Collecting SADD
Overview
How to establish the Total Population
Ideally, this has already been established when the COD- Population Statistics (COD-PS) was identified and endorsed.
The total population = (All population living within the boundaries of the country + all population that has entered the boundaries of the country from another origin) – (All population that has left the country or all people that have been displaced outside of the boundaries of the country)
Agreeing on the source of data from which the total population can be calculated is the precondition for establishing reliable humanitarian population figures. Arriving at a common baseline for population calculation and ensuring a credible source is crucial to ensure compatible figures and agreement on the final outcomes of the exercise.
A desk review of pre-crisis population statistics/census data -extrapolating with birthrate and death rate estimates if necessary- is recommended in order to calculate the total population. The desk review and data collection should be done ahead of time, whereas the population mobility/displacement data would come after the occurrence of the crisis/shock.
Collecting Sex and Disaggregated Data (SADD)
Collecting Sex and Age Disaggregated Data (SADD) can be costly and challenging in the first days of a crisis, but it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding on the most affected groups and their specific needs. In the early stages of a crisis, it is possible to use proxy indicators or estimates to derive SADD, such as the population pyramid or percentage of school school-aged boys/girls, even if they might be skewed. Initial estimates can be corroborated and refined as information becomes available over time. A system of checks and balances can help at different stages of the crisis to verify if initial estimates are likely to be skewed, such as field observation and other consistency checks: one can compare two data sets for the same population, compare the data for the area of interest with data from a model or a neighbouring area, or examine data for internal consistency – investigating, for instance, if the numbers or percentages of men and women are similar to other estimates for the population or what one would expect.
If SADD is calculated based on pre-crisis data, there is a risk of generating erroneous information by not taking into consideration the impact the crisis has had on demographic patterns: when populations move, the family unit may be disbanded, with men going ahead first, and being followed by women and children. Alternatively, men can remain behind to tend to land and assets, engage in reconstruction, or engage in conflict, skewing the IDP population demographic towards an abnormally large proportion of women and children. The assumptions based on pre-crisis data can be further cross-checked with information collected through an “area of origin” survey, which assesses populations outside their area of origin about the demographic composition and general conditions in that area. This is an indirect estimation technique.
Once the Total Population is identified and the denominator is known, several metrics can be used to identify populations Affected and In Need. Being affected or in need is generally a function of the location of the population, the pre-crisis vulnerability, the impact of the crisis and the intensity of unmet needs.
For more information regarding the collection of sex and age-disaggregated data please see the ACAPS Technical Brief on Demographic Profile.