The Government of Sierra Leone, through Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), has concluded the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025-2026 Data Interpretation and Report Compilation Workshop, setting the stage for the finalization and national launch of one of the country’s most important sources of socio-economic data.
The workshop, held at the Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, brought together government institutions, development partners, academia, United Nations agencies and technical experts to review, interpret and validate the survey findings.
Participants emphasized the importance of transforming reliable data into actionable evidence to support policy formulation, national planning, budgeting and investments targeted at improving the lives of children, women and families.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, UNICEF Country Representative, Mariko Kagoshima, said the completion of the report compilation process marks a critical step in ensuring that evidence guides decision-making and accountability.
She noted that the survey findings come at a crucial time as Sierra Leone advances its national development priorities and works towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Kagoshima urged stakeholders to use the data strategically, directing attention and resources to areas where they can have the greatest impact.
“As we conclude, let us remember that data becomes powerful only when it leads to action,” she said.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the Government of Sierra Leone and Statistics Sierra Leone through the final stages of the exercise, including report finalization, dissemination and utilization of the findings.
Kagoshima also commended the Government and Statistics Sierra Leone for their leadership throughout the process and acknowledged the contributions of development partners, including the Government of Iceland and UN Women, for their financial and technical support.
Representing the Statistician-General, Director of Gender and Health at Statistics Sierra Leone, Mohamed Koblo Kamara, described the workshop as a significant milestone in the Seventh Round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7).
He said the exercise marks the transition from nationwide fieldwork to the critical phase of data analysis, integration and thematic validation.
Kamara noted that the survey generated a rich database containing nearly 200 key indicators covering child health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, child protection and early childhood development.
According to him, the survey provides one of the most comprehensive and internationally comparable assessments of the living conditions of Sierra Leoneans, particularly women, children and vulnerable groups.
He stressed that the findings will help address critical data gaps, measure progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and assess the impact of government programmes, including President Julius Maada Bio’s flagship Free Quality Education initiative and broader human capital development agenda.
“We must move beyond merely presenting facts. We must use the evidence to tell the story of the Sierra Leonean child and mother, clearly highlighting inequalities, geographical disparities and emerging trends that may require immediate policy attention and intervention,” Kamara said.
He further called for the final report to serve as a practical roadmap for national development, ensuring that public spending and development investments are guided by credible evidence and directed toward areas of greatest need.
The conclusion of the MICS7 data interpretation and report compilation workshop marks a major step toward the publication of findings that are expected to inform policy decisions, strengthen development planning and support evidence-based interventions across Sierra Leone.