June 2, 2025 (Arta, Djibouti): The Health and Social Development Division of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in partnership with the National Office for Assistance to Refugees and Disaster Victims (ONARS) and with technical support from the National Institute of Statistics of Djibouti (INSTAD), held a national capacity-building training in Arta from 30th June to 2nd July 2025. The training targeted technical staff from the refugee management agency and was supported through the IGAD Protection and Solutions for Displaced Persons Agreement with the Government of Sweden. Its main objective was to strengthen Djibouti’s national data management systems related to refugee and forced displacement. It also aimed to strengthen key aspects of collection, processing, and analysis of displacement data in a way that is effective, ethical, and inclusive, ensuring that the diverse experiences and needs of displaced populations are accurately reflected.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Moussa Ali Meigague, Acting Director of the Health and Social Development Division, stressed the importance of having reliable, harmonized, disaggregated, and ethically collected data to respond effectively and sustainably to the needs of displaced populations. He noted that such data is critical for understanding realities on the ground and for shaping evidence-based policies and programmes.
Ambassador Moussa also highlighted key challenges facing the current data systems, including outdated technical tools, fragmented data collection methods, limited capacity for data analysis, and weak institutional coordination. He emphasized the need for sustained support to strengthen national capacities and help ONARS align its systems with international standards, while remaining responsive to Djibouti’s specific context and fostering regional collaboration and peer learning.
He commended the Republic of Djibouti for its continuous commitment to hosting and protecting refugees within their borders, recognizing its outstanding leadership in promoting regional solidarity and upholding effective refugee management.
On his part, Mr. Mohamed Ali Kamil, the Executive Secretary of ONARS, stressed the importance of consolidating ONARS’s collective capacity to produce high-quality data using modern tools and sensitivity to context. He further stated that the outcomes of the training would directly contribute to improving the overall national response and upholding the dignity of all forcibly displaced persons hosted in Djibouti. He extended his appreciation to IGAD for its consistent technical support to ONARS and for providing the financial assistance that made the training possible.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Ahmed Ismail Hassan, Second Deputy Prefect, reaffirmed the local authorities’ commitment to strengthening inter-institutional collaboration. He stressed the importance of building a reliable, ethical, and well-coordinated data system to better respond to the evolving needs of displaced communities. He also highlighted the strategic value of improving data systems to support humanitarian efforts and to enhance the planning and coordination of services for refugees and asylum seekers in Djibouti.
Throughout the training, ONARS staff, with technical support from INSTAD experts, assessed the current state of the displacement data collection system in Djibouti. This included reviewing existing tools, data sources, collection methods, and institutional roles. In response to the issues identified, the team proposed practical strategies to strengthen the data systems going forward.
The training provided a platform for open dialogue and joint problem-solving, reinforcing the importance of collaboration across institutions to build a more effective and inclusive data management system and concluded with a presentation of next steps and key recommendations.
