2002/03 and 1995/95HouseHold Budget Survey and 2006 Population and Housing Census Preliminary Results Dissemination

MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING


OPENING SPEECH

BY ACTING PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

Mr. M. Khethisa

DURING THE DISSEMINATION WORKSHOP OF THE 2002/03 AND 1994/95 HOUSEHOLD BUDGET SURVEY RESULTS AND THE 2006 CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING PRELIMINARY RESULTS

AT

LEHAKOE RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTRE

DATE: 21 August 2007

Mr. Chairperson,

Cooperating Partners,

Invited quests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I wish to thank you all for accepting our invitation and leaving your busy schedules to come to this workshop. This demonstrates your commitment and the priority you attach to the statistics development of this country. Your contributions and observations on the presentations will be taken with utmost seriousness.

We are gathered here today to witness the launch of the 2002/2003 Household Budget Survey Results and the preliminary results of the 2006 Lesotho Census of Population and Housing Census.

The Bureau of Statistics conducted a Household Budget Survey over a 12-month period running from November 2002 to December 2003 covering a representative sample of five thousand, nine hundred and ninety two households. The objectives of this survey included among others, provision of statistics on income and expenditure patterns, access to resources on the distribution of household income and expenditure among the various population groups, and ecological zones in the country and for poverty mapping.

Data cleaning and analysis for this survey took longer than was anticipated due to the complex nature of the survey.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As you will learn during the presentations, when comparing the 1994/95 Household Budget survey results with those of 2002/2003, there are quite a number of positive improvements in some of the indicators, for instance, the overall dependency ratio has declined by 0.11 between the two survey periods. 1n 1994/95, the dependency ratio was 0.78 while in 2002/2003 it is recorded at 0.67. There is also a very slight change in the poverty levels as indicated by the population living below poverty line which is 56.61% as opposed to 66.61% recorded during the 1994/95 Household Budget Survey. While this might be regarded as an improvement, this still falls short of meeting the target set by the Millennium Development Goal of eradicating extreme hunger, with a target of cutting by half the proportion of people who live below the poverty line and those who suffer from hunger by 2015. In view of the fact that poor performance on this goal has a negative bearing on some of the goals, there is a challenge to policy makers and planners to double their efforts in the design and implementation of programmes geared towards meeting these internationally agreed goals as well as the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The report also reveals rural urban disparities in the poverty levels among the population, thus adequate poverty targeting is essential in line with the poverty reduction strategy.

Let me highlight that as an improvement to the previous Household Budget Surveys, the 2002/2003 HBS collected for the first time information relating to the living conditions of the population. This entails individual’s perceptions of their levels of satisfaction with their own situations, the performance of different services and their possibilities to participate and improve participation in different sectors of life. The product of which was the construction of a Living conditions Index that will guide planners and policy makers in the following areas:

Sector prioritizing and policy development,

Local Governance,

Democratic development,

Increased Institutional Performances,

Giving voice to the marginalized population groups like children, youth etc.,

Poverty reduction and improving the well-being of the population.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me also remind you that the Population census on the other hand was undertaken in April 2006. The census covered all households in the ten districts, eighty constituencies, one hundred and twenty eight Community Councils, four thousand, two hundred and fifty Enumeration Areas, Cattle posts and institutions throughout the country.

The census adopted the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses for the 2010 round of censuses as well as the generic questionnaire for the SADC region.

The actual enumeration was preceded by a Census cartography using the latest approach of satellite imagery as opposed to the conventional sketch maps. This was followed by household listing and training to ensure quality and adherence to agreed standards.

According to the 2006 census preliminary estimates, the population of Lesotho is 1,880,661. At this level, the population is lower than the projected figure of 2.2 million based on the 1996 Census.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Distinguished guests,

It has to be noted that the projections I have just referred to had not factored in the demographic impact of HIV and AIDS. The basis of the assumptions were that the mortality rate will continue to decline in consonance with the improvements in Primary Health Care initiatives by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and that fertility will be constant at 4.1 children per woman and that international migration will be moderate.

The on-going in-depth analysis of the census data will give a much more clearer picture of the population dynamics of this country.

In an effort to improve on the quality of data and to ensure credibility of the census, the Bureau of Statistics undertook a Post Enumeration Survey two weeks after completion of enumeration for the census. This survey entailed complete re-enumeration of a representative sample of the census population and matching each individual who is enumerated in the post enumeration survey with information from the main enumeration. This is a tool to measure both the content and coverage errors.

