The history of census taking in most of Africa is characterized by gross under-utilization of census data, the primary preoccupation having been the execution of the processes of enumeration, data processing, the production and publication of census tables and in some cases the preparation, production and dissemination of population projections. Very little attention has been paid to systematic evaluation of the quality of census data, conducting in-depth or further analyses of data, including spatial analysis, and disseminating data in format and media that meet the diverse needs of users. Consequently, census results have not adequately informed policy formulation, program implementation, and socio-economic development in general. Not only have census data been under-utilized, but until recently they were poorly stored, resulting in considerable loss in a number of countries. The few countries that have managed to preserve their data tend to have poor metadata on census codes and definitions, which has limited the utility of their census data.
It was in recognition of the need to preserve Africa census data in order to avoid perpetual loss due to poor storage and also the need to encourage and enhance further analysis, dissemination and utilization of the massive census data that the African Census Analysis Project (ACAP) was initiated. In 1998, ACAP held its first African workshop in the Republic of South Africa, chaired by Professor Tukufu Zuberi, and hosted by Pali Lehohla the Focal Point for the SADC Population Census Project and Statistician General of the Republic of South Africa. Following this workshop, at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meetings of the SADC Ministerial Committee held in Maputo, Mozambique in August 1999, a Memorandum of Understanding was established that formalized the collaboration between ACAP and SADC. This memorandum became the model of collaborative agreements between ACAP and over 30 other African governments and research institutions. This relationship has given ACAP the exclusive rights to develop a platform for archiving over 50 African census micro-data, and promoting that these data be made available and accessible to scholars, international agencies and researchers. After ten years of our work these data are finally viewed as one of the most important and unique source of
population data in Africa.
In this paper, we examine some major aspects of the history of census data collection in Africa. In particular, problems of archiving, exploitation and utilization of the data will be highlighted. Presentation of the African Census Analysis Project (ACAP) will provide an idea of the strategy employed to preserve this wealth of information. It will equally give an idea of the tools developed and the various attempt made to maximize the utility of these data.