In 2017, the United Nations Statistical Commission adopted an indicator framework of 231 unique indicators to monitor the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Similarly the World Bank tracks 1,400 indicators on development and UNICEF over 680 on women and children. But what about the visibility of refugees, stateless, and other people affected by forced displacement?
Forcibly displaced persons, including refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs), as well as stateless persons are frequently underrepresented or invisible in national data. However, realiable and nationally owned data is vital to guide effective national policies and decisions that foster the inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons around the world. Statistical inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons refers to the process of systematically including these groups in national data production systems such as population and housing censuses, administrative registers or nationwide household surveys.
The East African country of Burundi currently hosts 300,000 forcibly displaced and stateless people. This includes 85,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, 25,000 internally displaced persons, 800 people at risk of statelessness. At the same time, UNHCR repatriated over 185,000 Burundian refugee returnees since September 2017. The UN Refugee Agency’s involvement in the country focuses particularly on providing assistance and protection for these populations as well as promoting their inclusion in national systems, enhancing their self-sufficiency, and supporting durable solutions, such as integration or resettlement.
Forced displacement in Afghanistan is a multi-faceted situation within the country’s 40 years of protracted conflict. Furthermore, thousands of people are impacted by natural disasters, including earthquakes. This complex situation has led to an increased number of people becoming displaced both within the country and into neighboring countries. At end of November 2023, there are 7.7 million Afghans in Iran and Pakistan, including registered Afghan refugees and Afghans in refugee-like situations . At the same time, and despite the difficult situation, people still repatriate to their country of origin.
An impact evaluation shows significant socioeconomic benefits among refugees and hosts who participated in a graduation programme in Mozambique.
Sampling hard-to-reach populations has been a challenge for surveys for a long time. In the context of forced displacement, out-of-camp refugees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are particularly difficult to include in a sampling frame due to higher mobility compared to populations who reside in camps. UNHCR used Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI)-Assisted Telephone Interviews to collect household-level data of refugees and asylum-seekers.
Data in humanitarian action can provide accurate and up-to-date information on the location, size, demographics and needs of populations affected by crises. This information is used to develop and implement targeted interventions, such as the provision of water, sanitation, shelter, and other critical emergency assistance to those who need it most.
In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, personal data protection has become a critical issue. With the exponential growth of big data, large amounts of personal information are being collected, stored, and processed, making privacy a major concern for individuals, organizations, and governments alike. To safeguard personal data, it is vital to adopt Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), which are a range of innovative technical solutions designed to enhance privacy and protect personal data. These technologies use encryption and other methods to secure personal information and prevent unauthorized access. As technology continues to advance, so does the potential for privacy technologies to protect personal data in a variety of ways.