The aim of the UN World Data Forum is to spur data innovation, nurture partnerships, mobilize high-level political and financial support for data, and build a pathway to better data for sustainable development. Since January 2017, the Forum’s community has grown from 2,000 people who attended the first and second Forum in Cape Town, South Africa and Dubai, United Arab Emirates to active list of over 20,000 interested stakeholders. The next edition will take place in the Plaza Mayor Medellín Convenciones y Exposiciones, Medellín, Colombia.

The Forum is an in-person event to enable more creative formats and ensure high levels of engagement and networking at the venue. In contrast to the most recently held Forums, only by special exception will any virtual or hybrid mode of delivery be permitted in the programme, this includes speakers connecting remotely. The registration to travel and participate in-person at the venue will be open in summer 2024. The registration to attend as a virtual participant and to access the online event platform will open nearer the time of the Forum.

Agenda 2030’s commitment to “leave no one behind” can be concretized through data systems that are inclusive of the world’s most vulnerable populations. In a world where climate change, conflict and fragility cause millions of people to migrate, this commitment must consider migrant and displaced populations, as well as those who find themselves stateless. Many governments are pioneering approaches to improve data and statistics on these groups. International Statistical Recommendations on Refugees (2018), Internally Displaced Persons (2020) and Statelessness (2023) present an important opportunity to augment this work.

Through the adaptation of national census and surveys, many countries are leading the way to implement the Recommendations and improve data inclusivity. Yet, efforts to improve the timeliness, coverage and quality of data on these populations require an enhanced focus on administrative data collected through, for example, migration management systems or population/civil registration procedures.

At the World Data Forum, the Collaborative on Administrative Data and Expert Group on Refugee, IDP and Statelessness Statistics, join forces to tackle an issue that lies at the inter-section of their work. Building upon the working methodology of both groups, this event will bring together national, regional and international experts to showcase diverse experiences. Regional cooperation, through the ongoing work in Latin America and the Caribbean, under the Biennial Program of Regional and International Cooperation of the Statistical Conference of the Americas of the UNECLAC, will be highlighted.

This Regional Workshop is jointly organised by UNHCR, UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in cooperation with the Arab Institute for Training and Statistical Research, and EGRISS. The programme aims to introduce participants to the International Recommendations on Refugee, IDPs and Statelessness Statistics (IRRS, IRIS, and IROSS), and enhance the capacities of Member States in data collection on these populations according to the international statistical standards developed by the EGRISS.

Objectives:

• Improve participants’ understanding of concepts and methodologies in the production of statistics on refugees, IDPs, and stateless persons.
• Support the exchange of experiences and lessons learned between countries and other stakeholders related to the production of statistics on refugees, IDPs, and stateless persons in general and more specifically in the implementation of the IRRS, IRIS, and IROSS.
• Identify gaps and recurring challenges that need to be addressed and facilitate discussions around solutions and innovative means to collect data on refugees, IDPs, and stateless persons.
• Strengthen Member States capacity to implement the recommendations as relevant in their respective contexts, and to identify possible areas of technical support opportunities and partnerships from UN and outside that are available to provide support.