Global Network Webinar: Forced Displacement Survey

The Global Network of Data Officers and Statisticians hosted on 16 February 2026 a webinar with Andrej Kveder and Ilgi Bozdag from UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency) to discuss their Forced Displacement Survey (FDS) programme. This global initiative aims to fill critical data gaps on forcibly displaced populations and the communities that host them. 80 participants from around the globe learned about the FDS, which is a multi-topic, flexible household survey designed to generate comparable, high-quality socioeconomic data to inform humanitarian and development programming. Our speakers highlighted innovations in sampling approaches, methods for collecting coherent data across refugee and host communities, and the importance of collaborating with National Statistical Institutes. The FDS has been implemented in South Sudan, Cameroon, Pakistan, and Zambia to date, providing an important link to help governments bridge from humanitarian response to development programming for sustainable solutions. The data reveals that in many cases, the vulnerabilities of refugees and host communities stem from broader structural development challenges, rather than legal status alone. This evidence has been instrumental in advocating for more inclusive development approaches that benefit both populations. During the Q&A, participants discussed the particular challenges of collecting census and survey data in conflict-affected areas, as well as strategies for identifying and sampling urban refugees who are dispersed throughout cities. The discussion underscored the value of the FDS in providing nationally representative data on forcibly displaced populations, which is crucial for evidence-based policymaking and programming. For more information about the Global Network of Data Officers and Statisticians please visit our info pages: https://unstats.un.org/capacity-development/global-network-of-data-officers-and-statisticians Join the Global Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14718325/ Sign up for the Global Network newsletter: https://forms.gle/NHk2EceyKhxJ9fMt6