The Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with the United Nations High Commission For Refugees (UNHCR) to implement the first ever Forcibly Displaced Survey (FDS) in Zambia. The FDS aims to collect data on the living conditions of nationally representative samples of refugees and the communities that host them.

Zamstats and the UNHCR have been deliberating through a series of technical meetings since the first quarter of 2024, culminating in the development and signing of this Memorandum of Understanding.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the MoU, ZamStats Acting Statistician General stated that the event was being held in line with Section 4 (1B) of the Statistics Act no. 13 of 2018 which mandates the Agency to liaise, coordinate and cooperate with relevant statistical agencies and users for the purposes of the Act and may enter into memoranda of understanding as instruments of cooperation.

Operating under the Statistics Act No 13 of 2018, ZamStats is the sole designated entity responsible for the publication of official statistics; mandated to provide for the production and compilation of official statistics in a transparent and impartial manner; ensure the protection of personal data collected for statistical compilation purposes; build sustainable capacity for the production and use of statistical data and information for planning purposes; ensure coordination among statistical agencies, among others.

The Acting Statistician General added that data collection of the FDS will be conducted in the three primary survey sites, namely, Mayukwayukwa Refugee Camp in Western Province, Maheba Refugee Camp in North Western Province and Mantapala Refugee Camp in Luapula Province. She further stated that the outcome of the survey, expected in September 2025, will not only add value to the already existing statistics about the affairs of refugees and displaced population in Zambia, but also yield results that put Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) indicators on top priority in the development agenda.

Mrs. Mudenda reassured that the Agency will continue to closely monitor the survey implementation to its completion to ensure it meets the basic requirements in terms of completeness and timeliness, this particularly so in observance of the MoU that has been signed, which includes field spot visits.

The Acting Statistician General concluded by recognizing The Office of the Commissioner for Refugees and thanked the UNHCR for initiating support towards implementing the first ever forcibly displaced survey in Zambia.