WINDHOEK – Today marks the beginning of the pilot survey for the Namibia Household Income & Expenditure Survey (NHIES) 2015/16. This survey is the sole source of official information on income and expenditure in the country and is also used to compute poverty indicators at household and individual levels.
From today until March 8, 2015, our fieldworkers will be visiting selected households to administer this survey. As indicated, currently we are in the pilot/testing phase, and this is not as large scale as the actual survey, which is to commence on April 27, 2015, until end of March 2016.
A very distinct feature of this year’s survey is the introduction of new technology for data collection and the partial phasing out of paper-based data capture. For the first time, the NSA will be using tablets to collect data from sample households using computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI).
Two instruments of the survey will be used to record information. The first instrument is the questionnaire captured in CAPI to be used to record demographic information and transactions of frequent and infrequent nature like purchases of durable goods as well as other information. The second instrument is the Daily Record Book printed on hard copy and given to households to complete themselves to capture information of daily transactions such as food, beverages and tobacco. The completed daily record book will then be captured in the computer assisted personal interviewer.
Looking at the areas or detailed topics for discussions provides a better understanding fieldworkers will be coming to do in your households. As keen be seen, once this survey is conducted and the necessary information assessed, we shall have up to date information on the composition of our households, housing conditions and food adequacy, education and health status of our people, as well as a better understanding of our labor force. The information that will be updated includes agricultural activities, expenditures on commodities, clothing and furnishings, household equipment and leisure, as well as expenditures on transport and holidays, for example. Savings and investment statistics will also provide us with a better understanding of whether the nation generally saves and invests or not. Play your part by allowing us to play ours. We thank you all in advance.
*Iipumbu Sakaria: Deputy Director: Corporate Communication at the Namibia Statistics Agency