Characterization of Vulnerability of Internally Displaced Persons in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS).

This article focuses on assessing vulnerability profiles among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Central Sahel region—specifically Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to reach hard-to-access populations. Surveying 4,144 IDPs across six urban and remote sites in 2021, the study measured nine vulnerability profiles across three domains: sex/gender, health, and protection, as defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Vulnerability Screening Tool. Findings indicate that over 70% of IDPs experienced at least one vulnerability, with health-related vulnerabilities (chronic illness, mental health issues, disability, elderly status) being most prevalent, and protection vulnerabilities (victims of violence, torture, kidnapping) notably higher in Mali’s Ménaka region. Gender was the only consistent demographic factor associated with vulnerability, with women more likely to be vulnerable, while other associations varied by site, reflecting the complex and context-specific nature of IDP vulnerabilities in the Central Sahel.