Less than two weeks after the official launch of the seventh round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 7), Saint Lucia has entered one of the most critical phases of the initiative, an intensive 28-day training program for the 40-member national field team.
Conducted by a blend of national and international experts, the training covers a wide spectrum of survey topics from maternal and child health to nutrition, immunization, education, violence against women, water quality testing, and hygiene practices. This diverse expertise is ensuring that enumerators are equipped with the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and professionalism before embarking on the nationwide data collection exercise.
“The data we gather strengthens Saint Lucia’s ability to protect rights, close gaps, and invest in areas where our people need it most,”noted Permanent Secretary in the Department of Economic Development, Paul Hilaire.
The MICS 7 initiative, implemented by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) under the Department of Economic Development and Youth Economy, with guidance from the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment and technical support from UNICEF, will see five well-equipped field teams deployed immediately after the training concludes. Their mission, to collect vital statistics from 3,040 randomly selected households across Saint Lucia, capturing information that will directly inform national policies and social programs.
This phase builds on months of groundwork, from mapping and listing households to testing both the paper-based (PAPI) and electronic (CAPI) versions of the questionnaires. The commitment to methodological precision ensures that the data will be robust, comparable to international standards, and reflective of the realities faced by Saint Lucians in all communities.
“MICS is a tool for equity, transparency, and accountability. It empowers policymakers, civil society organizations, and development partners to make informed decisions,” emphasized UNICEF’s Tashana Providence-Forde.
MICS 7 goes beyond numbers. It will provide a detailed picture of the well-being of children, women, and men, identifying inequalities and tracking progress on national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. “By documenting living conditions, access to services, and pressing social issues, the survey will help sharpen the design of social programmes, improve service delivery, and ensure that no one – especially the most vulnerable – is left behind,” according to Sean Mathurin of the CSO.
The success of this phase, and of MICS 7 as a whole, depends on the active participation of selected households. Each response adds an invaluable piece to Saint Lucia’s national story, shaping better programs and policies for generations to come.
As the training progresses and the start of fieldwork draws near, Saint Lucia remains firmly on course to produce high-quality, evidence-based data that will guide inclusive and sustainable development for years to come.
