The National Population and Housing Census: How will the process contribute to the Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Tanzania?
Tanzania will conduct its Population and Housing Census (PHC) on August 23, 2022. This is a national exercise conducted across Tanzania every 10 years. Population and housing census is a process of collecting, analyzing, evaluating, publishing and disseminating demographic, economic and social data related to all persons and their settlements in a country for a specified period.[1]
The last census was held in 2012. Thus, the 2022 census will be the sixth in the series beginning after the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964. Other censuses took place in 1967, 1978, 1988, 2002 and 2012. The 2012 population census’ results indicated there were 43,625,354 million in Tanzania mainland, and 1,303,569 in Tanzania Zanzibar.
The 2022 PHC objective is to provide the Government with information on the size, distribution, composition and other social economic characteristics of the population as well as information on housing conditions. This information is important in providing updated benchmark data for formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of population programs and policies, including Tanzania Development Vision 2025 and Vision 2050 for Tanzania Zanzibar.
The Population and Housing Census covers demographic information (age, gender, relationship, marital status, citizenship, etc.), Questions about disability, Education Information, Mobility questions, as well as information on Tanzanians living abroad, Questions about ownership of national documents (NIDA IDs, Zanzibar resident, birth certificate, passport, and driver’s license), Economic activities.
Moreover, land tenure and ICT information, Maternity and Mortality Reports that occurred within the household, Maternal mortality, State of housing and ownership of various resources, Agricultural and livestock issues and Social security funds.
Basically, the PHC will contribute to the improvement of quality of life of Tanzanians by providing current and reliable data which can be useful for policy formulation, development planning and service delivery as well as for monitoring and evaluating national and international development frameworks such as the SDGs.
However, the data and projections thereafter are vital in helping the nation execute its national plans in diverse sectors particularly health and education.
Most importantly, it facilitates evidence-based planning and decision making as it provides information from the primary sources with a diverse range of issues such as Demographic information (age, gender, relationship, marital status, citizenship, etc.), disability, Education Information, Mobility, Economic activities.
This information is vital in informing the decision makers when national plans and budget are enacted and the implementation of development plans that reflect the needs of the people at the relevant levels and assist in the balance of resource allocation.
It upholds the fundamental principle of leaving no one behind which calls for inclusiveness in the implementation, follow up and review of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by ensuring that the data of all citizens are captured in the census. Governments are obliged to respect this principle by guaranteeing that all citizens including marginalized and vulnerable groups in the society such as youth, children, elderly and people living with disabilities are actively engaged towards attaining these global goals.
The national census assists the Government to obtain basic information which determine the real needs of citizen’s particularly special groups with special needs for example, people with disabilities, women, children, youth and the elderly thus facilitating the development of policies and development plans according to the need and environment.
It avails information that will enable the Government to identify population growth, by distribution and other indicators, which are important for environmental management. Understanding population growth is crucial for predicting, managing, monitoring, and eradicating socio-economic challenges such as poverty, unemployment, inequality and disease outbreaks. However, as the world is facing environmental challenges, the census is crucial in making sure the state of our planet is healthy for future generations. This is in line with SDG 13 on climate change which calls for nations to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
The basis of good governance and inclusive democracy. Census information is needed for the effective allocation of resources from national, regional, ward, village/Street level for inclusive sustainable development. SDG 16 put emphasis on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
National population and housing census provides an opportunity for new qualitative citizen-generated data and knowledge which inform civic action and advocacy for improved SDGs delivery. This process led to necessary improvements in service delivery, development approaches and policy responses.
National population and housing census promotes citizens’ active engagement in the monitoring of SDG implementation for better development results. During the process, citizens have direct opportunity to give their information on different aspects which are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. For instance, education information, demographic information, disability status and economic activities all are part of the SDGs.
Population and housing censuses are pivotal in the production of official statistics ranging from demographic, social and economic characteristics of the population allowing detailed data disaggregation by small geographic areas and small population groups. This is essential for monitoring the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which requires reliable, robust, accessible and timely population and demographic data from local, national, regional and international level.
[1] National Bureau of Statistics
