In the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) the leaders of the continent have agreed that for the future development of Africa there is a need for:

• Continued support from the donor community
• Foreign direct investment
• Increased domestic revenue collection

To be able to accomplish all three of these objectives requires access to current estimates of a country's population at a local level. The mapping of a country's census data, more specifically their census enumeration areas, provides the base from which these current population estimates can be developed. The value of doing this is that it allows one to: 

• Identify where the most impoverished and neediest communities are situated, which enables more effective allocation of government and donor funds
• Knowing where people are concentrated and what their access to services and consumer patterns are, facilitates decisions on where to locate new service points, infrastructure and businesses
• A knowledge of the size of the employed population is
  needed to determine the revenue base of a country

Government applications

Government departments will use current population estimates to identify areas with the greatest needs for social welfare (eg grants), basic (eg water) and government services (eg schools). This data can also be used to allocate financial and human resources (eg provincial equitable shares). More recently, it has become more important in identifying the optimum location for government services.

Other areas where current population estimates are used is in identifying the extent of the voting population for elections and where to locate voting stations. Knowing the size and distribution of people is needed to ensure the effective collection of taxes. Effective monitoring and evaluation of development programmes requires a detailed knowledge of communities socio-economic characteristics.

Current population estimates are also required as the denominator for developmental indicators (eg poverty rate) and holding government departments accountable in achieving their objectives. Not only is this information required for populating indicators but it is often used to create new indicators, such as population density. 

Without a doubt, one of the greatest benefits of current population estimates is as a sample frame for nationally representative household surveys. Without such a sample frame, household surveys cannot effectively define the target population and be able to draw a sample that represents the diversity of a country from an administrative and community type perspective. This information also enables a country to weight the results of a country more effectively to the current population size. It is also an important layer of information in understanding the results of household surveys and in being able to mpdel and map the data.  

Private sector applications

The private sector requires current population estimates to make informed decisions about investing in a country andoptimally locating their services and outlets. Current population estimates are required to get a detailed understanding of the extent of demand for services and products. This can then be used for example to locate banks and ATMs; antennas for mobile phones, radio and television and shopping centres and retail outlets. It is alsorequired to identify where to build new roads and providing public transport. 

Using small area estimation techniques, household survey data can be mapped to show the extent of the market and penetration of services and products belonging to busnesses. The value of this is that it allows companies to understand their market better so that they can plan more effectively in locating their service points. It also provide a better understanding of what products would best suite a particular market. With current population statistics better advertising and media plans can be developed.

Current population estimates are foundational in being able to optimize the location of service points, especially in markets that are highly saturated. Private companies are requiring a better understanding of the size and distribution of their markets to be able to ensure that the large investments they make are secure. This information is needed to profile outlets and look at the population characteristics of trade areas.

Census applications

By a country investing in the mapping of their census data and generating current population estimates countries it become more prepared for conducting future censuses. It also facilitates a much more accurate enumeration of the population. It enables an analysis of how the population is changing so that governments and businesses are better able to service the needs of people. Very importantly, it provides the spatial unit for defining administrative and ministerial boundaries for a country. Having mapped this information products can be developed to inform citizens about their own country and how it is changing. 

AfricaScope offering

AfricaScope focuses on sourcing census data for African countries at an enumeration area level. In the event that a country does not have their census data in a spatial format, AfricaScope is able to rapidly capture that information into a spatial format using innovative methods. In 2008/2009 AfricaScope facilitated the mapping of Tanzania's census data. This has become the foundation for the next census to be done in 2012 and has been used to map the FinScope survey. Using statetical techniques as well as satellite imagery, the demographic estimates for countries like Tanzania can now be made current. AfricaScope has since 2004 been updating the demographic estimates for South Africa at an enumeration area level.