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me remind you that better statistics were identified as a priority of the results agenda at the first Round Table on Better Measurement, Monitoring, and Managing for Results, held in Washington in 2002, thus statistics remain an important part of the results agenda. These sentiments were reiterated during the Second International Round Table on Managing for Development Results, held in Marrakech, Morocco, in February 2004 which gave birth to the Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics to which Lesotho is committed.

Good statistics are not just a concern of the international community. Timely and reliable information is needed by government, business, the media and citizens to make informed decisions and to enhance evidence –based policymaking. In short good statistics are part of the enabling environment for development.

I wish to appeal to you to have confidence in our data and utilize them in planning, programme formulation and monitoring and evaluation.

REMEMBER, IF YOU CAN`T MEASURE IT, YOU CAN`T MANAGE IT.

On behalf of the Government of Lesotho and on my own behalf, I wish to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely, our development partners who played a very crucial role in making both projects a reality. Specifically the European Commission for providing technical assistance during the planning phase of the Household Budget Survey and a census Adviser, the World Bank and UNDP for financial support during data collection of the HBS, DCI, UNDP, DFID, IMF and the World Bank for technical and financial support during data analysis; UNDP, DCI, DFID, UNFPA and UNICEF for providing technical and financial support during both the enumeration and post enumeration phases of the 2006 Lesotho Census of Population and Housing, without whose genuine and continued support we would not be here to day.

With these few remarks I wish to declare this workshop officially opened.

THANK YOU!

 

United Nations Development Programme

 

SPEECH

BY UNDP REPRESENTATIVE


Mr/Madam Chair

Deputy Principle Secretary Ministry of Finance and Development Planning,

Heads of UN and International Agencies

Senior Government Official,

Ladies and Gentlemen

All other protocol respectfully observed

First of all let me register my heartfelt congratulation to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Bureau of Statistics in particular on this significant achievement - the production of The 1994/95 and 2002/03 Household Budget Household Budget Survey and the Preliminary Report of the 2006 Population and Housing Census; two very important reports.

The household budget survey report gives an update of the performance of social and economic data including poverty indicators which serve to depict the extent of poverty and the socioeconomic profile of the poor over a nine year period, across geographical demarcation and sex.

It is important to note that these depictions provide yardsticks for The Government and the international agencies in the country monitor our achievements of our professed objective of reducing poverty. In addition these indicators will make it possible to analyze the likely determinants of poverty and are, therefore, essential for formulating policy interventions that may contribute directly or indirectly to its alleviation and more importantly help mobilise resources and support nationally and internationally.

The realities of the current transition period and recent changes in economic policies have increased demand for statistical data from public sector, private businesses, international agencies and research institutions. Furthermore, availability of the relevant, accurate, transparent and reliable statistical information is one of the key aspects of ongoing reforms. Despite the efforts to strengthen its statistical capacity and establish an institutional framework, the Governments of Lesotho still needs strong collaborative support from the international donor community.

I also welcome the opportunity of being present in the sharing of the preliminary Report of the 2006 Population and housing Census. I am looking forward to the timely release of the final reports on the 2006 census. The findings of the census as the HBS will facilitate the Government, development partners and stakeholders enhance the process of formulating evidence- based policies

As Government of Lesotho’s (GOL’s) committed development partners, UN agencies and other development partners’ support to national development is geared towards helping the country achieve its overarching objectives of fighting poverty and promoting equitable and sustainable human development. The present focus of donors on reducing poverty, especially through the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and the Millennium Development Goals, represents a unique opportunity to further consolidate activities that are directed at addressing this challenge.

The UN family and in-country development partners are engaged in several initiatives to assist the government collect and disseminate data and build both institutional and technical capacities for poverty monitoring, among others, across all sectors. The MDGs and PRS can be used as an organizing principle to harmonize aid delivery – particularly, using MDG 8 to strengthen partnership among various development partners in achieving a suitable outcome.

On this note please accept my sincere congratulation once more on behalf of my colleagues and I thank you very much for your kind attention.

 


 TOP

Office of the Director
 Bureau of Statistics
P.O. Box 445
Maseru 100, LESOTHO
Tel. (+266) 22 325349-Direct
Tel. (+266) 22 323852-Ext. 210
Fax (+266) 22 310177
e-mail:  director@bos.gov.ls

Updated: October 31, 2007