The UNHCR Datathon

Counted in:

Advancing Inclusive National Statistics for Forcibly Displaced Persons

Do you want to turn data into impact?

Help ensure forcibly displaced persons are visible in the statistics that shape policies and services in Romania. Gain hands-on experience, strengthen your analytical skills, and collaborate with professionals from UNHCR and the national statistics community.

Context

Since the onset of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine in February 2022, Romania has recorded over 11 million border crossings and granted Temporary Protection to more than 215,000 individuals by July 2026.

What began as an emergency response has evolved into a more complex, long-term displacement context that requires elaborate statistical instruments to capture it.

The Challenge

UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, is launching the first Humanitarian Datathon in Romania. Students and professionals are invited to support the creation of a statistical inclusion measurement tool designed to assess the inclusion of forcibly displaced persons* in national data systems.

→ More on IncNAV

→ More on Statistical Inclusion

*The tool is designed for scalability beyond the Romanian context and can be adapted to support other vulnerable population groups.

Work together

Participants will work in teams (of maximum 5 members) to develop and test new indicators for one of the four dimensions (Data Production, Data Dissemination, Data Use, Meaningful participation) of IncNav that have not yet been developed.

Mentors and speakers

Participants will be mentored throughout by experts in the field and have the chance to participate in presentations and training sessions led by experts from a wide range of disciplines.

By joining, you will:

Develop practical skills in data analysis and learn about indicator design.

Receive mentorship from experts in statistics and humanitarian data

Work with real datasets, including Tempo (INS) and UNHCR’s Open Data Directory

Contribute to addressing a recognized challenge in national and international statistics.

In addition to sponsored prizes from our partner organizations and exciting surprises, winning teams will be featured across UNHCR channels, the ReMAP Network website, and our newsletter!

Where

West University of Timișoara & Online

✓ 2 weeks online research phase
✓ Final 2 days (10-11 dec) event in person
✓ Accommodation & Travel & Meals covered

When

23 November – 11 December 2026

Theme

Statistical inclusion means systematically integrating underrepresented populations into national statistical systems. This ensures their needs are visible and can be addressed through inclusive national development planning and policies.

This integration occurs across all major national data production lines: population and housing censuses, administrative registries, and nationwide sample-based household surveys.

Impact

Informed policy design

Comparing displaced and host community data helps isolate displacement-specific barriers (like language) from regional economic trends, and design targeted policy.

Resource allocation

Formula-based municipal budgets rely on registry data. If forcibly displaced persons are invisible, local public services remain severely underfunded.

Countering Misinformation

Data vacuums are easily filled by misinformation and disinformation. Official statistics can ground public debates in empirical, verifiable facts.

Global Accountability

SDG Target 17.18 demands high-quality, disaggregated data by migratory/displacement status to ensure "leaving no one behind." Additionally, the UNHCR 50 by 35 strategy aims to move forcibly displaced persons from the margins of humanitarian programming into national development planning.

The tool

IncNAV

IncNav (Statistical Inclusion Navigator) is a non-ranking composite index, developed by the Global Data Services team at UNHCR. The index measures statistical inclusion across six main dimensions, each with its own indicators. These dimensions are based on international models like the World Bank’s Statistical Performance Index:

Dimensions

Governance & Standards Data Financing Data production Data dissemination Data Use Meaningful participation

Governance and Standards

This dimension evaluates if statistical laws and national strategies explicitly include displaced populations.

→ Are refugees and forcibly displaced/stateless persons explicitly included in statistical law, National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), and relevant policies?

→ Is inclusion recognized as a state responsibility?

→ Is inclusion formally embedded in national statistical systems?

Data Financing

This dimension measures how much domestic and donor funding is allocated to include these groups in surveys.

→ Are sufficient/ predictable/ sustainable resources allocated to produce and maintain quality data on refugees, IDPs, stateless persons, and other persons of concern?

→ Includes domestic funding and external support

→ Balance between short term projects and long-term system strengthening

Data Production

This dimension evaluates whether displaced populations are integrated into censuses and administrative registries.

→ Are displaced and stateless populations integrated into data sources? (Including censuses, household surveys, CRVS, administrative registers?)

(In line with international statistical standards)

Data Dissemination

This dimension measures if the collected data is published in open, accessible formats.

→ Are displacement-related statistics publicly accessible, transparently reported, and visible in national data portals and official publications?

→ Openness, timeliness, appropriate disaggregation to support accountability and informed decision making

Data Use

This dimension checks if government ministries and public policy documents, such as national strategies, actually use this data for decision-making.

→ Is data on refugees and stateless persons reflected in national development plans, sector strategies, SDG goals reporting, policy documents?

→ Looks at institutional capacity to interpret and apply this data in evidence-based policymaking.

Meaningful participation

This dimension measures if displaced populations are involved in the data production life cycle.

→ Are forcibly displaced people and stateless persons engaged throughout the data lifecycle (from design to collection to validation, dissemination, use)?

More details here:

Download GCR report.pdf

FAQs

What is a Datathon?

It is a research sprint that brings together teams of students, researchers, data scientists, and practitioners to work with data and produce innovative analyses and insights, usually working around a specific theme.

What is the theme of the UNHCR Datathon?

Named 'Counted in: Towards Inclusive National Statistics', the event aims to accelerate the development of a Statistical Inclusion Index, measuring the inclusion of forcibly displaced populations in national data systems in Romania and around the world.

What is the expected time commitment?

Self-Paced Online Phase (November 23 – December 9): Aside from a few scheduled online presentations by mentors and speakers, you and your team can organize your working hours however fits you best.

Mentor Check-in: There will be one mandatory mid-point check-in scheduled with your assigned mentor to review your progress.

In-Person Finals (December 10 – 11): Full participation is mandatory for the 2-day final event in Timișoara.

What is statistical inclusion?

It is the process of systematically including displaced and stateless populations in national statistical systems (NSS), across all national data production lines: population and housing censuses, administrative registries, and nationwide sample-based household surveys.

Why should I participate in the Datathon?

It is a chance to develop valuable data skills, work directly with experts in the field, contribute to addressing a recognised gap in national statistics, and gain recognition through prizes and exposure on UNHCR channels.

Do I need a team to register?

No, individuals can register and will be paired by the organising committee before the online kick-off. Registered teams should have no more than five members.

Do I need to know advanced data science?

No, the challenges are designed to enable a diverse range of people to participate, from advanced data scientists to practitioners who are more familiar with practical refugee matters, as well as students and emerging researchers.

Who can participate in the Datathon?

People of all ages and from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. While a background in data science, social sciences and related fields, as well as familiarity with refugee topics and issues, will be advantageous, there are no experience requirements – just bring your ideas and motivation!

A working knowledge of English is required.

How can I learn about statistical inclusion and forcibly displaced populations in preparation for the Datathon?

There are many resources available to help you get started with these topics. You can access the UNHCR website or start your research with this suggested reading list and other resources:

EGRISS Pledge: https://egrisstats.org/wp-content/uploads/EGRISS-Statistical-Inclusion-pledge-Final.pdf
Contributions towards the pledge: https://globalcompactrefugees.org/multi-stakeholder-pledge-inclusion-forcibly-displaced-and-stateless-persons-national-statistical
Example of localized approach: https://www.unhcr.org/blogs/statistical-inclusion-of-refugees-and-refugee-returnees-in-burundi-a-localized-approach-to-collect-good-quality-data/
Questions to identify forcibly displaced persons in national surveys https://www.unhcr.org/us/sites/en-us/files/2026-04/fds-methodological-paper-1-questions-identify-forcibly-displaced-people-national-surveys_47.pdf