Everybody counts: combining local knowledge with technological innovation to enumerate hard-to-count populations

HTC populations – including nomadic groups, displaced individuals, and marginalised communities – often face significant barriers to being accurately counted in national censuses. Logistical challenges, cultural differences and infrastructural limitations frequently lead to their exclusion. In Somalia and Somaliland, ongoing conflict, climate shocks and a lack of technical expertise exacerbate these issues, resulting in underrepresentation that affects policymaking and distribution of resources.

Somalia Monitoring Programme III: Bridging the data gap

At the heart of the Somalia Monitoring Programme Phase III (SMP III) is a commitment to overcoming the historical exclusion of HTCs by building the Somali institutions’ capacity to collect, manage and use data. The programme aims to help facilitate a successful national census by 2026 and provide actionable learning that improves programme design, delivery, and monitoring and evaluation systems throughout Somalia.

Under SMP III, Tetra Tech International Development’s third-party monitoring (TPM) and learning work complements the UNFPA-led Statistics Capacity Building Programme by providing independent, evidence-based insights to strengthen the design and delivery of development initiatives across the Somalia portfolio. While UNFPA leads the implementation efforts in preparation for the national census, our TPM work focuses on programme delivery, risk assurance and generating robust evidence and actionable learning on what works in one of the world’s most complex operating environments.

Our approach combines technical expertise with deep contextual understanding. We have delivered mobile Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training to support mapping in hard-to-reach areas, piloted community-based enumeration methods to foster trust and increase participation, and established collaborative technical assistance for local statistics departments across Federal Member States.

What we learned: strategies that work

• Tailored approaches: As standard census methods often fall short for HTC groups, counting HTC populations requires tailored methodologies that account for mobility, cultural sensitivities and security risks. We advocate for flexible, mobile and community-driven strategies to reflect the realities of these populations. One standout approach has been the pilot nomadic surveys, where dynamic mobile enumeration teams travel alongside communities to ensure accurate data collection.
• Engaging stakeholders: Collaboration with local leaders, government officials and NGOs has been crucial in opening doors to these often hard-to-reach communities. Our experience and evidence showed that the most effective approach to ensuring accurate data for nomadic communities is training local community members as enumerators. Not only did this approach improve data accuracy, but it also built trust and helped bridge the gap between communities and the state.
• Harnessing technology for accuracy: Our application of continuous verification mechanisms – through on-the-ground monitoring and learning from experiences in other fragile states – has allowed us to refine and adapt our enumeration strategies in real-time, ensuring that every voice is counted, and every story is heard. Utilising remote sensing, mobile tools, and digital records allowed us to track movements and verify data effectively.
• Continuous learning matters: The journey of data collection is dynamic and requires an iterative process of monitoring, feedback and adaptation. By embracing continuous learning, we can refine our methodologies based on real-time insights, leading to more effective enumeration and a deeper understanding of the populations we serve.
• Lessons beyond borders: The experiences and lessons learned from Somalia and Somaliland extend further, offering valuable guidance for census methodologies in other fragile contexts and conflict-affected areas. Around the world, governments face similar challenges in reaching the most vulnerable and least visible communities. By sharing our insights, we contribute to a growing body of knowledge that can help improve development planning and humanitarian assistance.