Table of Contents

Foreword -- p. 1

Chapter One: Introduction -- p. 2

Chapter Two: General Guidelines -- p. 6Chapter Three: Basic Definitions -- p. 9Chapter Four: Counting -- p. 12Chapter Five: End of the Job -- Conclusion -- p. 37
[Page 1 is omitted from this translation of the original document]

[p. 2]
Chapter One: Introduction

The population census is the principal source of basic statistics about the population. It is essentially a national operation whose success depends upon the contribution of each Burkinabe.

1.1 - Definition

The general population census can be defined as "the ensemble of operations that aim to gather, group, analyze and publish demographic, economic and social information pertaining to the population of the country at a given period in time" (definition of the United Nations).

1.2 - Objectives of the general population census

Generally, the objectives of the general population census differ from those of administrative censuses, which are fiscal in nature and mainly serve to determine the number of people subject to tax.

The census results may be used for administrative purposes. In fact, the first goal of the census is to take inventory of our country's resources and to determine the population's size and structure by province and even by village, which can then serve as a base for the administrative organization of the country.

The census also allows us to obtain the information necessary for the elaboration of the five-year plan and other actions that favor social and economic development, such as:

[p. 3]1.3 - Legal foundation of the census

A general population census is an operation of national interest. Consequently, its organization is determined at the highest level.

The legislative foundations of the second census of Burkina Faso are:

Individuals' information is subject to professional confidentiality. All Burkinabe and foreigners residing in Burkina Faso are required to respond to the questions asked of them.

1.4 - General organization of census

The population census is a complex operation, and as such necessitates a rigorous and adequate organization.

Several organs of coordination and execution were created to carry out this operation. They are:

[p. 4]

For the execution of various activities, the Central Census Bureau calls upon several categories of personnel:

[p. 5]
1.5 - Division of land

1.5.1 - Administrative division

The administrative organization of Burkina Faso is as such: provinces, departments, communes, districts, villages.

The basic administrative unit is the village in rural areas and the district in urban areas. Each household unit belongs to an administrative unit. Villages are grouped into departments, and departments into provinces. Cities and communes are divided into districts.

1.5.2 - Census operational division

Villages are kept as base units to produce census information.

They are of different sizes, ranging from less than 100 to more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Therefore, it is necessary to divide certain villages or group together others so that the census agents have approximately the same amount of work.

Keeping this in mind, as well as the needs of the census, two types of operational units were formed:

[p. 6]
Chapter Two: General Guidelines

2.1 - Role and tasks of census agent

Your work, which will take place within a counting zone (CZ) during the entirety of the operation, principally consists of:

Other than the recommendations given on the inside cover of this manual, you will also respect the following guidelines:

In no case shall you:

[p. 7]

2.2 - Census agent's file

The census agent's file includes specific documents and supplies necessary for the execution of his/her work, including:

2.3 - Recording period

The recording period for the population is from December 10-20, 1985. Therefore, the work of the census agents begins December 7, 1985.

2.4 - Reference date

The reference date for the recording of the population's characteristics is the night preceding the census agent's visit to the household. The reference date is therefore mobile.

2.5 - Reference period

This is the week preceding the reference date and the week pertinent to the information of the population's economic activity. This reference period is one week long (7 days).

Ex: if a household is counted on December 15, 1985, the reference period is from December 8-14, 1985.

2.6 - Collection method

The collection method that will be used is direct interview.

[p. 8]

The recording of the population's information should be done by census agents at the dwelling of the persons whose census information is being taken. This information shall be based upon the willing statements of each person capable of responding to the questions asked.

It is therefore clear that it is the job of the census agents to travel from one household to the next, not for inhabitants to come to the census agent. It is strictly forbidden for census agents to gather the population for counting purposes.

Information should be recorded by concession in the counting zone, by household in the land concession, and by person in the household.

Firstly, the census agent identifies the household and addresses himself/herself to the head of the household to collect information. In case the head of the household is not available, the census agent may speak with anyone else capable of providing the census agent with the information asked.

