11 July 2008

Torit, Sudan: I reported to my duty station in Eastern Equatoria State in Torit and was warmly welcomed by the State Census Director, Jackson Ukello, and the Field Operations Manager, Daniel Arop. They briefed me on census activities in the state, saying it was a challenging environment with different ethnic communities that required patience and tolerance.
 
Under their supervision, I worked with a committed team of census staff and local leaders to help ensure the successful implementation of the Fifth Sudan Population and Housing Census.
 
Advocacy and publicity were the cornerstones upon which the successful implementation of the census rested. We worked with the State Population Census Committee (SPCC) and State Advocacy and Publicity Committee (SAPC) to mobilize communities. Sensitization workshops, meetings, radio talk shows and rallies were conducted at state and county levels. It is worth noting that the county administration (the offices of respective commissioners and members of parliament) was active in mobilizing communities too.

An interpersonal approach was recommended as the best method of creating public awareness, and only a few posters were used. This was a more interactive approach that minimized misinterpretation. Advocacy handbooks were given out, especially to leaders in the counties.
 
The local media was instrumental in creating awareness, especially local radio stations, which aired programmes on the need for everyone to stand up and be counted. Media discussions and interviews were also held to harmonize the messages the public heard, with a view to avoid the politicization of the census. Rechargeable radios were distributed in eight counties, targeting the local leaders (Payams) to help educate people about the census's importance.
 
Before the census began there were many issues that necessitated consultations with local leaders and administrations. The SPCC and SAPC handled such issues by explaining the situation to local leaders, considering the implications, and helping to resolve difficulties such as unmapped bomas and villages or border conflicts.
 
Census field staff were mainly recruited from educational institutions and the army. Despite this, women were given priority during recruitment. They were later trained in their respective counties.
 
Logistics were problematic. Some counties were so vast such that they required extra vehicles. Kapoeta East lost one of their vehicles in the Loyoro river. Others developed mechanical problems. Some supervisory areas were too large to be covered by one supervisor (up to 400 households and up to 11 enumerators for supervision). These supervisors needed some form of transport, and through the commitment of the county administrators they provided some of them with motorcycles.
   
During deployment, it was ensured that the field enumerators were given enough household listing books and questionnaires to begin with, although it was already envisaged that the questionnaires would not be enough. Some enumerators in far off areas ran short of food yet were very far from sources of food and clean water. During supervision periods, we took them supplies.  

Overall, the field staff were happy to see us paying them visits and support them, but most importantly listening to them and discussing with them issues raised. This made me identify with them and feel I had a contribution to make. We shared with them, advised them, and resolved some issues with them.
 
The census enumeration started on 22 April 2008 after the counting of special populations (such as the homeless, night travellers, institutions etc.). However, during the supervision and monitoring visits four days after enumeration began, we received reports that some enumerators were already running short of Short Form Questionnaires (SFQs).

Up-to-date household lists were compiled to justify a demand for more SFQs. This was a cumbersome process because we had to visit almost all enumeration areas to get this information; some areas were not accessible by telephone, while others were concurrently listing and enumerating.
 
It was only after household listing that it was realized how big some enumeration areas were. We also realized that some enumeration areas had not been allocated supervisors, so some supervisors took on extra work. This was not easy since some expected more pay.

In some areas there was a big influx of returnees too. Because the mapping of enumeration areas was done two and a half years ago, a lot of other changes had taken place. I also noted that estimating the ages of respondents was a problem. There was a border conflict between Torit and Ikotos counties but it was resolved by the administrators and elders.
 
Enumeration ended on 6 May and retrieval of census materials was done between 10 and 17 May. The census material was weighed and securely stored in the state census office in Torit and transported to Juba on 3 June 2008.
 
In conclusion, it was a great experience of challenges and learning that has made me understand and appreciate the conditions and people of Eastern Equatoria. I believe that the result of the census will be highly reliable and contribute in no small measure to realistic planning for economic development and tremendous positive political and social change – not only to the lives of people in Eastern Equatoria but also in Sudan in general.