Malabo, Bioko Norte, Equatorial Guinea March 22, 2024 – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Equatorial Guinea and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) have joined forces to bolster national data collection efforts in Equatorial Guinea. This landmark partnership underscores a shared commitment to enhancing evidence-based decision-making processes within the country.
The central focus of this collaboration is the execution of the Second Demographic and Health Survey. Reliable and current data is crucial for a myriad of reasons, including formulating sound policies, crafting development initiatives, and monitoring and evaluating progress.
“Without updated data, it is difficult to make informed decisions, develop coherent policies, plans, programs, and development projects, as well as to monitor and evaluate them,” stated Hind Jalal, UNFPA representative.
To facilitate the successful implementation of the survey, AECID has contributed a generous sum of 400,000 euros. UNFPA expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Spain for their commitment to this project and thanked Mr Antonio Tortosa Peláez, the General Coordinator of AECID in Equatorial Guinea for his trust in UNFPA's role.
Additionally, UNFPA Representative recognized and commended the Government of Equatorial Guinea for its steadfast commitment and political will to improve the quality and availability of data within the country and thanked Mr Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, the Minister of Planning and Economic Diversification and Mr Dámaso Mitoa Ondo the Minister of Health for chairing the ceremony. The Government commitment includes the vital allocation of funds in the national budget to conduct crucial data-gathering initiatives. The recent completion of the household survey and business census by the National Institute of Statistics of Equatorial Guinea (INEGE), along with preparations for both the Second Demographic and Health Survey (2024) and the Fifth General Population and Housing Census (2025), highlight progress toward this goal. These initiatives, aligned with the National Development Strategy, will be carried out under INEGE's l