N.B. : In the case that the census agent cannot find any member of the household at home, they should continue working in a normal fashion at the neighboring houses, indicating the date of their next visit. It is imperative that the agent repeats his visit as many times as needed in order to find a member of the household that can provide the necessary information. If the agent cannot find a member of the household for the entire census period, he/she should fill out the questionnaire with neighbors, family, a landlord, or another person familiar with the household.

Concerning collective housing, a list of such establishments has already been compiled by the B.C.R. in collaboration with local authorities. Nevertheless, if the census agent identifies collective housing not previously identified, he/she shall continue and count them as such and notify his/her supervisor.

Military collective housing and penitentiaries will be counted by employees of these establishments, while Burkinabe diplomatic or ambassadorial personnel living abroad (with or without their families) will be counted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation.

[p. 9]

Chapter Three: Basic Definitions

In order for the census agent to properly complete his/her work, it is necessary for the census agent to know the meaning of the following basic concepts:

3.1 - Concession

A concession is a housing unit formed by an ensemble of buildings, possibly but not necessarily surrounded by an enclosure, in which one or several households reside. In a rural setting, a concession may also consist of an ensemble of enclosed buildings around which there exist one or more houses, the occupants of which claim to belong to the enclosed ensemble of buildings.

3.2 - Household

The household is the fundamental unit of the census. The census distinguishes between two types of households:

The meaning of the word household within the context of the census is fundamentally different from than that commonly given to the word family.

3.2.1 - The ordinary household

The household is generally considered the base socio-economic unit within which the members are blood-related or not; they live together in the same house or concession; they combine their resources and work together to satisfy their essential nutritional and vital needs.

In reality, the division of a house or concession into households based upon the above definition is not an easy task.

As a general rule, a household consists of a man, his spouse, his children, and other relatives and non-married domestic workers that live with them.

[p. 10]

Attention: In the case of concessions or houses occupied by a large family where there are more than two generations of people living under the same roof, you should not treat the grandparents, their married children, and their families as if they belonged to one single household. Each married child, together with their spouse and (non-married) children, constitute a household.

Some examples of households:

The examples of households below will aid you in recognizing what constitutes a household.

If the wives of a polygamist husband do not live in the same concession, each woman constitutes a separate household. Nevertheless, the polygamist husband is not counted more than once, that time being the household in which he spent the night prior to the census agent's visit.

3.2.2 - Collective household

Definition: a collective household is made up of a group of people who generally share no familial relation but live together under special conditions, that is to say principally using the resources furnished to them by an establishment to provide for their essential needs (food, lodging, care). Included in collective households are:

[p. 11]Attention: On occasion, in the establishments described above, one finds an individual or a group of people that stay there in an autonomous and separate fashion, and who take their meals independently or outside of the establishment. This person or group of people constitute an ordinary household living within the confines of the establishment and should be counted as such.

Example: Members of the military or other security personnel who live with their family, either alone in a private dwelling or within the confines of an establishment, make up an ordinary household and should be counted as such.

[p. 12]

Chapter Four: Counting
`
4.1 - Preparatory work

To ensure the complete recording of households in your zone, you should complete certain tasks before the counting date in addition to the work done by the B.C.R.

4.1.1 - Presentation in the counting zone

The work in your counting zone will begin by contact with the local C.D.R. delegates. On this occasion, you will explain to them what your work consists of and solicit their help raising the population's awareness of the census, even with campaigns already having been run.

This awareness campaign is very important because the success of the census depends upon the truthfulness of the responses people will give you. In order for this to happen, it is above all necessary to gain their complete trust by explaining the census objectives to them and repeating that the information given is confidential and will not be able to used in any case involving financial motives, legal prosecution, or others.

[p. 13]

4.1.2 - Survey of the counting zone

You will perform a survey of the counting zone accompanied by the C.D.R. delegates. For any confusion or questions concerning the limits of the counting zone, notify your supervisor to obtain directions on how to proceed.

[Sections 4.1.3 - 4.2.3 are omitted from this translation of the original document]

[p. 18]
4.2.4 - Completion of the household form

At the top of the household form are the following elements:

You will write the numbers of the concessions and the households in the boxes next to them. They are noted on the second and third pages of the cover.

