KATHMANDU, Nov 11: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Wednesday handed over IT equipment worth $609,873 (Rs 72 million) to Nepal’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

The IT equipment consists of 2,250 tablets with power-banks and accessories, 35 laptops, 47 desktop computers, five mobile work-stations, one server, three high resolution printers and relevant software licenses, according to a press release issued by the UNFPA.

It will enable CBS to produce census data that meets the highest technological standards as the CBS is making preparations for the 12th National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) in June 2021 – the first census to be conducted under the new Constitution and federal structure.  The equipment was procured by the UNFPA with the UKaid funding.

“We commit to undertake the census to address the data gaps at the lowest administrative level while ensuring that the health and safety precautions of our personnel and the respondents is in compliance with government guidance,” Nebin Lal Shrestha, Director General of the CBS has been quoted in the press release as saying.

The CBS is currently leading census operations under the guidance of the National Census Steering Committee chaired by the vice chairperson of National Planning Commission.

The IT equipment will strengthen the CBS’s infrastructure and capacity and complements its efforts to modernize the census operation through a multi-method approach of data collection, read the press release.

UNFPA is supporting the Government of Nepal to undertake the 12th NPHC, recognizing that reliable and timely data is the foundation of sustainable and inclusive development in Nepal.

“The census is the cornerstone of the statistical infrastructure – it provides a numerical profile of the country hence is of great value to the public and government alike. UNFPA is proud to offer technical and financial support to the Government to ensure that the census is of high-quality, upholds international standards, and produces data that are widely disseminated and utilized for development gains”, Lubna Baqi, UNFPA Country Representative in Nepal, has been quoted in the press release as saying.

“The UK’s support to Nepal always aims to be based on data that is reliable and which includes everyone. The census is one of the most important chances to capture data so that any number of organizations – from government through to development partners and community organizations – can direct their assistance in the best way. In turn this will help improve the services provided to women, men, children, poor, the vulnerable and other groups of people. I am pleased that the UK has been able to contribute equipment and technology in this way through our partners at UNFPA and the CBS’’, Lisa Honan, Development Director at the British Embassy in Kathmandu, has been quoted in the press release as saying.

 
• UNFPA
 
• IT_equipment
 
• CBS
 
• UKaid