Inclusion of Refugees in the Ethiopia Socioeconomic Panel Survey
Overall objectives
This activity seeks to strengthen the production and use of high-quality, comparable data on refugees in Ethiopia by integrating a refugee sample into the Ethiopia Socioeconomic Panel Survey (ESPS) 2026, conducted by the Ethiopian Statistical Service. Building on earlier initiatives, including the 2023 Socioeconomic Survey of Refugees in Ethiopia, the activity aims to address persistent data gaps by embedding refugee statistics within the national statistical system, improving comparability with general population indicators, and supporting the design of more sustainable and inclusive policy responses. The survey aligns with the Makatet Inclusion Roadmap and Ethiopia’s commitments under the Global Compact on Refugees.
The activity will generate data on refugee living conditions and socioeconomic outcomes— including poverty, food security, education, health, and livelihoods—that can be directly compared with data for host communities and the broader population. This evidence is expected to support analysis, targeting, and policy dialogue by the Government of Ethiopia and development partners. In a context of constrained resources, the data will help support more effective and efficient responses.
Activity description
The activity will integrate a refugee sample into the ESPS 2026, enabling the production of comparable socioeconomic data for refugees living both in and outside camps.
The activity will be implemented through three components:
– The first component covers survey instrument development, including sample design, updates to incorporate international standards and refugee-sensitive identification protocols, and a piloting phase.
– The second component focuses on training and fieldwork, including the training of trainers and interviewers, survey logistics, and the management of face-to-face data collection.
– The third component covers reporting and dissemination through stakeholder engagement and the production of a survey report covering both refugees and the general population.
The activity will produce two main deliverables: cleaned and anonymized microdata with full supporting documentation, and a survey report to be disseminated through workshop and stakeholder channels.
Engagement with partners
The Ethiopian Statistical Service will oversee survey implementation, with technical assistance provided throughout all phases by the World Bank, in close collaboration with UNHCR and the government’s Refugees and Returns Service. The survey also engages other government agencies and development partners, who will also contribute to instrument development, fieldwork analysis, and dissemination.
Background and Context
Ethiopia remains one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the region, with displaced populations primarily from Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Sudan. The Government of Ethiopia has taken important steps toward including forcibly displaced populations in national systems through policy frameworks and data initiatives such as the 2023 Socioeconomic Survey of Refugees. However, continued inflows and evolving regional dynamics underscore the need for updated, policy-relevant evidence that is comparable with national indicators and embedded within official statistical systems.