Central African Republic (CAR): IDP survey as part of the 2021 Harmonized Household Living Conditions Survey

Background and context

The National Statistical Institute of CAR is currently conducting the 2021 Harmonized Household Living Conditions Survey (Enquête Harmonisé sur les Conditions de Vie des Ménages (EHCVM)). The survey will cover a total of 6,000 households nationally and an added sample of 600 households in IDP sites.

Nearly 15% of the total population in CAR are IDPs (an estimated 702,000 as of February 2020), but detailed data on this vulnerable population is lacking. Although the upcoming EHCVM survey covers IDPs, an analysis of the IDP population is not the primary focus of the survey. As such, the initially planned IDP sample may be insufficiently powered, and the questionnaire lacks important modules to characterize IDPs and to assess their socioeconomic challenges and opportunities. Furthermore, the original EHCVM budget does not permit expanding the sample size and questionnaire.

Activity description

• Activity 1: Development of an IDP Module: A new IDP module tailored to the situation of households in IDP sites.
• Activity 2: Increasing sample size in IDP camps: Increase by 600 households. Improvements in the sampling methodology by coordinating with UNHCR/OCHA.
• Activity 3: Technical assistance: World Bank staff and consultants to support the design and implementation of the IDP centered activities, including capacity training for Central African Institute of Statistics, Economic and Social Studies (ICASEES) staff.
• Activity 4: Data analysis: World Bank staff and consultants to analyze.

Overall objectives

The objective of the proposed activities is to fill data gaps on IDPs in CAR. To this end, the improved IDP module and a larger sample size of IDPs would permit a more in-depth analysis of the welfare of IDPs. The improved technical documents related to the IDP module, i.e. questionnaire module for IDP camps, training materials, additions to the enumerator manual, and sampling methodology for IDP camps, will be used by ICASEES for the implementation of the EHCVM. The expanded sample in IDP camps will allow the World Bank team and partners to conduct a more detailed analysis the welfare and living conditions of IDPs in both IDP camps and in the general population. The analytical report will help inform government policy interventions and donor assistance for this vulnerable segment of the population in CAR, while the technical note of lessons learned may be useful for future data collection efforts in CAR and other fragile countries.

Engagement with partners

Coordination between WB, the  Institute of Statistics, Economic and Social Studies (ICASEES) and UNHCR/OCHA in CAR to identify potential synergies, such as building of the IDP sampling universe based on registration data, and/or identification of questions of particular interest for operational purposes in the CAR context.

Contact

For further details on this activity, please contact:

• contact@jointdatacenter.org
• Harriet Kasidi Mugera, JDC Focal Point, hmugera@worldbank.org