of census Continue: States committees: Functions of state committees: 1. The highest authority to conduct the census in the state. 2. Mobilize all state institutions, UN organizations and voluntary organizations in the state to contribute to the census. 3. Ensuring that all stages of the census are carried out with the required accuracy and according to agreed standards

Quality assurance of census Processing the geographical maps of the regions (states – localities, administrative units and coding all units to ensure no overlap or double counting and follow-up delivery of forms according to the pre-defined coding to ensure the inclusion of all areas and avoid errors Adjustment of field operations through periodic reports of the work teams and supervising committees at all central and state levels The Higher committee follows up and reviews quality assurance plans and their implementation in partnership with a team of international Field review by selecting samples from the forms and checking them to identify the types of errors and avoid them and generalize the experiment among the other states

Quality assurance of census Data processing plans Reception of questionnaires according to the coding of geo – code Manual Check the coding to make sure that all forms have been entered into personal computers Logical review to ensure consistency of data Review the tables after extraction to verify their consistency according to the analysis plans

Quality assurance of census Measurement use the demographic methods to ensure data quality such as age Ratio, sex ratio, population pyramid, Myers and Weaple index

Data quality control mechanisms For accurate high-quality data, mechanisms and controls have been put in place for working procedures at all stages of the census: * Preparatory phase * Start-up phase of fieldwork

First:-The most important control mechanisms in the preparatory phase Quality elements First:-The most important control mechanisms in the preparatory phase * Compliance with international recommendations * Meeting the needs of beneficiaries * Implementation of the pilot census and its recommendations

Quality elements Second:-The most important control mechanisms in the field work and data processing phase * Ensure that the census covers all geographical areas of the country * Updated maps for all counting areas * Distribution of tasks and responsibilities in the field to ensure the interest of work * Field check of forms by the quality team

Quality elements * Evaluation of census data must ensure the accuracy and quality of census data by: I. Assessing the comprehensiveness of census data   II. Evaluation of the quality of the census * Internal data consistency check: Ensure that all counting areas and all buildings, housing units, families and individuals are fully included and that internal consistency is checked for each unit's data and the mechanism is to extract the misstatements that must be corrected or the questionable data and to work on their review by specialists and correct them if necessary. * External consistency check of data: External consistency checks are conducted by comparing census data and indicators with previous census data and indicators allowed common indicators

Quality elements * Field work phase: It is the most important and complex stage of the census work and therefore the tests and assessments must be clear and this stage reflects the success of the stages previous first so this stage must be evaluated in itself and here we must make sure that the preparatory work has been done through it:

Quality elements Quality in the package phase Safety of packet operations in terms of: 1: Distributing the blocks correctly 2: Commitment to living limits during packet operation 3: Distribution of roles between different functional levels during packet operations 4: Comprehensiveness of packet operations 5: Dividing blocks correctly during packet operations 6: Ensure that packages are available on a pre-prepared basis  

Thank you…….