[p. 19]

The second part of the household form is for recording the individual characteristics of each member of the household. It is comprised of 21 columns and 10 lines, each line being reserved for a member of the household.

The population is counted according to several characteristics.

A) Demographic characteristics

Column one - order number:

The order number is printed on the household form. If the number of persons exceeds 9, you will complete this by adding denominations of 10 before the number. Thus, in putting a 1 before a 0 you have the order number 10; putting a 2 before 1 on the third sheet will give you order number 21.

[p. 20]

Column two - full name:

Record the full names of the members of the household, beginning with the head of household. Respect the following order:

Note: in the instance of a newborn who has not yet been baptized, record the name followed by NN.

Column three - sex:

Record M for male, F for female.

Attention: don't always rely on first names to determine the sex of an individual.

[p. 21]

Column four - relationship:

This indicates the relationship of each person in the household to the head of household or to the closest relative living in the household concerned. You will use the following abbreviations:

Add numerical indications to these abbreviations in order to show the direction of lineage. The numbers should correspond to the order numbers of the persons on the household form.

Examples:

This column does not concern members of a collective household. In this case, mark a dash (--) in the box of this column for each member.

Column five - residence status:

Residence is defined in relation to the household in which a person usually resides. Each person counted in the census must be classified in one of the four following residence status categories:

[p. 22]

a) Present Resident (RP)

Someone is classified as a present resident if they have habitually lived in the household for more than 6 months and are present on the reference date. In most cases, the reference delay (six months) is sufficient for determining residence. However, there are exceptions. For example, people that have lived in a given location for less than six months but express the intention of staying there are classified as Present Residents (RP). In this case, they will not also be counted at the location they left less than six months prior.

Examples:



Other Present Resident cases:

The following persons shall be classified as "present residents", even if they have not spent the reference night in their household:



[p. 23]

b) Absent Resident (RA)

This is a person usually residing in the household who was absent the night preceding the interview, but whose absence was less than six months in duration. For this person, you will record "RA" in the corresponding box in column 5. The person must be absent from the household for a period of time lesser than six months.

However, in certain cases, persons absent from their household for less than six months are still not considered "absent residents" in their household. They are recorded as present residents at the location in which they are present during the census counting and will not be counted in the households to which they are linked. This is the case for persons who are part of a collective household, such as:



However, if students are on vacation from school and home with their families at the time of the census, count them with their parents as visitors and in the dormitory as absent residents.

Certain categories of people absent from their household for a period longer than six months will be considered absent residents (RA) in these households. This includes women who have just given birth with their family and who are staying there for longer than six months.

c) Visitors (VIS)

This concerns persons present in the household the night before the interview but who don't live there, because their primary residence is elsewhere.

[p. 24]

For these people, it is necessary to record "VIS" in column 5. These persons should be visiting for a period less than six (6) months. In general, persons staying in hotels are "visitors".

But if they do not have a residence and they work in Burkina Faso, they are then considered present or absent residents, according to their situation on reference night (ex: a person undergoing a transfer or a foreign expert/specialist who has not yet found housing).

A person who is a member of a collective household but staying the reference night with their family should be recorded as "VIS", because they are "RA" in their establishment.

d) Emigrants (EM)

The following are considered emigrants and shall be recorded as EM in column 5:



Other special cases:



[p. 25]

Column six - age or birthdate:

This column is divided into two subcolumns:

Only one of these sub-columns needs to be filled out for each individual.

For each person, it is necessary to obtain as much precision as possible concerning the day, month and year of birth. You should consult the personal documents of those being interviewed on an as-needed basis: birth certificate, ID card, family record book.



For children under a year old, record the age in months if between 1 and 12 months, followed by the letter "M", and in days if the child is less than one month old, followed by the letter "J".

Example:



In the case that someone has no idea what their age is (or has a very vague idea), it is necessary to ask them, or the person responding for them, if they remember an important event in the history of the city or area, of which the date is well-known, in order to estimate the age of the person concerned.

In certain cases, you may ask the respondent to search their memory for another person in the area that is of a similar age to them to see if this person can either provide more information on their age or serve as a reference.

