FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Government of Belize, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), and UNICEF Belize host a Data Needs Assessment Workshop for Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)

Belize City, July 28, 2023 – From July 27 to July 28, the Government of Belize, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will be hosting a Data Needs Assessment Workshop to facilitate information-gathering for the seventh round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7).

The workshop will convene key actors across government and partner agencies to identify specific data requirements, objectives, and constraints, ensuring that the survey design of the MICS7 is tailored to meet its intended goals. This approach enhances the overall effectiveness of the survey and will enable the MICS7 to yield high-quality data that will contribute meaningfully to evidence-based decision-making.

The MICS has served as an important source of data for Belize on child-related indicators since 2006 and has also provided key empirical support to many of Belize’s national agendas, such as the Medium-Term Development Strategy, the Children’s Agenda 2017-2030, and the Voluntary National Report.

This round of the survey, MICS7, will utilize new modules and add new indicators to expand Belize’s data results and capacities. SIB will continue its survey plan this year with a pilot in October, a listing exercise in November, data collection in March 2024, and disseminate preliminary findings in October 2024 in collaboration with UNICEF, key ministries, and other UN agencies.

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For more information, please contact:

Dylan Williams
Director
Policy and Planning Unit
Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs
828- 6028/6033

Javier Romero
Communications & Marketing Officer
Statistical Institute of Belize
jromero@mail.sib.org.bz

Stephanie Daniels
Communications Officer
UNICEF
sdaniels@unicef.org