Canchungo, Cacheu Region, April 16, 2025 – Guinea-Bissau's preparations for its upcoming 4th General Population and Housing Census (RGPH4) have reached a crucial milestone, marked by the successful advancement of the cartographic update process. On April 16, 2025, a high-level joint mission convened in the Canchungo region to witness firsthand the significant progress achieved in this vital preliminary stage.

The mission brought together key leaders, including the representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Guinea-Bissau, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration (MEPIR), the representative of the World Bank (WB) in Guinea-Bissau, and the President of the National Statistics Institute (INE), accompanied by his dedicated team. This powerful demonstration of collaboration underscored the strong commitment of both national authorities and international partners to ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of the cartographic update, a foundational step for the national census.

Impressive Progress Driven by Innovation and Community Engagement

Since commencing operations on March 1st, the RGPH4 team has made remarkable strides in laying the groundwork for the census. Building on a successful initial phase in Bissau and Biombo, the cartographic update extended to the Cacheu region on April 7th, where the strategic application of cutting-edge technologies is yielding impressive results. The deployment of georeferencing and digital data collection tools has proven instrumental in ensuring both the precision of geographical data and the speed of its collection.

Recognizing the critical role of local communities in the success of the census, the RGPH4 team proactively engaged with local leaders and community representatives in Cacheu from the outset. This early and continuous dialogue has fostered a strong sense of understanding and cooperation, creating a conducive environment for smooth data collection.

To date, an impressive number of over 120,000 individuals have been meticulously mapped in the Cacheu region. The Central Census Department is diligently utilizing the Monitoring and Collection System (SAR) to closely track every stage of the process, ensuring strict adherence to established timelines and the maintenance of the highest data quality standards. This proactive and adaptive approach underscores the unwavering commitment to delivering a reliable and accurate cartographic database.

Strong Collaboration Underpins Census Preparations

The joint visit to Canchungo on April 16th served as a powerful reaffirmation of the robust inter-institutional collaboration and vital international support that underpin the RGPH4. The active participation of key figures from UNFPA and the World Bank alongside national leadership highlights the shared dedication to ensuring the census is conducted effectively and in accordance with international best practices. The successful completion of this critical preliminary phase will deliver a robust and dependable database, forming the essential bedrock for conducting an accurate and comprehensive national census.

Looking Forward: Timely Completion and Transformative Data

A key element of the RGPH4 cartographic update is the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the data collection process. Regular supervision missions, conducted throughout all stages, including the current phase in Cacheu, enable the prompt identification of any challenges and the swift implementation of necessary adjustments.

Looking ahead, the systematic progression of the cartographic update across all regions of Guinea-Bissau instills strong confidence that each stage will be completed according to the planned schedule.

The data generated from the RGPH4 will serve as a fundamental instrument for shaping Guinea-Bissau's development trajectory. This comprehensive data will provide the essential evidence base for formulating effective public policies and guiding strategic investments across crucial sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, and social development.

The joint mission to Canchungo not only showcased the tangible progress being made in the census preparations but also powerfully reinforced the collective dedication to harnessing the power of accurate data to build a brighter future for the nation and its people.