Symposium
2001/39 23 July 2001 English
only |
Symposium on Global Review of 2000 Round of
Population
and Housing Censuses:
Mid-Decade
Assessment and Future Prospects
Department
of Economic and Social Affairs
United
Nations Secretariat
New
York, 7-10 August 2001
Census Mapping In Ethiopia*
Abdulahi Hasen**
CONTENTS
B. Mapping for the 1994
national population and housing census
2. Recruitment and training of
census mapping field staff
3. Organization of the field
operation during census mapping. 2
4. Delineation of enumeration
areas (EAs) and formation of EA maps
5. Formation of supervision
area (SA) maps
6. Construction of wereda maps
C. Census mapping for the 2004
national population and housing census
1. Preparatory mapping
activities for the 2004 census. 4
D. Conclusions and
recommendations
1.
Population
and housing censuses can be conducted using any of the following methods:
·
The
group assembly method,
·
The
direct interview or the canvasser method, and
·
The
self-response method.
2.
During
the first attempt to conduct a population census in Ethiopia in September 1974,
it was planned to have the urban areas covered entirely through the direct
interview method. On the other hand, in the rural areas, where transport and
communications were major problems, where the terrain is rough and difficult,
and where more than 90 per cent of the country’s population lived, the group
assembly approach was to be administered. In the group assembly method, all the
heads of the households in a locality were obliged to assemble in one area and
were required to supply limited information about all the members of their household.
Moreover, for collecting detailed demographic data, a sample of 5 per cent of
the localities were expected to be covered by the direct interview method
conducted through house-to-house calls.
3.
In
a pilot census conducted in February 1974, both the group assembly method and
the direct interview method were applied in three weredas (districts) in rural areas located in different parts of
the country. The data collected using the two methods were compiled and
compared; an underenumeration of about 20 per cent was found for the group
assembly method compared with the population figure obtained by the direct
interview method. Based on the lessons learned from the 1974 pilot census, it
was decided to cover the entire population using direct interviews by making
house-to-house calls.
4.
Accordingly,
in the 1984 and 1994 national population and housing censuses the direct
interview method was used in the enumeration operation. The self-response
method, where households or persons are supplied with blank questionnaires
which they fill in and submit to the nearest census office, requires a highly
educated population and could not be used under Ethiopian conditions either at
that time or in the near future. However, the self-response method was used to
enumerate foreign residents in the 1994 census. For this purpose a
self-responding questionnaire was prepared in English and was handed over to
the various embassies and homes of foreign residents by census supervisors. The
filled-in census questionnaires were collected by the supervisors after a day
or two. This approach helped to solve the language problem in enumerating
foreign residents.
5.
This
paper deals with mapping activities in the national population and housing
census carried out in 1994; it gives a brief note on mapping activities for the
next national population and housing census planned to be conducted in the year
2004, and it ends with some conclusions and recommendations.
6.
To
conduct a census through direct interviews, it is essential to delineate the
country into enumeration areas (EAs) in order to ensure that there is no
duplication or omission of persons or households at the time of enumeration.
The delineation of EAs also helps to fulfil the following functions:
·
Assess
the size of the manpower, questionnaires and other equipment required for the
census;
·
Provide
comparable workloads to the enumerators;
·
Ensure
that the census is completed in the specified time;
·
Follow
up on the quality of the data collected (four to five EAs are designated as a
supervision area (SA), and a supervisor is assigned to follow up on the quality
of the data collected by the enumerators); and
·
Provide
a statistical frame for future socio-economic and demographic surveys.
7.
The
first stage in the process of the 1994 census map work consisted of collecting
all the maps that were available for the rural areas and the urban centres.
These maps were used as the base on which the census maps were prepared. The
major maps for the purpose of census mapping that were available at the
Ethiopian Mapping Authority for most parts of the rural areas were large-scale
maps (1:50,000 or 1:250,000) and medium-scale maps for urban areas (1:5,000 or
1:10,000) of the country.
8.
