UNHCR, Zambia launch landmark survey on refugees, host communities

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in partnership with the Zambian government, has reportedly launched a Forced Displacement Survey (FDS) to assess the socio-economic conditions of refugees and host communities across the country.

According to UNHCR Country Representative Preeta Law, the FDS is the first nationally representative survey of its kind in Zambia.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Law said the survey will map vulnerabilities and living conditions, access to essential services such as education and healthcare, levels of economic activity and self-reliance, as well as coping strategies and long-term aspirations.

“The insights from the FDS will be vital for including refugees in development programmes, national statistics, and planning systems,” Law said.

“It will also facilitate their resilience and self-reliance through development action and support Zambia’s commitments to the Global Compact on Refugees,” he added.

Law emphasized that the survey results would be comparable across countries and over time, aligning with international statistical standards.

“The data generated will be publicly available and can be used to inform programming, strengthen partnerships—including with donors and development institutions—and track progress on global commitments,” she said.

The FDS collects data from nationally representative samples of refugees and asylum-seekers, along with comparable data from host community members living near refugee settlements.

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