Technology gaps and budget cuts threaten global efforts to track and help the vulnerable

But as nations gather at the UN this week to discuss the future of population growth, two major obstacles are gaining attention: a lack of funding and a widening gap between those who have access to new technology and those who don’t.

For almost two decades, Nigeria has grappled with large-scale displacement of people in the country’s restive northeast, with around two million people forced from their homes.

Responding to this humanitarian crisis is an enormous task, compounded by climate crises, disease outbreaks and shrinking aid budgets.

Tracking matrix

Historically, a lack of reliable information about displaced people has hampered efforts to help them, but in recent years the government has used the Displacement Tracking Matrix, a tool developed by the United Nations Migration Agency (IOM), which has allowed them to accurately assess the number of internally displaced people, their locations and their specific needs.

Today, the tool supports decision-makers and humanitarian responders in some 91 countries around the world, underscoring the growing importance of technology in the area of ​​population research.

The role of technology will be central to the discussions at the final session of the Commission on Population and Development, which will take place at United Nations Headquarters this week, from 13 to 17 April.

While digital tools like the matrix are expanding access to information, they are also creating new challenges, including a growing digital divide, data privacy risks, misinformation and technology-enabled violence.

These pressing issues will also be addressed during the session.

Technology is changing the way people live and age

The talks are guided by three reports from UN Secretary General António Guterres. He first highlights how digital tools are transforming access to healthcare, education, employment and information: medical technologies are extending life expectancy, while changes in work and communications are influencing where people live, when they have children and how families form.

The Secretary-General also warns that many people, particularly in low-income countries, rural areas and marginalized communities, still lack access to the Internet, digital services and modern health technologies.

These gaps – often called the digital divide – risk deepening inequality between and within countries. Women, the elderly and people with disabilities are usually the most affected.

the second report focuses on aging societies and the growing demand for aged care services, geriatric medical specialists and the use of assistive technologies. To prepare, countries must strengthen their Internet infrastructure, expand the use of digital tools, and invest in scientific and technological training.

Several countries have launched innovative digital healthcare initiatives to improve knowledge about migration and humanitarian needs, even during crises such as pandemics and natural disasters.

Examples include BangladeshThe mHealth project, which uses SMS to connect mothers with healthcare advice, IndiaThe eSanjeevani platform, which has provided more than 150 million telemedicine sessions, and NepalUN SITA AI, developed by the UN sexual and reproductive rights agency (UNFPA), which rapidly analyzes national data sets to produce detailed reports and summaries.

Financing free fall

International development funding has declined sharply since 2023, impacting funding for population-related programs, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The third report shows this decline, which includes aid for technology and research, a worrying trend that is widening global inequalities in knowledge, skills and capacity for innovation.

The Secretary-General warns that current funding levels are not sufficient to meet the Commission’s goals or achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and calls for more robust and predictable funding focused on sexual and reproductive health, demographic data, and research and technology, especially in the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

59^th The session of the Population and Development Commission will be held from April 13 to 17, 2026. You can see the proceedings live on UN WebTV.