Ethiopia
has a land area of 1,150,516 square kilometres. The country is divided into
nine regions and two administrative councils. The regions or the administrative
councils are further subdivided into 71 zones and 546 weredas (Ethiopia, CSA, 1998). The rural areas of the weredas are made up of Peasants’
Associations (kebeles) numbering
21,149, while the urban areas are made up of Urban Dwellers Associations (kebeles) numbering 1,656. The
boundaries of all regions and most zones were changed between the 1984 and 1994
census, making comparisons over time at the subnational level very difficult.
The administrative boundaries of many zones and most weredas in Ethiopia have changed since the 1994 census fieldwork as
well.
9.
The
country also has a very rough terrain and most areas are inaccessible by motor
vehicles. Most of the roads are dry-weather roads and can be used only during
certain months of the year. All these
indicate the difficulty involved in the delineation of the entire country into
enumeration and supervision areas.
10.
In
the 1994 census mapping work, enumeration areas were constructed by tracing an
area which contains a certain number of households or housing units on the base
map. For this purpose, it is necessary to go from one housing unit to the next,
listing all households and the number of persons in every household. A certain
area is then delineated, such that it can easily be traced on the map, its
boundaries can easily be described and identified during the census enumeration
and it can be covered by one enumerator. This section briefly presents the
process of preparing a manual for census mapping; recruitment and training of
census mapping field staff; organization of field operations during census mapping;
delineation of enumeration areas and formation of enumeration area maps;
formation of supervision area maps; construction of wereda (district) maps; and other uses of census maps.
11.
In
undertaking census mapping work, it is essential to prepare a manual which will
be used for the training of census mapping field staff and during the actual
census mapping fieldwork. The manual for census mapping was prepared by a
census mapping task force that was established by the Central Statistical
Authority (CSA). The manual covered different aspects of census mapping work,
such as geographic concepts, map reading, and the delineation of enumeration
and supervision areas in rural and urban areas. Moreover, the manual covered
the use of different maps for the formation of enumeration areas, as well as
how to make a sketch map for a town when no base maps were available (Ethiopia,
CSA, 1992).
12.
The
second phase of the census mapping work involved recruiting and training of
census mapping fieldworkers. At the CSA, the census mapping supervisors were
recruited from the regular staff of the office and were given 15 days of
training. The fieldworkers (called
geographical assistants) were recruited from youth with an educational
background of grade 12 and above who had at least a passing grade in geography
and English in the Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate Examination (ESLCE).
The first batch of 1,000 geographical assistants was recruited in July 1992 and
trained for eight weeks by the members of the census mapping task force. The
training consisted of classroom instructions, classroom exercises and
fieldwork. A few personnel from organizations other than the CSA also
participated in the training of the geographical assistants. In addition, the
census mapping supervisors later took part in the training of the geographical
assistants. More geographical assistants were later recruited, trained and deployed
in the operation so that by July 1993 there were around 2,000 census mapping
fieldworkers in the field. It took about 18 months to complete the census
cartographic work.
13.
The
existence of small administrative units like the peasants’ associations (kebeles) in the rural areas and the
urban dwellers’ associations (kebeles)
in the urban areas, greatly facilitated the census mapping work. This was because these kebeles had distinct boundaries which are well recognized. The
officials in charge of these kebeles
also substantially helped the cartographic work by providing consultations,
publicity, transportation, lodging and other facilities to the geographical
assistants and their supervisors.
14.
During
the census mapping fieldwork, the geographical assistants were organized into
teams. Each team consisted of eight geographical assistants, two technical
supervisors, one administrative supervisor, a driver, a cook and a camp guard.
Each team was provided with a 10-seat four-wheel-drive vehicle; a tent for
every two members of the team; and a mattress, a folding cot and a sleeping bag
for every member of the team. The team was also provided with the necessary
kitchen utensils—silverware, plates, cups and so forth.
15.
