Methodology
Overview of ACLED’s data enhancement projects
ACLED data enhancement projects focusing on coverage gaps and data transparency.
Published on: 18 October 2024
ACLED is committed to continuously enhancing the quality and scope of its data. To that end, the Global Data Collection team and the Quality Assurance team conduct rigorous reviews of both the data and the reporting environment to ensure that the data remain reliable and accurately reflect on-the-ground trends. Additionally, ACLED proactively seeks out new sources to capture emerging trends and areas not fully covered by the current data. These reviews allow ACLED to address changes in source reliability and gaps in reporting, especially in response to evolving conflict dynamics.
The table below outlines the gaps in ACLED’s coverage and the data improvement projects to address them. Users are encouraged to regularly consult this page to stay up-to-date on known data limitations and upcoming enhancements. The publication of this list is in line with ACLED’s commitment to promote transparency and clarity about its processes, in order to help users make better-informed decisions based on the data.
(Click the column headers to sort the table.)
| Region | Country | Project Description | Time frame | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Democratic Republic of Congo | This project incorporates updated data from the Kivu Security Tracker project from 2018 to 2023 to improve coverage in the Ituri, Sud-Kivu, and Nord-Kivu provinces, especially ‘Violence against civilians’ and ‘Looting/property destruction’ events. This project is estimated to add nearly 70 events per month to the dataset. | January 2018 – January 2023 | Ongoing |
| Africa | Democratic Republic of Congo | This project incorporates partner data from Forum de Paix de Beni, which mainly covers ‘Violence against civilians’ and ‘Battles’ events in the Beni territory in Nord-Kivu province. This project is expected to add at least 12 events per month. | 2018 – 2024 | Published |
| Africa | South Sudan | This project incorporates data on South Sudan from Risk and Strategic Management, Corporation. This project addresses gaps resulting from nationwide media restrictions as well as limited or non-existent communications infrastructure in remote areas. This project is estimated to add about 60 unique events per month. | December 2020 – 2024 | Published |
| Asia-Pacific | Philippines | This project incorporates data from two new sources (Minda News and Northern Dispatch) to better capture trends around Muslim separatist activity and Rido-related violence ahead of the 2025 regional parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The project is estimated to add nearly 10 events per month on average . | 2018 – Current | Published |
| Asia-Pacific | Myanmar | This project incorporates data from a new source, Khit Thit Media, to capture trends not thoroughly covered by other sources, in the context of resistance groups’ armed struggle against the military junta, and protests and demonstrations against the government. This project is estimated to add about 160 events per month on average. | 2018 – Current | Published |
| Asia-Pacific | Myanmar | This project incorporates data from ACLED’s partner organization Myanmar Peace Monitor (MPM). MPM’s extensive reporting on ethnic and local news agencies will enhance coverage across Myanmar. This project is estimated to add around 20 events per month. | July 2020 – Current | Ongoing |
| Asia-Pacific | Myanmar | This project incorporates data from a new subnational source, Independent Mon News Agency (Mon), to fill regional sourcing gaps in Mon state. This project is expected to add about 7 events per month . | February 2021 – Current | Published |
| Asia-Pacific | Afghanistan | This project incorporates data from an undisclosed source to improve coverage of mostly ‘Violence against civilians’ events after the Taliban gained power in August 2021. This project is expected to add a total of around 6 events per month. | 2021 – Current | Published |
| Asia-Pacific | Pakistan | This project incorporates data from new sources to improve coverage of forced disappearances and kidnappings in Balochistan province. This project is expected to add a total of around 35 events per month. | 2018 – Current | Ongoing |
| Europe & Central Asia | Netherlands | This project incorporates data from a new source, AD, to improve coverage of demonstration events. The project is expected to add nearly 15 events per month. | 2020 – Current | Published |
| Europe & Central Asia | Ukraine | This project incorporates data from several new sources, including military sources and vetted Telegram accounts, to improve coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war. These sources have been covered systematically and published in the ACLED dataset since October 2023. The project will particularly affect event counts in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine, while adding specific information on military casualties. The project is expected to add nearly 700 events per month to the dataset. | Feb 2022 – Sep 2023 | Published |
| Latin America & the Caribbean | Ecuador | This project expands coverage of Ecuador to include gang-related violence in the country, in the context of a significant increase in gang activity in recent years. | 2021 – Current | Partially Published |
| Latin America & the Caribbean | Brazil | This project incorporates data from several new sources, including from partner organization Fogo Cruzado, to enhance coverage of political violence in Bahia state, mainly in the Metropolitan area of Salvador city. This project is expected to add nearly 60 events per month. | 2018 – Current | Partially Published |
| Latin America & the Caribbean | Venezuela | This project incorporates data from partner organization Fundaredes to enhance coverage of political violence events in Tachira, Apure, Zulia, Falcon, Bolivar, and Amazonas states. This project is expected to add almost 25 events per month. | 2018 – Current | Published |
| Latin America & the Caribbean | Chile | Incorporating data from partner organization Centro de Estudios de Conflicto y Cohesión Social (COES) to enhance coverage of demonstration events across the country. This project is expected to add around 70 events per month on average. | 2018 – Current | Partially Published |
| Middle East | Yemen | This project incorporates data from an undisclosed source. The project is expected to add nearly 70 events per month. | 2022 – Current | Published |
| Middle East | Palestine-Israel | This project incorporates data from News 0404, a source that has been covered systematically and published in the ACLED dataset since October 2023. This source improves coverage of demonstration and ‘Mob violence’ events. The project will particularly affect the event count in the West Bank and, to a lesser extent, Israel. The project is expected to add around 20 events per month to the dataset. | 2018 – Oct 2023 | Published |
| Middle East | Palestine-Israel | This project incorporates historical data from Quds News Network, which has been covered systematically and published in the ACLED dataset since October 2023. The source increases coverage of ‘Violence against civilians’ and ‘Mob violence’ events. The project will particularly affect the event count in the West Bank and, to a lesser extent, the Gaza Strip and Israel. The project is expected to add nearly 100 events per month to the dataset. | 2018 – Oct 2023 | Ongoing |