On the 16th of July, 2026, Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) successfully conducted a comprehensive orientation for Independent Monitors at the UNFPA Sierra Leone Headquarters in Signal Hill, Freetown. The half-day event was organised to equip monitors with the knowledge, operational guidance and ethical standards to effectively observe and assess the exercise, in preparation for their oversight role in the upcoming 2026 Mock Population and Housing Census.
The orientation was attended by senior Stats SL and UNFPA officials, development partners, members of the Independent Monitoring Team, technical experts and other key stakeholders. Participants were briefed on the objectives of the Mock Census and the details of monitoring methodologies, field monitoring procedures, reporting protocols, and coordination mechanisms with the census field teams. Sessions emphasised the importance of objectivity and neutrality, and reporting templates to provide consistent, actionable feedback during and after the exercise.
At the opening of the orientation, UNFPA Country Representative, Kunle Adeniyi reiterated UNFPA’s continued commitment to support the Government of Sierra Leone, through Statistics Sierra Leone, in conducting a credible, inclusive and internationally recognised Population and Housing Census. He said that independent monitoring was a key element in improving transparency, accountability and public confidence in the census process and urged the monitors to carry out their duties with professionalism, impartiality and integrity.
According to Statistics Sierra Leone’s Deputy Statistician-General Lansana Kpewolo Kanneh, the Mock Census was an important preparation for the national enumeration scheduled for December 2026. The exercise, he said, provides a real-world opportunity to test all aspects of field operations, data collection instruments, operational systems, logistics and communication strategies ahead of the main census. Kanneh also informed the participants that census field personnel had already been deployed to the six selected Mock Census locations to conduct household listing activities.
The participants were presented with technical presentations introducing the purpose and scope of the exercise as well as the roles and responsibilities of the Independent Monitors. The presenters walked monitors through ethical considerations for observation activities, presented specific field monitoring procedures, and demonstrated how to use reporting templates to document observations and recommendations. The interactive parts of the brief allowed monitors to ask questions about operational issues, ensuring that they understood channels for coordination with field teams and how to escalate concerns if problems arose in the field.
The organisers stressed that the Mock Census Night will be on July 19, 2026, and enumeration will begin on July 20, 2026. “The Independent Monitors were encouraged to objectively record their observations during these critical stages and to make practical, evidence-based recommendations to help improve preparations for the national census later this year.
The orientation ended with a renewed commitment by Statistics Sierra Leone and UNFPA to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, transparency and accountability during the Mock Census. Independent Monitors reiterated their willingness to support the successful implementation of the exercise and contribute to the delivery of a credible, inclusive and high-quality national Population and Housing Census by 2026.
