Development Partners’ Coordination Group Meeting on Population Census

On 25 June the second Development partners coordination group meeting was organized by UNFPA and the State Committee on Statistics of Uzbekistan with participation of the representatives of international organizations (EU Delegation, World Bank, USAID, UNHCR, UNICEF) and embassies in Uzbekistan (Russian Federation, Swiss Confederation, France).

The meeting was aimed at briefing the participants on the progress of joint efforts during the last six months, among which Mr. M. Ziyadullaev, Deputy Chairman of State Committee on Statistics mentioned about the Law on Census adopted on 16 March 2020, the census preparation workshop organized in February 2020 with participation of expert from Belorussia, who provided valuable methodological support, also a Study Tour of Goscomstat representatives organized to share best practices and experiences with Baku colleagues. He pointed out that the Census is of a huge importance to the country, and hence, the preparations started at policy level, namely census questionnaire is being drafted, Government resolution of Cabinet of Ministers is being prepared including methodological provisions and census plan. Procedures on data collection and processing are being developed, including legal framework provisions (in Uzbek and Russian languages).

Goscomstat informed the participants that the draft census questionnaire (the main document based on which the data will be collected and processed) is being finalized and will be shared with all concerned soon. The questionnaire will be consisted of four forms.  Also participants were briefed on development of cartography materials and preparation of methodological documents and instructions.  

The participants were informed that the Government is planning to conduct Pilot census preliminary in April 2021, in two districts of Tashkent city and two district of Tashkent region.

Mr. Yu Yu, Representative of UNFPA in Uzbekistan, welcomed new members of the Group, CIS Stat and Swedish Ambassador as well as UNFPA Consultant Ms. Luisa Engracia who will be working closely with all concerned on Census calendar development, description of Pilot census, etc.

At the end of the meeting, development partners briefed the audience on the current updates and recent developments in the area of support to census with their organizations.