DILI, 29 june 2022 (TATOLI) –The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Timor – Leste today handed over 280 tablets to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to support the 2022 data collection for census.
UNICEF Representative for Timor – Leste, Bilal Durrani said, 280 tablets were provided by UNICEF to support 2022 data collection for the population and This will be the first digital census in Timor – Leste, using tablets for data collection instead of paper questionnaires.
“We are looking forward to the new data of census because the collective effort to develop Timor-Leste currently relies on the latest census, this was the statistics collected 7 years ago. A lot can change in 7 years – for example, whether the population decreases or increases, how many children are there, how many people still do not have access to water in urban and rural areas, and the proportion of children out of school,” Bilal Durrani, told TATOLI at the National Statistics Center office, Cai – Coli, Dili on Wednesday.
Durrani added that the census will provide the latest benchmark information on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the population. It is important to track progress towards the Strategic Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals and to identify any remaining gaps. The results will be key to the planning and budgeting of the State. For example, the government needs reliable data on how many children are there in the country to provide the right amount of vaccines, or to plan where to install a new preschool.
“The census will also tell us which group is the most lagging behind, and who needs more attention, especially regarding the state budget,” he said.
In addition to providing tablets to facilitate data collection, UNICEF will support the GDS with other aspects of the census, including training enumerators, monitoring data collection, and developing thematic reports as well as the “Fofila-Fali” Census for subnational level data.
“Therefore, we hope to work together to ensure data accessibility and use of quality data to inform the Government’s actions in understanding children’s rights,” he concluded.
In the same place, Vice-Minister of Finance, Antonio Freitas appreciated the donation of 280 tablets by UNICEF, to facilitate the government’s data collection for the 2022 census.
“The 2022 Population and Housing Census will start in September, we hope that with the donation of 280 tables from UNICEF, it will accelerate and simplify the data collection,” he said.
Freitas added that the Government through the Ministry of Finance has also attempted to complete all equipment for the 2022 Population and Housing Census before September to make it easier for enumerators to work accurately and effectively.
“Therefore on behalf of the Government of Timor Leste, I would like to thank UNICEF for all the donations that have been given so far and hope that UNICEF will continue to provide more support in the future,” he said.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor : Nelia Borges
