Cameroon is currently executing a unified census initiative that integrates the 4th General Population and Housing Census (RGPH) with the General Census of Agriculture and Livestock (RGAE). This government priority is essential for generating the necessary data required for the National Development Strategy (NDS30), guiding socio-economic infrastructure investments, and tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The combined operation introduces profound technical and operational innovations, notably a fully digitalized census using smartphones, digital questionnaires, remote data transmission via the internet, and a rigorous international quality assurance framework. Despite its clear benefits in terms of cost efficiency, the process is highly complex amidst tight budgetary constraints, and security risks across several regions. To overcome these hurdles, Cameroon developed a specialized "hybrid" strategy for crisis-affected, inaccessible zones, with technical support from UNFPA and FAO. This pioneering effort of merging two massive national statistical operations while deploying resilient data collection methods in insecure areas will provide invaluable lessons, regional expertise, and good practices for other African nations seeking to modernize their population data ecosystems under challenging conditions. 

As the lead agency on population data, UNFPA has been working with FAO and other  stakeholders to support the government of Cameroon for  implementing this combined census in line with the UN principles and recommendations. The operation benefits from financial support from the World Bank and CEMAC through the HISWACA project.