Ouagadougou: The National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD) has unveiled a new telephone call center as part of the 4th edition of the National Employment Survey. This initiative, introduced to the media on Thursday, aims to contact survey participants directly from Ouagadougou, significantly reducing the survey's costs by a third.

According to Burkina Information Agency, statistical engineer Edmond Tamini emphasized that this innovation is crucial for the rationalization of budgetary resources and enhancement of statistical data quality. Tamini noted that direct contact with individuals ensures higher quality data, as it eliminates the need to gather information from proxies, which can compromise data accuracy.

The call center addresses challenges faced during field surveys, such as the inability to locate respondents. This direct contact method ensures respondents provide their own information, enhancing data quality and reliability. Tamini highlighted that the center also facilitates data collection in areas where field teams cannot currently conduct interviews.

INSD plays a vital role in supporting decision-makers through the design, collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data. The government is focused on promoting employment and decent work, and this call center innovation is aligned with these objectives.

Census agent Naimata Zan described her role in contacting households to gather information about household composition and employment activities over the past six months. While some respondents are cooperative and even appreciative, others view the survey as a repetitive task and recommend sample renewal.