Niyi Ojuolape
The Somali Government launched the Somali Population and Housing Census 2024 on 2 May 2023 marking the start of its implementation journey - UNFPA Somalia is proud to be a key partner in this important endeavour. The launch is a significant and historic event for the country. It demonstrates the government's commitment to the task, brings in the Somali people - so that they are aware of this undertaking and also provides an opportunity to gain further international support and engagement.
The census is an important national effort aimed at discovering the number of people residing in Somalia. Its findings will be essential in assessing and analyzing development projects, crafting policies, and tailoring programs that best serve the population. The country has not had a reliable and complete census since the fall of the central government in 1991. This failure has impeded the government, its partners, and other stakeholders in implementing effective programs that address the Somali people's needs. The last successful census, carried out in 1975, only yielded limited results. Previous attempts to conduct census were thwarted by political instability, civil unrest, and the lack of a centralized government. Nonetheless, the country is currently focused on rebuilding its institutions, including improving its statistical ability to conduct an accurate and dependable census.
The Somali government, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), plans to conduct the Population and Housing Survey 2024, in November 2024. This will be the first census since the civil war broke out in 1991, and it will provide important information on the population size, composition, and distribution. The exercise will cover all regions, and will involve the counting of all people living in the country, including refugees and internally displaced persons – and help in identifying the populations most in need of services. The census will also provide data on the size and distribution of ethnic and linguistic groups, promoting cultural diversity and the protection of minority rights. With the use of modern technology such as satellite imagery and mobile devices, the census will ensure accurate data collection on population size, age, sex, education, and employment status, among other variables. The benefits that come with obtaining accurate data are numerous, from promoting cultural diversity to protecting minority rights and fostering democratic governance.
The importance of this census cannot be overstated. Its success will have a lasting and transformative impact on the lives of the Somali people, touching on crucial areas such as accurate and reliable statistical data essential for effective and relevant policy programming, timely humanitarian response and mitigation, improved governance and stable democratisation. It will help promote democratic governance and political representation by providing valuable data on eligible voters, which will help determine the allocation of parliamentary seats based on proportional representation. This will ultimately lead to improved governance and stable democratization.
As the United Nations Population Fund, we recognise the need to harness the strength of a population by enabling people to live quality lives to the best of their abilities, The census will count everyone in Somalia, and help bring the clarity on the core challenges faced by the people, where they are, and those most affected rather than relying on speculation and political rhetoric. Women and girls make up almost half of any population and it is crucial to ensure their voices are heard and needs addressed. The census will help provide important data to identify and address their issues and needs and develop the necessary programmes and strategies to support the most vulnerable members of society. Somalia is also, one of the many sub-Saharan African countries struggling with multiple climate crises and a difficult economic situation. As climate change continues to disproportionately affect the country, knowledge of the population and demographics is critical to prevent and mitigate crises, as well as for delivering effective and successful humanitarian responses.
There are still many challenges that the census is still facing, despite its need and significance. This includes inadequate resources and lack of trust from some communities towards the government and the census exercise, as well as security. While, significant progress has been made in overcoming these challenges through extensive community mobilization and sensitization efforts, the success of the census still depends heavily on securing adequate funding, and ongoing support from donors. With Somalia being an economically challenged country, the provision of financial resources is critical to ensure the efficient implementation of this crucial exercise. We are grateful to the donors whose support has been instrumental in the success of the process thus far, and request and urge them for their continued support so that efficient, transparent and robust implementation of the census can be ensured.
In conclusion, the Somali census is a vital undertaking that requires prioritization and transparency, and must be conducted in a way that is inclusive and most credible. The UNFPA and the wider UN family are delighted to be partnering with the Somali National Bureau of Statistics and the Government of Somalia in this significant endeavor. Though there may be hurdles to overcome, we remain hopeful that with careful planning and good judgment, we will achieve success, and look forward to seeing its transformative impact on the lives of the Somali people.
Niyi Ojuolape is the Country Representative of UNFPA in Somalia
