By Sallieu S. Kanu
March 12, 2025 – To ensure inclusivity and community participation, Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has successfully engaged local and traditional authorities nationwide on the upcoming Decennial Population and Housing Census. These engagements took place simultaneously at regional and district levels, covering all 16 districts of Sierra Leone.
The meetings brought together Paramount Chiefs, Mayors, representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Security Sector, Civil Society, youth groups, the media, and other stakeholders. The primary objective was to provide a comprehensive overview of the 2025 Decennial Population and Housing Census, emphasize its significance for national development, and highlight the critical role of stakeholders in creating a smooth, cooperative environment for the census process. Additionally, the engagements served as a platform to establish and adopt the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the District Census Management Committees (DCMCs).
The formation of the DCMCs is aimed at fostering local ownership and oversight of the census process by traditional and local authorities. Their key responsibilities include:
Monitoring and reporting on census progress.
Conducting community sensitization and awareness campaigns.
Providing oversight for census management frameworks.
Resolving conflicts and complaints arising from census activities.
Ensuring the security of census materials and data.
During the engagement held in the Western Area Rural District at Waterloo, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Ballay, updated participants on progress made so far. She outlined the establishment of Advisory, Technical, and Publicity Committees at the national level and highlighted the visit of an international assessment mission in January 2025. The mission, comprising representatives from the US Census Bureau, UN–ECA, and UNFPA–New York, evaluated the country’s preparedness for the census. Following their recommendations, the census has been rescheduled to December 2026 to ensure all necessary processes are adequately addressed.
Participants expressed confidence in the census process and lauded Stats SL for recognizing them as key actors. They pledged their full support and promised to encourage their communities to actively participate, ensuring a successful and accurate census.
Stats SL remains committed to delivering a groundbreaking digital Population and Housing Census that will benefit the people of Sierra Leone.