Data Literacy and Awareness

What is Data Literacy and Awareness?

Papua New Guinea has only had four censuses since gaining independence and a few surveys, which has made it hard to understand several important aspects about data. These aspects include the collection process, data integrity preservation, and its application in policy creation, program design, and project monitoring.

Some government officials have tried to integrate the census process with National ID and Election Common Roll updates to save resources. However, merging statistical and administrative procedures without the right legal framework can lead to privacy concerns. Hence, it’s crucial to educate these officials about the importance of keeping the census separate from other data collection methods to ensure its accuracy and reliability

Objectives

We aim to create a simple, clear message about the census and its uses, and deliver it to various audiences, including policymakers, administrators at various levels, journalists, and students. This will be done through print materials and data literacy workshops, designed according to the audience’s needs.

How do we assess and implement?

To assess the audience’s prior data knowledge and requirements, we’ll conduct a Focus Group Discussion (online or in-person) and a small survey before designing the materials and workshops.

In addition, we’ll collaborate with youth networks through the Young Ambassadors program, launched by UNFPA, to enhance their data literacy skills. This is important because youth under 35 years represent nearly 70% of the population.

Furthermore, we’ll also hold a data literacy workshop in each province to explain the census, and how to use data for planning purposes. These workshops, conducted by NSO and the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM), will involve provincial and LLG planners. With about 20-30 attendees per province, these workshops will be conducted in the last quarter of 2022, coinciding with the availability of population data from recent surveys.