The Results of the Largest International Household Survey Launched

Date: 29 November 2019

Tbilisi, Georgia: On November 29th, 2019 National Statistics Office of Georgia, Administration of the Government of Georgia, UNICEF Georgia and the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health presented the results of the 2018-2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) to the media.

MICS Georgia  2018 was conducted  in 2018 by the National Statistics Office of Georgia within the framework of global MICS program with technical and financial support of UNICEF and in close cooperation with the Government of Georgia.  Lead and water testing components, which were added to the survey at the Government’s initiative as an exception, along with Geostat and UNICEF were conducted under the leadership of NCDC. 

The implementation of the MICS was carried out with significant support of 11 different donors, including SIDA, USAID, AFD, SDC, UNFPA, WHO, UNDP, the WB, the Italian National Institute of Health and the NCDC. The MICS in Georgia was an effort to address important gaps in the availability of data to support strategic and evidence-based policymaking towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The complete results of the Survey were presented today at a media event by Mr. Gogita Todradze, the Executive Director of the National Statistics Office. Mr. Giorgi Sakhokia, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Ghassan Khalil, UNICEF Representative in Georgia and Dr. Amiran Gamkrelidze, the Director General of the National Control and Disease Center addressed the invited guests.

“We are very pleased that the National Statistics Office of Georgia through a longstanding partnership with UNICEF has successfully completed the MICS which is a nationally representative survey with information on the wellbeing of children at country and regional levels. The results clearly show progress made in Georgia over the last few years in improving conditions for children, but it also highlights important challenges that need to be addressed”, said Mr. Ghassan Khalil, UNICEF Representative in Georgia

Mr. Gogita Todradze, Executive Director of Geostat extended his gratitude to UNICEF Georgia for its support on MICS and other activities and congratulated the survey team and all who contributed to the successful completion of the survey. He added that the aim of this survey was to collect detailed data on the situation of families, women and children in the country. Consequently, the survey collected qualitative and internationally comparable data in a variety of contexts, which is crucial for the development of evidence-based policy. 

At every stage of implementation of the survey the Georgian Government has demonstrated a clear  position and readiness  regarding obtainment of very important data, especially in respect of the data, which, according to preliminary information  was not distinguished by  positive indicators. Therefore, at the Government’s initiative critically important components like the level of   lead  and measuring the quality of drinkable water were added to the survey as an exception for Georgia.  It is worth mentioning that the  survey results will   help the  Government of Georgia and relevant agencies, who have already started taking measures to address the identified problems, to plan further steps based on concrete data” – said the Head  of  Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Giorgi Sakhokia.  
 

Full results of the survey will be made public on UNICEF and Geostat websites. The results of the survey will help the Government of Georgia with evidence-based decision making and policy planning to improve the life of vulnerable families and children and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.