Freetown: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Statistics Sierra Leone have concluded the orientation of their field personnel. The trained teams are now set to embark on a nationwide Rapid Census Awareness Perception Survey.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the one-day session took place at Doha’s Hotel in Bo, equipping field personnel to conduct the seven-day exercise. The survey aims to evaluate public awareness, confidence, knowledge, and perceptions regarding the upcoming 2026 Population and Housing Census. Findings from this exercise will shape census communication strategies and public engagement efforts, addressing information gaps, concerns, and misconceptions.
Samuel Ansumana, Director of Communication and Public Relations at Statistics Sierra Leone, emphasized the survey’s importance in the census communication process. He noted that the results would provide insight into public awareness levels and guide targeted interventions ahead of the census. Ansumana also expressed gratitud
e to UNFPA for their ongoing partnership and support, as conveyed by Statistician General Andrew Bob Johnny and the management of Statistics Sierra Leone.
Baileh Molleh, a UNFPA consultant on the project, introduced the digital platform Survey123, which will be used for data collection. Field personnel will operate within their assigned enumeration areas, engaging adult members of selected households as respondents. Molleh highlighted the importance of informed consent, confidentiality, and ethical conduct, instructing teams to avoid discussing responses with neighbors or community members, and to remain neutral and unbiased.
Silleh Bah, Principal Statistician and GIS Specialist at Statistics Sierra Leone, described the sampling design, which involves 200 purposively selected enumeration areas nationwide, with 2,000 interviews scheduled.
Dr. Foluke Adebayor, UNFPA Cartographic Consultant, explained the selection of enumeration areas, the sampling methodology, and addressed known issues with the Survey123
application. She mentioned that GIS mentor Ibrahim Kolapo would conduct technical sessions to resolve these issues before deployment, and urged the team to maintain integrity throughout the survey process.
The orientation concluded with a comprehensive review of the questionnaire, ensuring participants understood every question and the data collection procedures to ensure consistency in the field.
The rapid survey aims to provide timely evidence on public perceptions of the census, enhancing evidence-based communication and public engagement as Sierra Leone prepares for its 2026 Population and Housing Census.