During
the census mapping field operation, the team stayed in a camp that was
centrally located for their operation. Thus, the team proceeded to a wereda (district) and approached the wereda administration and briefed the
officials on the objectives of their presence and the need for the support of
the administration officials of the wereda
as well as the kebeles in the rural
or the urban areas. With the cooperation of the wereda officials, the team identified the wereda boundaries and collected the list of the kebeles and the names of chairpersons of
the kebeles from the wereda office. The team also obtained a
letter to the chairpersons explaining the objectives of the census mapping and
the need to provide the team with administrative support in carrying out the
census mapping in their respective kebeles.
16.
Accordingly,
at the outset the team selected a central location in one part of the wereda, where it established its camp
and covered the kebeles in the rural
or the urban areas within walking distance from the camp. When the team
completed the census mapping in a location, they moved their camp to another
location, where they carried out the census mapping for the rural or the urban kebeles around the new camp. This process
of relocating the camp continued until the team completed the census mapping in
the wereda; then the team moved to a
new wereda to launch similar mapping
activities.
17.
The
kebeles in rural areas were
delineated into one enumeration area or subdivided into two or more enumeration
areas according to the size of the kebele
in question. Enumeration areas were never allowed to cross the boundaries of a kebele. An enumeration area in the rural
area was expected to contain from 150 to 200 households, depending on its
terrain and density. If the terrain was
difficult or the population settlement pattern was very dispersed, the
enumeration area held around 150 households, whereas if the terrain was good
and if the population settlement pattern was not dispersed, it contained up to
200 households. In the urban areas, the kebeles
were divided into enumeration areas which were entirely contained within the
boundaries of the kebele. The
enumeration areas in the urban areas also contained 150-200 housing units.
Thus, for the 1994 population and housing census a total of 58,702 enumeration
areas were delineated, of which 49,978 were in rural and 8,724 in urban areas.
18.
Enumeration
area maps contained the following information: region, zone, wereda, kefetegna (a higher kebele
or groups of kebeles, in urban areas
only), name of the kebele, name of
the chairperson of the kebele, code
number of the enumeration area, size of the enumeration area (in square kilometres),
number of households in the enumeration area and number of housing units (in
urban areas only). The EA maps also showed important landmarks, such as
schools, health institutions, churches, mosques, roads and rivers, in the area
and in its boundaries. Moreover, a description of the enumeration area,
particularly of its boundaries, was also attached with the EA map.
19.
About
four to five adjacent enumeration areas were formed into one supervision
area. During the census, one supervisor
was assigned to one supervision area and had the responsibility of providing
the enumerators with the necessary materials and facilities and in following up
on the quality of their work. In the rural areas an average of five enumeration
areas were grouped to form one supervision area, while in the urban areas
around six enumeration areas were grouped to form one supervision area.
Supervision areas were never allowed to cross the boundary of an urban kebele, a wereda or a kefetegna.
Supervision area maps showed the boundaries of all the enumeration areas and
the urban or the rural kebeles that
it contained, the supervision area, and the code number of the supervision
area. Accordingly, in the 1994 census mapping exercise, a total of 11,420
supervision areas were formed, of which 9,845 were in rural and 1,575 in urban
areas.
20.
Wereda (district) maps were also
constructed during the census map work. The wereda
maps indicated the number and also the boundaries of the kebeles in the wereda,
the supervision areas, and the towns (the urban centres) in the wereda. The maps of the urban centres in
a wereda were also constructed; these
maps indicated the boundaries of the centre, the kebeles in the urban centre, the kebele boundaries and the EAs and SAs formed in the urban centre.
21.
The
EA, the SA and the wereda census maps
are being used as a frame for drawing a sample in undertaking various
socio-economic and demographic surveys. The maps are also being used for
various administrative and socio-economic development activities by different
government and non-government agencies, individual researchers and others.
22.
The
current population of Ethiopia, which is 65.3 million, is expected to reach
71.1 million by July 2004, 59.9 million in rural areas and 11.2 million in
urban areas (Ethiopia, CSA, 1998). In the 1994 population and housing census
the observed average household size was 4.8 persons. Assuming that this average
household size will prevail at the time of the 2004 census map work, it implies
that there will be about 15 million households. If an enumeration area constitutes
about 150 households or housing units, the country will be delineated into
about 100,000 enumeration and 20,000 supervision areas.
