Methodological Challenges in Enumerating Nomadic Populations in Somalia

Abstract

Accurate enumeration of nomadic pastoralist populations poses significant challenges in censuses and household surveys, especially in contexts like Somalia, where these communities play a vital role in livelihoods and the economy yet remain underrepresented in traditional censuses and household surveys. Methodological obstacles such as their high seasonal mobility, temporary and dispersed settlements, insecurity, and limited interactions with formal administrative systems hinder effective data collection. The paper critically assesses common enumeration strategies, including water point and clan-based methods, identifying their operational strengths alongside inherent biases and coverage issues. To address these limitations, it proposes the Temporary Nomadic Settlement (TNS) approach, which focuses on the actual locations of nomadic households and incorporates Nomadic Link-Workers to provide assistance in real-time data collection and foster community trust. TNS can be implemented through a dynamic sampling frame and a robust two-stage cluster sampling design, where primary sampling units are determined based on probability proportional to size, and households are selected via rapid micro-listing and random sampling. The paper also discusses strategies to overcome challenges like settlement mobility, including immediate listing at settlement levels and the use of satellite imagery and machine learning for tracking movements. Ultimately, while no singular method can completely resolve the difficulties of enumerating nomadic populations, the TNS framework offers a practical and statistically valid solution that enhances coverage and representativeness, thereby facilitating the inclusion of nomadic pastoralists in national demographic and health statistics, which is crucial for equitable policy planning and humanitarian response in Somalia.