Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched a nationwide Master Trainers’ Cartographic Training program as part of preparations for the 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC).
The training, which began on Wednesday at the Saphyre Court Hall in Brookfields, Freetown, marks the first phase of capacity-building efforts ahead of the main census enumeration scheduled for December 2026.
Cartographic mapping, a critical pre-census activity, involves identifying, delineating, and coding Enumeration Areas (EAs) across the country to ensure comprehensive coverage of households and communities. The exercise will provide updated demographic, social, and housing data to guide national planning and track progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Level 1 training will run for seven days and prepare 54 Master Trainers, who will later cascade knowledge to regional and district-level teams. In total, 660 field staff—including trainers, mappers, GIS specialists, and monitoring officers—are expected to benefit from the program.
According to Stats SL, the training aims to strengthen digital mapping skills, improve understanding of census geography, enhance GIS data management, and prepare trainers to mentor and supervise mapping teams in ethics, security, and community engagement.
Statistician General Andrew Bob Johnny described the training as a “cornerstone of national planning,” noting that accurate mapping is essential for a credible and inclusive census. “The skills gained here will cascade to every region and district, laying the foundation for a census that leaves no one behind,” he said.
Regional and district-level trainings are expected to roll out in the coming weeks, with mapping teams fully deployed nationwide by September 2025. Stats SL has called on the public, local authorities, and community leaders to support the exercise to ensure smooth census preparations.
