UNFPA hands over IT equipment of $609,873 to CBS in Nepal

ByLaxman Datt Pant

UNFPA hands over IT equipment of $609,873 to CBS in Nepal

As the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in Nepal accelerates its preparations for the 12th National Population and Housing Census (NPHC), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today handed over IT equipment to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The CBS is leading the census operation under the guidance of the National Census Steering Committee which is chaired by the Vice-Chairperson of the National Planning Commission of Nepal.

The IT equipment, worth US$610,000, was procured by UNFPA using aid funding from the UK. The equipment includes 2,250 tablets with power-banks and accessories, 35 laptops, 47 desktop computers, five mobile work-stations, one server, three high-resolution printers, and relevant software licenses.

It is expected that with this equipment, the CBS will be able to produce census data that meets the highest technological standards. The NPHC is due to take place in June 2021 and will be the first census to be conducted within the new Constitution under federal structure. Furthermore, the use of innovative technology for the 2021 NPHC, including utilising tablets in selected census enumeration areas, will ensure that the CBS captures detailed data on how many people are living in the country – disaggregated to the lowest administrative level – and how they are living – their health and well-being, problems and prospects and socio-economic circumstances.

Meanwhile, the need for high-quality and reliable population data has been underscored by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and census data is also essential to measure Nepal’s progress with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals which have a strong commitment to leave no one behind.

“We commit to undertake the census to address the data gaps at the lowest administrative level while ensuring that the health and safety precautions of our personnel and the respondents is in compliance with government guidance,” said Nebin Lal Shrestha, Director General, CBS. “The IT equipment will strengthen the CBS’s infrastructure and capacity and complements its efforts to modernize the census operation through a multi-method approach of data collection,” he added.

Stating that the census is the cornerstone of statistical infrastructure, Lubna Baqi, UNFPA Country Representative in Nepal, commented that it provides a numerical profile of the country and is therefore of great value to the public and government alike. UNFPA is proud to offer technical and financial support to the Government to ensure that the census is of high-quality, upholds international standards, and produces data that can be widely disseminated and utilized for development gains. It is significant that UNFPA is supporting the Government of Nepal to undertake the 12th NPHC, recognizing that reliable and timely data is the foundation of sustainable and inclusive development in Nepal.

“The UK’s support to Nepal always aims to be based on data that is reliable and which includes everyone. The census is one of the most important chances to capture data so that any number of organizations – from the government through to development partners and community organizations – can direct their assistance in the best way”, commented Lisa Honan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu. 

She added that, in turn, this will help to improve the services provided to women, men, and children as well as the poor, the vulnerable, and other groups of people.

There is no doubt that the 2021 NPHC data will be invaluable for policymakers and planners to understand the situation across the country, its development needs, and where or how to invest in everything from schools to healthcare to roads.