Addressing data gaps and quality issues on migration and remittances remains a continuing challenge.  Expanding the scope of data collection, including by generating data disaggregated by gender, age and sub-national region, would greatly improve the evidence base underpinning migration policies.  Better data on migrant stocks and the origin of migrants would improve the understanding of North-South and South-South movements, as well as their relative importance in global migration.  It is also worth noting that data collection needs to extend beyond national level statistics.  Finally, progress will depend on increasing capacity building efforts in data collection.

This thematic area will focus on the following activities:

• Expanding the scope of data collection, by generating data disaggregated by gender, age and sub-national region; 
• Preparing forward-looking migration profiles in selected countries or corridors and models to investigate the link between migration and development; 
• Measuring migrant stocks and flows; 
• Documenting migration patterns, trends, and characteristics of migrants, as well as drivers and impacts of migration.