The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a key United Nations agency, is the leading intergovernmental body dedicated to ensuring orderly and humane migration. Its primary tool for operationalizing this mission in crisis contexts is the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).
The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM)
The DTM is a global system designed to capture, process, and disseminate critical information regarding the movements and needs of displaced populations. It provides humanitarian responders with a “common operating picture” by tracking four specific types of metrics:
- Mobility Tracking: Provides regular updates on the location and quantity of IDPs and returnees. It identifies specific “rounds” of data to show how many people are in a specific area and what their primary needs are (e.g., food, water, or shelter).
- Flow Monitoring: Tracks movement at specific transit points. This measures the volume of people passing through borders or checkpoints, their origin and destination, and their primary reasons for moving.
- Registration: Collects detailed, household-level data. This is used to create beneficiary lists for direct assistance, ensuring that aid reaches the most vulnerable individuals, such as female-headed households or those with medical needs.
- Surveys: Gathers qualitative and in-depth quantitative data on specific themes, such as “Intentions Surveys” (asking if people plan to return home) or “Returnee Sustainability” (measuring how well people are integrating into their home communities).
1. Mobility Tracking
This is the core component used to provide a regular “snapshot” of the displacement situation across a country or region.
Key Metrics:
- Population Estimates: Number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and host community members.
- Demographics: Sex and Age Disaggregated Data (SADD).
- Vulnerability Indicators: Identification of specific groups such as pregnant women, persons with disabilities, or unaccompanied minors.
- Sectoral Needs: Access to basic services like water (WASH), health, food, and shelter.
- Location Profiles: Type of settlement (camp vs. host community) and GPS coordinates.
2. Flow Monitoring
This component tracks movement patterns at specific transit points (e.g., border crossings, bus stations) to understand the “how” and “where” of migration.
Key Metrics:
- Traffic Volume: Number of individuals passing through a point within a specific timeframe.
- Origin and Destination: Where people are coming from and where they intend to go.
- Means of Transport: How people are moving (on foot, by bus, boat, etc.).
- Push/Pull Factors: Reasons for leaving their origin and reasons for choosing their destination.
3. Registration
Registration involves collecting detailed data at the individual or household level, usually for the purpose of direct assistance or protection.
Key Metrics:
- Biometric/Identity Data: Names, fingerprints, or photos (handled with strict data protection protocols).
- Socio-economic Profiles: Education levels, professional skills, and income sources.
- Specific Needs: Detailed records of medical conditions or protection risks that require immediate humanitarian intervention.
4. Surveys
Surveys are used when a more in-depth, statistically representative understanding of a specific sub-group is required.
Key Metrics:
- Intention Surveys: Future plans of the population (e.g., whether they intend to return home, integrate locally, or relocate).
- Perception Data: How displaced populations view their safety, the quality of aid, or their relationship with host communities.
- Returnee Sustainability: Indicators measuring how well people are reintegrating after returning home.
Data Collection Methods
To gather these metrics, the IOM typically employs the following methods:
- Key Informant Interviews (KII): Speaking with community leaders, local authorities, or NGO staff.
- Focus Group Discussions (FGD): Qualitative discussions with specific groups (e.g., women or youth).
- Direct Observation: Physical counts and site assessments by DTM enumerators.
- Household Interviews: Direct engagement with families for registration or survey data.
Youtube Video
This video provides a visual overview of how the DTM system functions to transform complex mobility data into actionable humanitarian information.
What is the Displacement Tracking Matrix?
Summary
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) utilizes the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) as its primary system for monitoring population movement. The metrics and data points collected are structured around four distinct methodological components, each designed to capture different layers of information regarding displaced populations.
In 2026, these metrics have become increasingly vital for Anticipatory Action. By analyzing displacement trends and flow volumes, the IOM and its partners can predict where resources—like mobile clinics or emergency shelters—will be needed before a localized crisis peaks. This data-driven approach moves humanitarian response from being purely reactive to being strategically proactive.