Tracking displaced people in Mali

This chapter discusses the Listening to Displaced People Survey (LDPS) in Mali, using face-to-face and mobile interviews to collect data on displaced populations.

It offers practical strategies for M&E practitioners to monitor the wellbeing of vulnerable groups in FCV contexts through mobile-based longitudinal surveys.

In this chapter from Data collection in fragile states: Innovations from Africa and beyond, Etang and Hoogeveen (2020) discuss the use of the Listening to Displaced People Survey (LDPS) during during Mali's 2012 rebellion. The survey aimed to monitor the wellbeing of displaced persons, refugees, and returnees using a combination of face-to-face interviews and mobile phone follow-ups. This resource is relevant for M&E practitioners operating in fragile and conflict-affected settings, as it highlights an innovative data collection method that responds to the challenges of collecting data on vulnerable populations in volatile environments. The chapter is particularly useful for those dealing with displacement monitoring, mobile-based data collection, and longitudinal welfare surveys.

Key features

• Mixed-method approach: The LDPS used both face-to-face baseline surveys and continuous mobile phone interviews to track displaced populations, including returnees, in various regions of Mali. This approach is adaptable to mobile populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.
• Technology for data collection: Mobile phones were distributed to respondents, ensuring ongoing contact for longitudinal data collection. Interviews were conducted in local languages through a call centre, which allowed real-time monitoring.
• Challenges and mitigation strategies: The chapter discusses ways to minimise attrition, such as providing phones, flexible interview times, and involving community members in tracking respondents who had moved. This resulted in low non-response rates and minimal sample attrition.

How would you use the resource?

This resource can guide practitioners in designing and implementing mobile phone-based surveys in fragile settings. It offers practical insights into conducting longitudinal surveys, particularly in tracking mobile or displaced populations. Key sections to focus on include the strategies for maintaining sample size despite displacement and the use of incentives to encourage participation. These techniques can be adapted for similar contexts, including monitoring other vulnerable populations, such as those in disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) programs, or rural-to-urban migrants.

Why are we recommending it?

This resource is recommended for its practical demonstration of how mobile technology can be used effectively in data collection in conflict-affected environments. It also highlights strategies for ensuring high response rates and reliable data collection, even in challenging conditions. The methodology presented could be applied across different FCV contexts for continuous monitoring of displaced or vulnerable groups.