The Government of Saint Lucia has officially launched the seventh round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 7), signaling a renewed national commitment to data-driven policy and social development. The event brought together key stakeholders from government, UNICEF, and civil society to mark the start of an intensive phase of training and data collection that will generate vital statistics on the well-being of children and women across the island.
Implemented by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) through the Department of Economic Development and Youth Economy, MICS 7 is being conducted with technical and financial support from UNICEF and under the guidance of the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment.
“We see the MICS 7 initiative as integral to our mandate. Through sharpening the design of social programs, improving the targeting and delivery of social services, supporting our commitment to rights-based child centered development and allowing us to track better progress towards national, regional and international development goals. We particularly look forward to indicators related to child protection, disability, early childhood development, access to social services and other indicators directly related to those deemed most vulnerable among us,” stated Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Equity.
For his part, Permanent Secretary in the Department of Economic Development Paul Hilaire, emphasized the critical importance of the MICS program in shaping national policies and monitoring Saint Lucia’s progress on various social indicators. “MICS is not a one-time survey, but rather a prolonged study that paints an irreplaceable picture of how the lives of diverse populations change over time. MICS provides countries with a framework to assess their populations and address their needs. It also allows for comparisons between Saint Lucia and other developing countries worldwide.”
MICS 7 Saint Lucia – 2025 will feature specialized questionnaires tailored for women and children, with further customization for different age groups. Following the launch, a cohort of 40 trainees have embarked on a 26-day intensive training program to prepare for nationwide data collection. This training is being led by experts from Saint Lucia and UNICEF, covering critical subject areas such as mental health, maternal health, immunization, violence against women, water quality testing, and nutrition. Fieldwork will follow immediately after the training concludes, supported by five well-equipped survey teams.
Tashana Providence-Forde, at the UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribean based in Barbados, reflected on the broader significance of the MICS program, both locally and globally. “MICS empowers policymakers, civil society organizations, and development partners to make informed decisions. It helps us track progress, identify disparities, and allocate resources where they are most needed. It is a tool for equity, transparency, and accountability.”
Providence-Forde also noted that MICS 7 introduces expanded content to track progress on 40 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and lauded Saint Lucia’s leadership in regional data collection efforts.
The implementation of MICS 7 marks a strong reboot from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, which temporarily paused the country’s MICS activities. Since resuming in 2023, national partners have been actively engaged in mapping, listing, and testing both paper-based (PAPI) and electronic (CAPI) questionnaire formats to ensure the highest data quality and reliability.
While survey design and technical planning are essential, officials underscored that the success of MICS7 hinges on the full cooperation of the 3,040 households randomly selected to participate. “The scope of this upcoming round has been significantly expanded to cover areas that were previously limited or missing altogether. In this regard, we are pleased to announce the inclusion of new modules on Attitudes towards domestic violence, Child functioning (disabilities), Testing of learning outcomes, and Parenting involvement. Moreover, true to the 2030 Agenda’s promise to ‘leave no one behind’, MICS7 will support data disaggregation by age, sex, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, and geographic location, noted Director of Statistics Sean Mathurin.
As Saint Lucia joins other countries in implementing the seventh round of MICS, the island stands poised to generate internationally comparable data that will directly inform its social protection strategies and national development goals.
