CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 8 DEMOGRAPHIC AND LOCATION DATA HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMMES ARE BUILT ON DATA Disaggregated data are essential for addressing the needs of vulnerable groups that are often overlooked when populations are considered as a whole, and in order to ensure that ‘no one is left behind’. At a minimum, population data and estimates should be disaggregated by sex and age, as well as by geographic location. Given the critical need for disaggregated data, UNHCR has been making strong efforts to improve the quality and availability of detailed disaggregated primary data on displaced people. UNHCR and its partners look for new and innovative ways to gather this information as quickly as possible, and the agency has intensified its efforts to systematically collect data disaggregated by location and demographic characteristics, including in emergencies. The availability of disaggregated data varies between countries and population groups. In general, the quality of demographic data tends to be highest in countries where UNHCR has an operational role and undertakes registration and primary data collection. Furthermore, disaggregated data coverage is variable, with data on some groups such as IDPs being particularly poor. UNHCR > GLOBAL TRENDS 2016 Uneven availability of disaggregated data presents an important limitation to comparative analysis between locations and populations, and over time. UNHCR continues to work with countries and data-collecting agents within the humanitarian community to increase awareness of the importance of disaggregated data by location and demographic characteristics. Collecting disaggregated data can be challenging in emergency situations, as resources for data collection compete with other acute needs such as the immediate delivery of aid and protection. As emergency situations stabilize, data availability tends to improve, although UNHCR faces barriers to obtaining disaggregated data in many high-income countries with well-resourced statistical systems. DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS Despite UNHCR’s efforts to improve data availability, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain disaggregated data in many countries where the agency is not involved in primary data collection, with a number of countries ceasing to provide UNHCR with disaggregated data. 53