After more than 12 years from the last population census Sudan will launch a nationwide census to count the country’s population, farmlands and livestock.
The two-year project will cost $173 million, of which 99,931 for population census while $72,374 for farmlands and livestock census.
As a matter of fact, the census is crucial as an essential data for ay planning process.
One of our crises in Sudan is the absence of strategic planning and this is not because of the absence of visions or planning experts, but due to the absence of updated data and information.
Few months ago the Ministry of Finance announced the formation of economic planning agency to set the political and economic analyzing
This step, though it came late, represents the first step towards the economic renaissance, but it will stumble due to the lack of updated data.
During the ousted regime era the strategic planning institutions were the weakest and that simply because the government itself was running the state without planning and that is evidenced in the absence or data and figures.
The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in Sudan is only linked to the regular monthly inflation rate.
Last year the Ministry of Industry started an industrial survey process, but no outcome was revealed.
Planning results is subject to the existence of an updated database and this could be provided by the population, farmlands and livestock census.
We are really in need to make planning on top of the government projects.
The absence of planning is the main factor in losing resources and missing the opportunities.
The existence of clear plans based on official statistics represent the main factor in attracting the investments.
The census will help advance development in Sudan, decrease poverty and end conflicts in the country.
The planned census attaches a special importance time as it will be used as a basis for power and wealth sharing between the country’s regions as well as for preparing for the general election by the end of the transitional period in 2024.
Strategic planning is not apastime. It is the basis for the success of any project. Without planning, all efforts will be in vain