[p. 26]

You may also consult the relationship between a person's declared age (even the date) and certain other replies, such as: education, the age of their first child and the number of children for a woman, etc.

If the responses to these questions seem erroneous in comparison to the age of the individual, you must probe while with the respondent to obtain logical responses.

Column seven - place of birth:

a) for every person born in Burkina Faso, record:

b) for every person born outside of Burkina Faso, record the name of the country of birth.

Column eight - place of residence one year ago:

Ask the question: "Where were you living in December 1984?"

For people whose place of residence one year ago is the same as their place of residence at the time of the census counting, record "HERE".

For people whose place of residence one year ago is not the same as their place of residence at the time of the census counting, record the name of the administrative center of the province in which they were residing at that time, if it was in a province of Burkina Faso.

For people whose place of residence one year ago was outside of Burkina Faso, write the name of the country.

B) Educational characteristics

Column nine - literacy (in what language?):

A person is considered literate in a language when they are able to interpret and transcribe the details of their everyday life.

[p. 27]

You will use the following abbreviations:

[The abbreviations are omitted from this translation of the original document]

In the event a person is literate in more than one language, record the language most often used.

Column ten - level of education
[This section, column ten, is omitted from this translation of the original document]

[p. 28]

C) Economic characteristics

Column eleven - occupational status:

The reference period is the week preceding the census agent's visit to the household.

Occupational status is the connection between each person and economic activity within a determined time period.

This fundamental question allows the classification of the population into two categories: active and inactive.

a) Active

The active population includes those employed and those not employed but actively seeking employment.

Attention:

Farmers and their family helpers are considered employed even if the reference week falls during a period of inactivity due to climate conditions. For example after a harvest, a farmer that carries out no activity should still be considered as employed.



[p. 29]



b) Inactive

Inactive persons are those that follow within the following classifications:



Some precisions

- Persons taking care of the household (POF):





- A wife that aids her husband or another household member in their profession or performs a paid activity (dying, cutting/styling hair, pottery) is considered employed, even if she also takes care of the household.

[p. 30]

- A woman who, for example, goes to the market in the morning to sell produce or other products and then returns to do housework is also considered employed.

- Students (STU):

A person of either sex is in this category if they perform no economic activity and frequent an establishment of private or public education to receive schooling at any level.

For persons in this category, refer to the situation of the person during the 1985/1986 school year.

For persons taking night or literacy classes, the following situations may arise:



- Retired (RET):

A person of either sex is in this category if they perform no economic activity and their resources come principally from a pension, state-funded or otherwise, resulting from previous activity.

If a person claiming to be "retired" performs an economic activity that earns them more money then their pension, this person should be considered employed.

- Stockholder (REN):

A person is in this category if they perform no economic activity and their primary resources come from placement of funds and assets, notably real estate.

[p. 31]

- Sick persons (INV):

A person of either sex is in this category if they have a physical or mental illness that prevents them from working. Nevertheless, sick persons who work should be classified as employed.

- Other inactive persons (AUT):

An inactive person of either sex is in this category if they perform no economic activity and are not classified in any of the categories mentioned above. Classified in this category in particular are children older than 10 years of age who do not attend school and are not economically active, and elderly persons who no longer work and have no pension or personal fortune and depend on the charity of family or others.

N.B.: Every person 10 years of age and older must have an occupational status recorded in column 11.

Attention: Columns 12 to 15 only apply to those persons employed or unemployed but looking for employment (OCC and CHO). In each case, they should describe their last job. For the other categories (QUE, POF, ETU, RET, INV, AUT), record a dash in these columns.

Column twelve - principal occupation:

- For an employed person, the principal occupation corresponds to the type of work actually performed during the reference period to which the person dedicated the most of their time.

- For people unemployed but looking for a job, we will consider their last job worked as their principal occupation (this applies to those who have previously been employed). It is concerned with the profession performed by the person being counted, not their rank, function or the job they were trained to do.

[p. 32]

Notes:

If the person being interviewed is a government worker, it is necessary to probe the person in order to obtain a detailed description of the work they perform.

Attention: In rural areas, the principal occupation is that performed during the rainy season.

