Kenya and other IGAD members– eight countries in the horn of Africa – have been urged to improve data on displaced people within the region.
The Igad region hosted 4.59 million registered refugees and asylum seekers by May this year, according to Charles Ogolla, the IGAD’s head of statistics in the division of planning, coordination and partnership.
Ogolla said in total, the region has an estimated 12.15 million internally displaced persons. However, not all individuals within these groups are well-captured.
Ogolla spoke at the ongoing fourth IGAD Migration Data Technical Working Group workshop in Nairobi.
The meeting, which brings together representatives from the eight countries, the African Union and several development partners, aims to improve migration statistics within the IGAD region by strengthening national and regional actors who produce such data.
“Accurate and comprehensive migration and displacement data is essential for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to effectively respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by this phenomenon,” he said.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) comprises Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Eritrea and South Sudan.
The working group meeting provides the data actors with an opportunity to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and address the challenges associated with migration and displacement statistics.
“Migration is an ever-evolving global phenomenon that touches the lives of millions of people around the world including the IGAD region. It is an intricate process influenced by multiple factors, such as economic opportunities, political situations, environmental changes, and personal aspirations,” Ogolla said.
African Union's statistician Samson Bel-Aube noted that it is necessary for the African statistics system to have high-quality, reliable and updated migration statistics at the national, regional, and continental level.
Bel-Aube said this would help in better understanding of the migration phenomenon, development of targeted policies, good planning and better decision making.
“To this end, the African Union Commission through the implementation of the African Charter on Statistics and the Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics (SHaSA) member states of the African Union have been supported through a number of initiatives on the development and harmonisation of migration statistics in Africa,” he said.
The meeting, which ends on Thursday, noted that many IGAD countries are facing challenges in migration management, including a lack of sufficient data and its effective use, capacity, and policy coherence.
The meeting noted that the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), target 10.7 calls on governments to facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.
The meeting noted governments need data for monitoring the progress on this target.
African Union's Agenda 2063, which envisions a unified African continent, will also require data to monitor its targets, especially those related to the free movement of people and goods.
Laura Nistri, the regional data hub coordinator at the International Organization for Migration, said the unfolding crisis in Sudan has dramatically impacted the stability of the whole region, pushing millions of individuals to flee within and outside the country.
“The complexity of the East and Horn of Africa context contributes considerably to keeping this region as a conflict, climate and hunger hotspot that will require much-needed attention and careful monitoring through 2023 and beyond,” Nistri said.
Nistri also said the Igad recently co-authored a report with the East Africa Community and IOM on the state of migration in east and horn of Africa.
The report was launched by President William Ruto. Nistri said facilitating free movement of goods, services and people, has the potential to catalyse socioeconomic opportunities, move households out of poverty.
“Deeper regional integration allows member states to tackle joint challenges, including peace and security, climate change and drivers of instability. In this framework, data are essential to underpin the potential of regional integration,” she said.
The meeting is expected to improve statistics on migration in the region.