In a major step toward ensuring data precision and institutional transparency, Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has successfully concluded an intensive orientation program for Independent Monitors ahead of the upcoming 2026 Mock Population and Housing Census.
Held at the UNFPA Sierra Leone Headquarters, the training session was meticulously designed to equip the newly appointed monitoring team with the technical methodologies, ethical guidelines, and rigorous reporting frameworks required to objectively evaluate the pilot exercise. By establishing this independent oversight mechanism, both organizations aim to solidify the credibility, public confidence, and international standards of the country’s broader demographic data collection efforts.
The high-profile briefing brought together senior leadership from Stats SL and UNFPA, international development partners, technical experts, and members of the Independent Monitoring Team. Addressing the gathering, UNFPA Country Representative Kunle Adeniyi reaffirmed the global agency’s unwavering commitment to helping Sierra Leone deliver a deeply inclusive and credible census framework. Adeniyi emphasized that independent monitoring functions as a vital pillar of accountability, actively urging the deployed personnel to execute their duties with strict impartiality and professionalism to ensure the integrity of the data remains uncompromised.
Underscoring the strategic timeline of the project, Deputy Statistician-General Lansana Kpewolo Kanneh explained that the Mock Census serves as a critical stress test for the comprehensive national Population and Housing Census scheduled for December 2026. This trial run allows statistics officials to evaluate field operations, mobile data collection instruments, logistical chains, and communication strategies in a live environment before full-scale deployment. Kanneh revealed that census field personnel are already actively deployed across six selected pilot locations to conduct preliminary household listings. With Mock Census Night officially designated for July 19, 2026, and full enumeration set to begin on July 20, 2026, he challenged the monitors to provide granular, objective feedback that can be used to fine-tune operations ahead of the nationwide exercise.
Throughout the technical sessions, participants engaged with complex reporting templates, operational coordination protocols, and data protection ethics. The event wrapped up with a unified commitment from Stats SL, UNFPA, and the independent observers to maintain the highest standard of transparency, paving the way for a modern, high-quality, and robust national census repository.
ABJ/APA