"MICS was developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to assist countries in bridging data gaps in specific areas. It is important to note that during the World Summit for Children in 1990, heads of state and government from 71 countries and high-ranking officials from 88 countries pledged their commitment to the Action Plan and Declaration for Children. This commitment spurred the development and implementation of National Action Programs for Children across these countries. In 1992, the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The law concerning this Convention was enacted in 1998, defining the rights of children, the responsibilities of state authorities, and the actions to be implemented.

"Over nearly 30 years, UNICEF has amassed extensive experience in conducting MICS surveys. MICS is one of the largest survey programs in the world, with more than 350 surveys carried out in 118 countries over recent years. Subparagraph 5.1.3.1 of the State Program on the Development of Official Statistics in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2018-2025, approved by Decree No. 3672 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on February 14, 2018, stipulates the conduct of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in the country with the aim to obtain internationally comparable statistical data. A significant step in this direction was the signing of the 2021-2022 Joint Work Plan between the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and UNICEF Azerbaijan on June 8, 2021. This Work Plan signed as part of the Cooperation Program between the Government of Azerbaijan and UNICEF for 2021-2025 includes actions such as the translation and customization of MICS documents considering national characteristics, the appointment of a national MICS coordinator to facilitate coordination between the State Statistical Committee and UNICEF, as well as cooperation on technical assistance for the implementation of the MICS survey. Subsequently, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UNICEF Azerbaijan and the State Statistical Committee (SSC) on conducting the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2022.

"One significant aspect of organizing the MICS is the customization of standard questionnaires and guidelines to align with the national context, considering the specific needs and capacities of the countries. In preparation for this, the experiences of different countries were examined. Standard questionnaires and methodological materials were translated into Azerbaijani, and relevant state institutions were tasked with providing feedback and proposals in each field. These institutions provided feedback on the questionnaires and guidelines and submitted proposals. The survey sample includes 12,320 households distributed across the country. Using questionnaires, it is planned to gather information on households, women aged 15-49, and children under 5 and between 5-17. The survey will encompass the entire country, except for the East Zangazur economic region. In preparation for the implementation of MICS, the sample design was prepared, maps of selected clusters were updated, lists of household members were drawn up, and actions were taken to adapt the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) application to the questionnaires.

"The purpose of conducting MICS is to gather internationally comparable statistical data to assess the social welfare of mothers and children, evaluate human development, and measure the attainment of the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the survey aims to identify the development trajectories in the coming years, aid in improving the monitoring system in Azerbaijan, and increase knowledge on its design, implementation, and data analysis. MICS is designed to acquire disaggregated statistical data that characterizes the quality of life of the population, including children. The upcoming Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, to be conducted in our country, will provide data on 137 different indicators. These indicators encompass nutrition, household conditions, healthcare services, physical and cognitive development, marital status, and mothers and children, among other things. Furthermore, the survey will enable the evaluation of numerous indicators spanning a broad array of topics. These include foundational learning skills (children aged 7-14), vital functions of children and adults, measurement of children's height and weight, water quality and salt iodine testing, social transfers, use of clean fuels and technologies, and victimization. MICS is well-positioned to supplement data from administrative sources and censuses, as well as other significant demographic, healthcare, and socio-economic surveys. MICS data make it possible to gather data on 33 SDG indicators. In Azerbaijan, the MICS will be used to produce data on 21 SDG indicators, of which 13 have been prioritized at the national level. MICS serves as a data source for calculating the Human Development Index, Gender Development Index, and Multidimensional Poverty Index. These indices are computed based on components such as longevity and health, educational attainment, and decent living standards.

"The survey, scheduled to be conducted between May and July 2023, is designed as a nationally representative sample survey that provides data on household and demographic issues. Conducting such surveys in our republic is a prerequisite for studying the trends of socio-economic and demographic changes in the population, and for meeting the tasks set forth by the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations. Surveys like the MICS generate crucial data regarding the number of children, attitudes towards marriage, desire to have children in a family, intentions to limit or space out childbirth, as well as the demand for family planning services. The data collected from the survey will afford us an opportunity to update demographic indicators. Furthermore, the survey results play a significant role in creating a fresh database of demographic indicators and developing new strategies. At times, changes in household socio-demographics over time are reported late in the state institutions' administrative registers, making the implementation of MICS essential to capture the real situation. Particularly in countries where administrative data sources are not fully adequate, surveys like MICS, which capture socio-demographic data on households, are considered a vital resource. The demographic indicators that will cover the data necessary for protecting the population's health, particularly that of mothers and children, and for evaluating the living conditions of households, will help enrich population-related databases. The confidentiality of the personal data gathered through the survey is guaranteed, and members of households are informed that this data will only be used in an aggregated form. It is important to note that interviewers hold a critical role in data collection, and the success of the survey largely depends on their performance. Given that the survey is executed with the aid of a computer (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing - CAPI), the staff with statistical skills have already been selected and trained on filling in the questionnaires.