19. The Statistics Division carried out two surveys on national practices for
censuses of the 2010 round. The first survey was carried out in 2009/2010 10 to
better understand how countries were planning and conducting or otherwise
compiling data for the 2010 round of censuses and the challenges they faced. On the
basis of the survey, the Division issued a working paper entitled the “Report on the
results of a survey on census methods used by countries in the 2010 census round ”
and used the information to assess the assistance needed by countries in
implementing the round. The second survey was undertaken in collaboration with
the United States Census Bureau in 2011 and in response to a request by the
Statistical Commission at its forty-second session as part of the programme review
of the 2010 World Population and Housing Census Programme. The objective was
to collect information on the lessons learned from the 2010 round of population and
housing censuses from which recommendations for the 2020 census round were
made to the Statistical Commission at its forty-third session. The Division further
analysed the information and prepared a report entitled “Overview of national
experiences for population and housing censuses of the 2010 round” as input into
the review and revision of the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for
Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 2.
20. The work of the Division to prepare for the 2010 census round was supported
by a grant from the World Bank for the 2010 World Population and Housing Census
Programme (2006-2012) for the implementation of the 2010 World Population and
Housing Census Programme (2006-2012) in developing countries. The grant was
used for a number of critical activities, mainly to conduct training workshops
throughout the round and in all regions of the world and to prepare some of the
international guidelines. UNSD also received a grant from the Italian Government
for a project for the African region on Strengthening national capacity to analyze,
present and disseminate data for evidence-based policy making. The objective of
the three-year project (2010-2012), was to enhance the capacity of countries to
analyze, present and disseminate data derived from the 2010 round of population
and housing censuses in ways suitable to all their target groups, to better inform
policy making and monitoring.
III. Preparations for the 2020 World Population and Housing
Census Programme
21. In its decision 43/101, the Statistical Commission requested the Statistics
Division to prepare a timetable for the development of the 2020 World Population
and Housing Census Programme, including the revision of the Principles and
Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses. In addition, the Statistical
Commission requested that the Division prepare by 2015 a draft resolution on the
2020 World Population and Housing Census Programme for approval by the
Commission and endorsement by the Economic and Social Council. The section
describes the ongoing work in support of the 2020 World Population and Housing
Census Programme and proposals for activities to be undertaken during the round.