In a bid to strengthen Sierra Leone’s data collection systems and enhance national statistical capacity, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has successfully concluded a ten-day Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) Pretest and Training of Trainers (ToT) program. The exercise, held from August 4–13, 2025, at the UNICEF Sierra Leone  Central Medical Stores Compound in New England, Freetown, serves as a key preparatory step for the nationwide rollout of the seventh round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS-7).

A total of 32 staff members from Stats SL’s Demographic Health & Social Statistics and Data Science Divisions participated in the training. They received intensive instruction on the use of digital data collection tools, standardized interview protocols and the application of MICS-7 questionnaires, which span critical areas such as child health and nutrition, education, water and sanitation, child protection, early childhood development and domestic violence.

The program was designed to:

- Build participant capacity in effectively using CAPI technology for accurate and efficient data collection.


- Pretest the system in real-life settings to ensure functionality, usability and cultural appropriateness while identifying potential challenges.


- Develop a pool of master trainers to guide field staff nationwide during the full survey rollout.


- Guarantee consistency and quality in data collection processes in line with global MICS standards.

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), developed by UNICEF and implemented in over 100 countries, remains one of the most important household survey programs worldwide. It generates internationally comparable and statistically robust data, providing Governments and development partners with insights crucial for policy planning, donor investments and targeted interventions that improve the lives of children and families.

Officials from both UNICEF and Stats SL described the successful completion of the CAPI Pretest and ToT workshop as a major milestone in the MICS-7 preparation process. They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring reliable, evidence-based data collection that will support Sierra Leone’s development agenda.

The collaborative effort underscores Sierra Leone’s determination to leverage technology and robust research methodologies in shaping inclusive policies and delivering sustainable outcomes for its citizens, especially women and children. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/unicef-and-stats-sl-train-master-trainers-for-upcoming-mics-7-survey/