DRC Census: What are the rules of good conduct for census takers?

The Democratic Republic of Congo is gearing up for its second General Population and Housing Census, a crucial operation designed to equip the nation with up-to-date data for development planning and public policy formulation. The census results will guide decisions related to the construction of essential infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.

As part of this extensive undertaking, census takers mandated by public administration will be deployed across the country to collect vital information. These agents are bound by a strict code of conduct, emphasizing the need to avoid any behavior that could harm the populations being surveyed, compromise the credibility of the operation, or damage the image of the institution responsible.

Radio Okapi engaged in a discussion with Madame Elysée Chovu Alima, Director General of the National Institute of Statistics (INS), to clarify these essential rules of good conduct. The interview, conducted by Jody Daniel Nkashama, aims to ensure that all census agents understand and adhere to the required professional standards throughout the data collection process.

The emphasis on proper conduct underscores the importance the Congolese government places on the accuracy and integrity of the census data. Reliable statistics are fundamental for effective governance and targeted development initiatives, making the role of each census taker critically important.