23.
Since
the 1994 census map work, the boundaries of the regions, zones, weredas and kebeles have changed considerably. More zones and weredas have been created and these
changes are continuing. That is, weredas
are being subdivided into either two or three weredas. Also two or three adjacent weredas are being combined into a single wereda. Moreover, adjacent kebeles in rural areas have been merged
into one or a kebele has been
subdivided into two or more. Hence,
boundaries for most of the weredas
and the kebeles in rural areas have
to be demarcated in census mapping work for the next census. Accordingly, EA delineation
is expected to be carried out for the entire country.
24.
Census
mapping operations require huge human and financial resources and are expected
to take quite a long time, particularly if launched with limited field staff
and logistics support. The 1994 census mapping operation required about one
third of the entire census expenditure. It was carried out by deploying over
2,000 field staff and using over 100 four-wheel-drive vehicles, and it took
about 24 months to complete the exercise in the settled parts of the country.
This exercise did not cover the nomadic areas, which constituted about 10 per
cent of the total population of the country at that time. In terms of area, the
nomadic part of the country constituted not less than 30 per cent of the total
land areas of the country.
25.
The
Central Statistical Authority is responsible for undertaking all the activities
of the forthcoming decennial population and housing census planned to be
conducted in 2004. However, currently the Authority is in the process of
launching the first ever national agricultural sample census. The fieldwork
(that is, the data collection) for this census is expected to start in
September 2001, and this exercise will last until June 2002. Thus, most of the
Authority’s professional as well as field staff, logistics support, field
vehicles and so forth will be deployed in this operation. As a result, the
Authority will not be in a position to undertake any major population census
preparatory activities, particularly those that involve fieldwork, until June
2002. However, some preparatory activities for the planned census could be
carried out between now and June 2002.
26.
These
preparatory activities, which include preparation of the census project
document, have already started. A draft project document was prepared in
collaboration with UNFPA-CST Addis Ababa in March 2001. In this project
document, among others, emphasis was given to the census mapping exercise,
including identification of maps and mapping equipment, human resources, training requirements, and the work plan for
the census mapping exercise.
27.
The
procurement of Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment, computers, Geographic
Information System (GIS) software and field vehicles and the training of the
professional staff that will be involved in the planning and execution of the
census mapping work could be carried out between now and June 2002. Moreover,
activities such as the preparation and printing of census mapping documents
such as the census mapping manual, household listing forms, and other forms
associated with census mapping work could also be carried out during the above
mentioned-period. Also, training of the trainers of the field staff could take
place during this period.
28.
The
major census preparatory activity, which is census mapping, could be launched
by recruiting the field staff during the first week of July 2002. This will be
followed by training the field staff in different training stations ranging from
8 to 10 of the Authority’s 22 branch statistical offices all over the country.
The training of the census mapping field staff will last for a period of six to
seven weeks, and the actual mapping fieldwork, which is the delineation of EAs
and SAs, will start during the first week of September 2002.
29.
The
census mapping exercises involve the identification of the boundaries of the kebeles in rural areas and in urban centres
or towns. This activity is carried out by the mapping field staff with the
assistance of the officials of the kebeles.
These areas are demarcated on census base maps by acquiring georeferenced data
with the help of the GPS receiver sets. The exercise will be followed up by
listing of the households and housing units within each kebele. The listing activity is expected to be carried out on the
basis of localities within the kebele.
If the kebele in rural or urban areas
has fewer than 150 households, it is left intact and becomes an enumeration
area. However, if the number of households or the housing units within the kebele exceeds 150—and in most of the
cases it does—the kebele area will be
delineated into two or more enumeration areas and EA maps will be prepared. In
the process of delineation of EAs, information on basic social services and
infrastructural facilities will be collected.
The location of these facilities will be recorded using GPS receivers.
30.
In
census mapping, if an urban centre does not have a base map—which is usually
the case in small urban centres—a sketch map will be prepared for the urban
centre (town) and will be delineated into two or more EAs, depending on the
total number of households or housing units in the town.
31.
