– as Guyana moves to track progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals

A TOTAL of 8,700 households across the 10 regions of Guyana will be surveyed as the Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) rolls out Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 6 as it seeks to fill the data gaps and simultaneously track the country’s progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On Thursday, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and UNICEF Country Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) paving the way for the implementation of MICS Round 6 here.

MICS is a household survey programme developed in the mid-90s to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring the situation of children and women, and has produced statistically sound internationally comparable estimates of these indicators. According to UNICEF, while MICS was initially developed to measure progress towards an internationally agreed set of mid-decade goals in the World Summit for Children (WSC), MICS data is robust, representative, flexible and disaggregated for diverse set of stratifies for various types of indicators that have to do with coverage, impact, attitudes and behaviours.
Disclosing that the project will cost approximately US$1M through a 50/50 partnership between UNICEF and the Guyanese Government, Fouet explained that in this round, two new questionnaires have been included, one which allows for an assessment of the situation of the whole children – children ages 5-17, and water quality testing in the households for a decal contaminant Ecoli.

Fouet noted too that during this round, new and relevant modules have been infused in the questionnaires that were used in the previous rounds to garner data on children living with disabilities and victimisation. The data gathered would allow for informed decisions.
UNICEF Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Michael Gillis, in giving an overview of the MICS in Guyana, explained that in 2000 MICS Round Two was conducted here with 4,800 households, in urban, rural, coastal and interior areas, being surveyed. In 2005, when Round Three was conducted, the sample size was increased to 5,280, and by 2013 – Round Five, it had jumped to 6,000. It was at this stage all 10 regions were included but clustered.

Gillis said this time around, the domains of estimation would be the 10 Administrative Regions, and as such, there would be no stretching of the sample to garner the required data. “Now we are pretty sure that with an increased sample size, that now we can have data for every region standing independently,” he said.

The finance minister, in delivering remarks, acknowledged the sterling support given by UNICEF in providing meaningful statistical data to Guyana through MICS.

“This support has enabled Governments to have access to a wide range of statistical data, primarily in the social sector to aid them in filling the data gaps that exist in the countries. More importantly in carrying out this role, UNICEF has been able to build the capacity of local staff through training and the transfer of technical knowledge in the areas of survey design, collection and analysis of data,” Minister Jordan pointed out.

He said this year UNICEF has raised the bar by employing the use of technology. In the conduct of this round, tablets would replace papers, as the survey is carried, thereby improving the delivery of the results.

“You may recall that the realisation of MICS 5 in 2014 was timely and appropriate, since it provided Guyana with much needed data to fulfill its commitment which involved reporting on its progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. With the MDGs behind us, we are now obligated to report periodically and incrementally on our progress in meeting the international obligations of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” Minister Jordan explained.

MICS is the largest single source of data for monitoring the SDGs. In particular, it provides data for 11 of the 17 SDGs. Also based on the findings of MICS 5, UNICEF supported the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs to conduct a study on indigenous women and children, and the Ministry of Communities to develop child-friendly profiles, for the 10 administrative regions. Notably, MICS is a source of data for the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), Chairman of MICS Steering Committee, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud and Chief Statistician, Lennox Benjamin were among the officials present.