In anticipation of the dual population and agriculture census scheduled for April 2026, the Central Bureau of Census and Population Studies (BUCREP) and the United Nations System agencies have joined forces in Yaoundé. The main objective of this collaboration is to harmonize their communication strategy, an essential element to ensure the success of this large-scale statistical operation.
The meeting, which took place on March 16, 2026, at the UNFPA headquarters in Yaoundé, brought together the members of the Task Force in charge of census communication. This task force is responsible for coordinating the support of the United Nations System in Cameroon to the communication strategy of the 4th General Population and Housing Census (RGPH) and the General Census of Agriculture and Livestock (RGAE). Representatives from BUCREP and numerous UN agencies, including UNFPA and FAO, key technical partners in the process, were present. The expertise of IFORD and the support of CNUDHD-AC were also contributed.
The primary objective of this collaboration is to encourage massive public support for this initiative of national interest. Beyond the collection of statistical data, the challenge is to transform the census into a civic act, highlighting the importance of each individual in building the country's future. In a complex national context, marked by political, economic, security and technological challenges, it is crucial to establish and maintain public trust.
Census communication therefore has a dual mission: to inform and reassure. It is about clearly explaining the objectives of the census, its progress and its importance for the planning of public policies and the equitable distribution of resources. Ultimately, the ambition is to better understand the population and agricultural realities of Cameroon, in order to guarantee harmonious and inclusive development.
The 2026 census, which will take place from April 24 to May 29, is the fourth of its kind in Cameroon after those of 1976, 1987 and 2005. It will update the demographic and socio-economic data of the country, and better understand the needs and aspirations of its population. The results of this census will be essential to guide public policies and investments in the years to come.
The Cameroonian government is therefore focusing on communication and social mobilization to ensure the success of this census. An effective communication strategy will raise public awareness of the importance of participating in this civic exercise, and thus guarantee the reliability and relevance of the data collected. Every person counts, and every person must be counted.
The combination of the population and agriculture census aims to optimize costs and modernize data collection through a hybrid digital approach. The government has allocated a budget of 13.28 billion FCFA to this operation, of which 7 billion is financed by the World Bank.
