3rd Global MICS Team Consultation, Amman, June 2009

The third Global MICS Consultation was organized in Amman, during 9-11 June, 2009. UNICEF ESARO hosted the Consultation. The first Consultation was held in New York, December 2008, and the second in Mombasa, during the pilot test, in January 2009.

The Amman Consultation was a critical meeting of the Global MICS Team, held just before the start of the regional workshops. It was a remarkably successful and productive meeting. While the earlier Consultations were basically characterized by discussions on the principles of coordination of MICS, the third Consultation had very clear objectives, outcomes, follow-up actions, and products. A large number of tools for MICS coordination and implementation were drafted, finalized, and conceptualized.

This was also the first Consultation attended by all six Regional MICS Coordinators. In addition to the Global MICS Team members, a session was also scheduled for members of the Lebanese National Statistical Office, who presented on the use of PDAs in the Lebanon MICS.

Among the items discussed were:

• The MICS4 video
• MICS4 plans and preparations
• Result of the MICS4 pilot test in Mombasa
• Update on MICS4 questionnaires
• Collaboration with the DHS programme
• Typologies of MICS and related surveys, including funding eligibility and modes of technical assistance
• New modules in MICS, including Adolescents and Youth and Life Satisfaction
• Lessons learned from MICS3, and pending issues
• Preparations for the MICS4 workshops
• The MICS4 technical assistance framework
• MICS compiler, GPS, Survey monkey, SMART methodology
• Supplies
• The MICS4 manual
• MICS4 communication tools
• The 2nd MICS4 pilot test

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2nd Global MICS Team Consultation, January 2009

The second Global MICS Team Consultation was held in Mombasa, at the time of the MICS4 Pilot Survey.

All 5 MICS Coordinators travelled to Mombasa, Kenya, to take part in the MICS4 Pilot Study, and for a short consultation on the coordination of MICS4.

The objectives of the Consultation were as follows:

• Discuss current survey documents, with joint observations on the performance of questionnaires, fieldwork management, and the like.
• Discuss matters of coordination and communication within the Global MICS Team
• Discuss pending issues and next steps in MICS4 coordination.

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1st Global MICS Team Consultation, December 2008

The first ever Global MICS Team Consultation was held in New York, 10-15 December 2008.

The Consultation had the following objectives:

• To discuss and agree on principles of coordination and technical assistance at global and regional levels


• To develop (ideas for) tools for self-monitoring and communication


• To discuss and review MICS4 tools


• To review existing evidence on lessons learned from MICS3


• To discuss next steps

Several staff members of the Statistics and Monitoring Section also attended some sessions, mainly to discuss the modules/indicators they work on, which are likely to be included in MICS4. One session was devoted to brainstorming on MICS4 dissemination strategies, with the SIS Dissemination team (Daniel Vadnais and Laxmisubha Venkatraman). David Megill, sampling expert, discussed MICS sampling experiences, lessons learned, and various sampling related issues.

In attendance were the members of the New York MICS team, Attila Hancioglu, Ngagne Diakhate, Turgay Unalan and Emma Holmberg, members of the Regional MICS teams, Rhiannon James, Sarah Ahmad, Bo Pedersen, Michka Seroussi, and George Sakvarelidze. Monitoring and Evaluation officers of two UNICEF Regional Offices also attended: Christina Bierring (WCARO) and Bastiaan Van't Hoff (TACRO).

Participants agreed that if possible, the group should meet twice a year, or at least once. The next meeting of the group is scheduled to take place in Mombasa, Kenya, prior to the MICS4 Pilot (more on this in a separate blog).

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