Since the endorsement of the International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics (IRRS, 2018), the International Recommendations on Internally Displaced Persons Statistics (IRIS, 2020) and the International Recommendations on Statelessness Statistics (IROSS, 2023), Governments are making significant efforts to implement these new standards through the adaptation of their national censuses, household surveys and improved development and use of administrative data systems. This includes Governments of 18 African countries, according to results from the Global Annual Inclusion Survey (GAIN) during 2020-2023. Looking forward, momentum continues to build with 28 pledges on statistical inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in national data production systems made by African Governments or regional entities in the context of the 2023 Global Refugee Forum. 

It is against this background that the African Union’s Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) and Statistics Sweden (SCB), have decided to partner with the Expert Group on Refugee, IDP, and Statelessness Statistics (EGRISS) to organize the 2025 African School on Migration Statistics with a focus on forced displacement and statelessness data and statistics. This is the fourth iteration of the Africa School on Migration Statistics which is part of the second phase of their Migration Statistics in African project (2023-2026).  

The African School on Migration Statistics, organized by STATAFRIC and SCB addresses the pressing need for timely, accurate, and comprehensive migration data, which are critical for developing evidence-based policies and integrating migration considerations into national, regional, and global development strategies. The School aims to bolster national capacities in collecting, producing, and disseminating migration statistics, empowering countries to better understand and respond to migration trends. Since its inception, the initiative has held two online editions and one hybrid event, focusing on exchanging knowledge and learning from country experiences.  

Building on the successes of previous iterations and recognizing the growing need for improved data on forced displacement and statelessness, the fourth edition of the African School on Migration Statistics will tackle this topic. STATAFRIC and Statistics Sweden in partnership with EGRISS, will organize the School in Kigali, Rwanda, from 18-20 March 2025, with appreciation to the National Statistical Institute of Rwanda (NISR) for hosting. 

Objectives & Outputs: 

This iteration of the School will emphasise the progress made by both Member States and RECs to improve national statistics on forcibly displaced and stateless persons. Participants will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic, with country examples showcasing efforts to improve the inclusion of these populations. A key feature of this School will be the focus on practical applications, highlighting examples where the Recommendations have been used to enhance official statistics on refugees, IDPs, and stateless populations. The program aims to offer a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and fostering cooperation among Member States to address the challenges in data collection and reporting on these groups, paving the way for stronger national statistical systems across Africa. 

The aim of the 4^th African School on Migration Statistics is to leverage existing momentum to improve the production and use of data and statistics on forced displacement and statelessness in Africa. It seeks to assist Member States and RECs in the development and maintenance of inclusive national data systems, thereby improving the quality of statistics on refugees, IDPs, and stateless populations.