EUROSTAT
Directorate D: External cooperation, communication and key indicators
Unit D-1: Statistical Cooperation with European and Mediterranean countries /
Doc. PGSC/2011/07
Meeting of the
Policy Group on Statistical Cooperation
27 – 28 October 2011
Zagreb, Hotel Sheraton
Start: 9.30 am
Population census in Montenegro
First results and lessons learned
Point 4 of the Agenda
This documentcoversMontenegro's experience from the Census, as well as the experiencefrom “peer assessment” mission and a short overview of previously published census results.
The experiencefrom Census will be presented in three main phases: before the field activities, during the data collection at the field, and after the field. The list of main activities in every of these phases is presented in slides. Through these activities we will present what we have learnt by the census.
First and main part is legal basis. The Law was adopted by the Parliament in July and after amendments in October, and with its implementation there was noticed a shortage –task and responsibility distribution has to be completely precise and clearly defined in the very law. An idea during the law drafting is to define by the law participants and main obligations of all census participants with the detailed explanations in the Methodology and Guideline for Census Organisation, what was done
In regards with the budget, we can point out a positive experience regarding the accessibility of planned resources. Budget planning is also satisfying with one sudden, insufficiently planned moment, and this was transport costs for enumerators. Namely, this census was recognised by the fact that there were no registered participants from rural areas, and for the enumeration of these areas there was possible to engage onlyenumerators from urban areas who were familiar with some urban area. Because of that, the costs of transport for the enumerators were higher in comparison with the planned for this item. We have to point out that there were no problems in final reimbursement, because the work was redistributed.
For the needs of public campaign, approx. EUR 90 000 was spent, and the campaign provided satisfactory results. We will present here the main activities of public campaign which included, billboards, two types of leaflets; distribution through daily newspapers and through group of students in public events, press conferences, training for journalists andTV spot. Generally, main characteristics of public campaign can be summarised in several items: very aggressive campaign, of different contents. Because of tender procedures, the campaign started relatively late. Also, we can say that there was a not controlled political campaign conducted by certain political parties.
Main methodological material developed for the needs of field work is provided in slides.
Main characteristics of forms are: simplicity and clearness in general, also with some exceptions related to the use of dwelling and activity status. Additionally, in the last moment a decision was made to print forms in Albanian language, and errors in the translation of those forms caused certain difficulties, but problems were solved on time by an appropriate action.
The pyramid of participants – often used slide before and during the census, presents census participants and their main obligations. At the top of pyramid is MONSTAT- responsible for organisation and conducting the census in accordance with the Law. This role was carried out in the field by MONSTAT through state instructors. State instructors were those who were responsible in their municipalities for respecting methodological and organisational rules, and control of respecting those rules by the side of all participants. Census commissions established at the municipality level were responsible for the organisation of census activities (selection of instructors and enumerators, provision of premise for training and control of material, etc.). The instructorswere responsible for applying methodological and organisational rules in the field for those who were responsible in accordance with the methodology, and this was control of enumerators’ work. The enumerators were also responsible in accordance with the methodology for a set of obligations, and they were, as the basis of this pyramid, the most numerous participants. The responsibility of all participants of pyramid was clearly defined.
Maps are an important precondition for conducting the census. In regards with the fact that Statistical Office of Montenegro conducted the Census of Agriculture in 2010, experience from this census is positively used for the population census. Every enumerator possessed the map of his/her enumeration area. Map drafting was responsibility of Real Estate Administration, and we would like to put an accent on good cooperation. The whole territory of Montenegro was covered by such maps. Maps of urban area are a positive example, and we can draw the attention on insufficiently clear maps for rural areas where the enumeration area covers larger and uninhabited territory.
Three-day trainings in three levels were organised for participants of the census, in accordance with the table you see on the slide. What was new compared to the previous practice is a test performed at all levels, and which was the last condition for participants to enter the census. Another successful example is a uniform presentation prepared for the needs of training, and appropriate equipment and prepared and presented examples in all training spots.
This time, a special attention was paid to ensure and conduct the quality control. For the purposes of this, the Strategy for Ensuring the Quality was adopted and it refers to all phases, preparatory ones, as well as field work phase, processing, and data dissemination. Also, for the purposes of quality control, the post-enumeration survey (PES) was done at the sample of 55 enumeration areas.
In addition to the assessment of coverage, this survey also conducted the control of data quality collected by the census. Report on this survey will be prepared and published in the first half of 2012.
Preliminary results of census were published on 12 May, respecting the deadline defined by the law. Also, preliminary results of number of population, households, and dwellings are presented in the slide. Additionally, for the needs of presenting the preliminary results, there were drafted publication and press release (to show book and release through the link).
The census data entering was performed from 4 May to 20 June 2011. The data enter was done in three shifts. One shift counted 60 operators, 3 supervisors, and methodologists, 2 programmers, and 1 person responsible for the network.
In average 24 000 forms were entered daily in 60computers. An operator entered daily 150 forms in average. After all enters, all operators received certificates with references.
After entering, several control levels were performed. The double control was done for the first time. Also a control, i.e. defining the population with the usual place of residence was done. Until now, there were performed controls of all sexes, ages, citizenship, and marital status. The data on population characteristics by these variables were published through the release. Coding school, activity, and occupation are currently performed.
Peer assessment mission
The main objective was to assess whether the census was conducted in line with the international recommendations published by UNECE/Eurostat, and as adopted by the Conference of European Statisticians as Principles and Recommendations for the 2010 Population and Housing Census.
The assessment was carried out by a senior census expert, Mr. Jean-Michel Durr, assisted by Mr. Roberto Bianchini.
First mission was conducted in July 2010. The main goal of mission wasto review the preparation of the census of Montenegro, to identify factors of success, but also risks and special needs for technical assistance, as well as to draw some recommendations to Monstat.
Second mission was in November 2010, with main activity to assess the progress achieved in the preparation of the census and the implementation of the recommendations. Meetings were organised with external stakeholders, such as political parties, and municipalities to assess the political and organisational context of the census preparation.
Third mission in period 1-15 April 2011
•Each of the 21 Municipalities of Montenegro was visited during census operations.
•Meeting was organized with the Municipal Commission.
•Census municipal premises were visited
•State instructors and municipal instructors met,
•Interviews made by enumerators to the households were observed.
Fourth mission was in July 2011. During this mission experts assessdata capture, data processing, census evaluation - post enumeration survey, the plan for census data dissemination and analysis.
As for the end related to thepeer assessment mission, I would like to cite the final expert report: “In conclusion, the mission could assess that the 2011 census of Montenegro was prepared, conducted in the field and processed in accordance with the international recommendations, and in particular the Recommendations made by the Conference of European Statisticians for the 2010 round of Populating and Housing Censuses.”
Until now published data refer to sex and age structure of population, citizenship, marital status and consensual union. We have published for the first time the statistics of names.
There were adopted dissemination plans for period 2011-2013. Also, drafting a new strategy for dissemination is ongoing (or it is already adopted). The approach to dissemination products has been innovated. Every variable will be presented through the short releases, and after the finished complete data processing, analytical products will be thematically produced.
So, although the field work has been finished, activities related to the census are ongoing and work on publishing of results is actively done, and after there will be preparations for sending the data to Eurostat, and then drafting the report on quality defined by regulation, and other both national and international obligations.
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