The
2004 census enumeration is planned for mid-May 2004. Therefore, the census
mapping activities should be completed by February 2004. This allows only about
18 months to complete the census mapping activities for the entire country,
including the nomadic areas. Hence, enough field staff to undertake this
exercise in about 18 months should be recruited and trained. Moreover, the
necessary logistics and transportation facilities should be acquired to enable
deployment of as many field staff as required for the exercise to be completed
within the stipulated time.
32.
The
use of the latest state-of-the-art technology has the advantage of speeding up
the operations, making it cost-effective, and improving the accuracy of census
mapping. Hence, the Central Statistical
Authority, in consultation with census mapping advisers of UNFPA-CST Harare and
Addis Ababa, decided to make use of GPS receivers and GIS in its forthcoming
census map work.
33.
If
this exercise is supported by such technology, it is estimated that a pair of
mapping field staff could delineate and prepare eight EAs in a month. This
implies that a team of eight mapping field staff supported by two technical
supervisors and one administrative supervisor could delineate and be able to
prepare up to 32 EA and five to six SA maps in a month.
34.
As
indicated above, the country’s population is expected to reach 71.1 million
persons and about 15 million households by 2004. If we assume that an EA
consists of a locality or localities with about 150 households or housing units,
roughly about 100,000 EAs and 20,000 SAs will be demarcated in the country.
Thus, in order to carry out this exercise in about 18 months, about 174 census
mapping teams should be organized and deployed by the first week of September
2002. Accordingly, in terms of human resources requirements, the office has to
recruit and train 1,408 census mapping field staff (with a minimum educational
background of grade 12), 352 technical supervisors (regular CSA field staff who
took part in the 1994 census mapping) and 176 administrative supervisors
(regular CSA field supervisors).
35.
Census
mapping is one of the major census preparatory activities. It minimizes
omission and/or duplication of households and/or persons at the time of the
census enumeration. The enumeration and
the supervision area maps also help the census office in determining the
manpower and the census documents required for the census; help provide
comparable workloads to the census enumerators and ensure that the census
enumeration is completed in the specified time; help in the quality of census
data collection; and provide a statistical frame for future socio-economic and
demographic surveys. Considering these important uses of census mapping
outputs, it is essential that mapping
should be carried out with utmost care.
36.
If
the 2004 census is to use latest technology, it will be highly desirable to:
·
Procure
the required number of GPS receivers, including computers and software, that
will enable the Authority to set up GIS capable of producing the necessary
census maps at least by June 2002;
·
Provide
training to the Authority’s staff involved in the planning and execution of the
census mapping in the use of GPS receivers and the use of computers and
computer software in the application of GIS and consequently in producing the
necessary EA, SA and district census maps. The training could be organized
locally with the Ethiopian Mapping Authority (EMA) or with an overseas training
institution offering courses in the application of GIS and related fields. This
training should take place during the first quarter of 2002;
·
Procure
the required number of copies of different scale maps and available GIS data
from EMA by January-February 2002; and
·
Ensure
that the census map work covers the nomadic areas of the country.
37.
If
CSA produces such maps, they should be shared with other users after the
completion of the census enumeration and during the dissemination of the census
results.
Ethiopia, Central Statistical
Office (1980) Manual for Census Map Work.
Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia, Central
Statistical Authority (1992). Manual for
Census Map Work. Addis Ababa.
_____ (1998). The 1994 Population and Housing Census of
Ethiopia: Results at Country Level,
Volume I: Statistical Report. Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia, Central
Statistical Authority and UNFPA-CST, Addis Ababa (2001). Draft Component
Project Proposal between Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and
UNFPA. Addis Ababa.
Tripathi, Raj R. (1998).
Summary Report on Cartography and Computerized Mapping to Ethiopia. Addis Ababa.
United Nations (2000). Handbook on Geographic Information Systems
and Digital Mapping. Studies in Methods, Series F No. 79. New York: United
Nations.
_____ (2000). Handbook on Census Management for Population
and Housing Censuses. Studies in Methods, Series F, No. 83. New York:
United Nations.