UNFPA experts provide advisory assistance to Moldovan authorities in organising 2014 census

The first meeting of the International Technical Advisory Board for 2014 population and housing census in Moldova was held in Chisinau on May 16.

«The government’s decision to create information resources as regards the number and the characteristics of the population and housing is necessary for Moldova’s development at any level and field,» the head of the National Bureau for Statistics, Lucia Spoiala, said at a news conference today.

Spoiala went on saying that «the international practices show the importance of the statistical information gained from this large-scale procedure, which serves as a starting point in working out demographic, social and economic policies».

Spoiala stressed that the meeting of the Advisory Board was part of the joint partnership agenda with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It is meant to analyse the current situation as regards the preparing for the census, as well as the tests carried out in Aril 2013.

«It is important that the national authorities assume the entire process of holding the 2014 national census as a vital exercise, which proves Moldova’s compliance with the international standards,” the head of UNFPA's Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, Werner Haug, said. Haug also said that the UNFPA was prepared to provide all necessary support for the census» successful development.

Information regarding buildings and dwellings, regardless of their type and habitation, other places for living, collective lodged rooms will be collected for the first time ever in Moldova, during the 2014 census.

The population and housing census will be conducted on 1-14 April 2014. The census’ reference moment will be the data registered at 00:00 o’clock on 1 April 2014, even if the period for filling in the census questionnaires will be of 14 days.

A testing census, in conditions similar to the one to be held in 2014, was organised in April 2013. It was carried out in the Chisinau-based Buiucani sector and included 1,500 households, as well as in Zaim village, Causeni district.

The last census of the Moldovan population was carried out in 2004. The results of the 2014 census of the Moldovan population will be considered as part of the 2010 world census round, carried out according to the UN recommendations and principles.

Adapted from Moldpres