Here are some examples of good and bad responses:

[This section is omitted from this translation of the original document]

[p. 33]

Column thirteen - situation within principal occupation:

This is a person's situation in relation to their current principal occupation, or previous principal occupation if the person is unemployed but looking for work.

The possible categories and their codes are:

Employer, Boss (EMP): This is an active, employed person who runs their own economic enterprise or exercises a profession for their own well-being. To this effect, they employ one or more persons that are paid.

A person that employs one or more domestic workers is not an employer, even if the person pays them.

Independent (IND): This is an active person that is self-employed but does not employ anyone else. They may, however, have family helpers or non-paid apprentices.

Salaried (SAL): This is a person that works for a public or private employer and who in return receives a salary in cash or in benefits.

Family helper (AIF): This is a person who works for a business owned by a family member and does not receive compensation, a salary or any remuneration. Family helpers are most often found in agriculture, commerce and transport; they are generally given room and board and, from time to time, receive gifts.

Other (AUT): These are persons whose occupational situations cannot be classified in any of the categories mentioned above.

[p. 34]

Column fourteen - secondary occupation:

A person's secondary occupation is that which takes the most of his/her time after his/her principal occupation.

It is necessary to try and obtain the most detailed information possible about the work performed.

Example of a secondary occupation: an accountant that teaches accounting courses in an educational institution.

Attention:

Column fifteen - situation within secondary occupation:

Please refer to the instructions for filling out column 13.

D) Marriage and children

Column sixteen - marital status:

This is the information concerning the marital status of residents of both sexes age 12 years or older.

Use the following abbreviations:

[p. 35]

Columns 17 to 20 only concern women age 12 or older.

Column seventeen - total number of children born living:

For each resident woman age 12 or older, it is necessary to record the number of children born alive from her first pregnancy to her most recent pregnancy as of the reference date, including:

Abortions, miscarriages and stillbirths are not included in this category.

Column eighteen - children still living:

For these same women, you should record the total number of children still living at the time of the interview.

Example: For a woman who gave birth to 6 children who were living at the time of birth but of which only 5 are still living at the time of the interview, record 6 in column 17 and 5 in column 18.

Columns nineteen and twenty - births during the last 12 months:

This concerns live births in the household during the 12-month period preceding your visit (December 1984 to December 1985).

Write the number of children in columns 19 and 20 according to the sex of the child. If there are twins, note this at the bottom of the page.

Column twenty-one - nature of handicap:

[This section is omitted from this translation of the original document]

[p. 36]

Deaths during the last 12 months

This question, located at the top of the household form, concerns the number of deaths that happened in the household during the last 12 months (since December 1984). Put a cross in the box marked Yes or No according to whether or not a death happened in the household.

If Yes, specify the full name, sex and age (in years, months or days) of the deceased at the time of their death.

Summary

The summary table is also located at the top of the household form; it is meant to be filled out only after every member of the household has been recorded. It is filled out using the information in columns 3 and 5 of the household form.

[The remainder of this section is omitted from this translation of the original document]

[p. 37]
Chapter Five: End of the job

5.1 - Checking your work and the end of the job

During the completion of your task, several types of errors at several different levels may present themselves. Though you will be regularly monitored, you should also regularly check your work.

After counting each household, you must verify that:

For example, check the comprehensibility and logic of:

You must never leave a concession without verifying that all households have been counted and arrangements have been made to count the absent households.

At the end of each work day, verify that all of the summary tables have been filled out, and that each household's information is reported in the summary tables on pages 2 and 3 of the cover.

[p. 38]

Having finished counting one area, never continue onto another without verifying that all households, especially the ones that were absent during your first visit, have been counted, the identification characteristics extracted and the totals of the summary tables completed.

When all areas of your ZD have been counted (complete registration of the entire population of your ZD), add up the information of the summary tables on the inside covers of your file. With your supervisor's assistance, fill out the summary table on the outside cover of your file; this will then allow you to complete the TR 1 table for your ZD.

When your work is completed in your ZD, give both your used and unused census packets and the TR 1 summary tables to your supervisor, who will then perform the last check of the work.

5.2 - Conclusion

[This section is omitted from this translation of the original document]