1. Quality Assurance in Maldives Population and Housing Census 2014
National Bureau of Statistics, Maldives

2. Quality Assurance used in :
Cartography
Questionnaire designing
Enumeration
Data processing
Dissemination

3. Cartography : Census block maps
Block maps used in the islands:
Census block maps was updated and divided into Enumeration blocks with the assistance of the Island Councils at the early stage.
This was later verified through Trainers who travelled to different islands to conduct Census training.
Some of the block maps had the name of the house written. In such cases, during the listing operation, supervisors made sure all the houses were visited by comparing the block map with the listing form.

4. Cartography : Census block maps
Block maps used in Male’:
The most updated map was received from Male’ city council and divided into enumeration blocks.
The results from census 2006 was used as rough estimate to identify Enumeration Blocks with requires further division.
In some areas, the municipal blocks had to be further divided for enumeration purpose. This was done in a way that the census blocks can be bridged with municipals.
All the block maps had the name of the house written. During the listing operation, supervisors made sure all the houses were visited by comparing the block map with the listing form.

5. Questionnaire Design:
Data User’s workshop was conducted to identify the different requirements from different ministries.
This was followed by successive meetings with different ministries/ NGOs on how to frame the questions, to weigh the possibility of including additional questions.
Pre-testing of the census questionnaire done in different locations.
After the pre-test -some of the questions were removed.
Pilot census- shorter version of the questionnaire was prepared for collective living quarters as it was time consuming to complete the full questionnaire. This was especially done to capture the foreign population.
Presentation of draft questionnaire to the Permanent Secretaries- to include further requirement from policy level

6. Questionnaire Design:
In doing so-
adherence to Census Recommendation was taken into consideration
Comparability with previous census was considered.
respondent burden was taken into account.
Best practices from other countries was used

7. Enumeration: Census field operation
Census field work was conducted from 20 – 30 September Reference given to: 19th Sept 2018 mid-night
Measures put in place for complete coverage for Maldivians:
Specific questions included in the ‘Person listing’ form to identify usual residence, visitors, absent household members (out of country, on sea for fishing for longer duration)
Special teams worked at night to enumerate homeless people
Special teams mobilized to enumerate the boats, safari’s.
Slips given to households whom respondents are unable to meet ( with the choice for respondent to call the central centre, to fix appointment, walk-in interview etc)

8. Enumeration: Census field operation
Many undocumented foreigners working in the country provided challenges for enumerating this population.
Cooperation with High Commissions, Dept. of Immigration and Employers on how to enumerate the foreign population
Measures put in place for complete coverage for Foreigners:
Special teams assigned to enumerate foreigners. Foreign residents (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka) worked as enumerates to translate, enumerate the expatriate population in the country.
Awareness sessions conducted during census week
Still had an undercount of foreign population at the end of census operation

9. After census field work
No post enumeration survey was conducted.
The quality of the data was checked through:
National Identity Card system - where registered popn/address of the Maldivians were available (and each Maldivian given a unique identification number)
VRS- for births and deaths
Immigration- for foreign residents
Ministry of tourism- number of people working in the resorts.
Hulhumale’ Development Cooporation – Number of people living in Hulhumale’.
The quality of the data was checked through these method before releasing the preliminary results– released on November 2014

10. Data processing
Data processing was outsourced to an international firm
Used ICR and OMR technology – eflow system
Data consistency checks was developed prior to the data processing and the programme was inbuilt with these consistency checks.
During scanning the data processing team ensured:
Household forms are there for each household listed in the household listing.
All the forms per block was scans and household number was unique
Coding of island, country, ISIC and ISCO was done after scanning process.

11. Data processing Once the data entry has been completed :
Person missing age, sex was referred to scanned images
Data consistency checks carried out (eg: fertility info being filled for males)

12. Dissemination
Census Basic report released separately for population, migration, education, employment, fertility and household.
Each release had:
Brief summary report - Infographic
Dhivehi write-up - Video
Tables
Having separate releases:
gave NBS the time to check the quality of the data through administrative data sources.
Compare the results with previous census.
The results being disseminated without waiting for the whole report

13. Dissemination – census dataset
Anonymized dataset prepared and shared with public
census dataset available for public through request on NBS website.
Dataset (excel, STATA, SPSS, Access)
Census questionnaire
Data dictionary