Solomon Islands
National Statistics Office

FIRST PRE-TEST FOR MICS CONCLUDES SUCESSFULLY

Apr 7, 2026 | News, Press Release

Two enumerators interview a young mother.

A three-day pre-test was successfully carried out in Honiara for the country’s inaugural Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS, scheduled later in 2026.

The Solomon Islands National Statistics Office in partnership with UNICEF kicked off the 3-day questionnaire pre-test fieldwork on Monday 30th March, the culmination of an intensive two weeks training for trainers and supervisors.

The  objectives of the pre-test is to verify that the questionnaires are functioning well in the Solomon Islands’s context.

The specific objective  included that the;

  • translations are accurate
  • standard questions are clear
  • survey-specific response categories are adequate for the survey population
  • survey-specific questions and modules are identified so that extra training can focus on these questions during the fieldwork training
  • Respondents do not misinterpret the questions during the fieldwork training
  • Changes in wording or improved translation have been incorporated when required
  • The questionnaires flow smoothly
A woman answers questions from an enumerator.

The participants were deployed into five teams containing four enumerators and a supervisor for the first two days at the Rove Police Married Quarters and concluded the program at Foxwood in Ghaobata Ward on Wednesday. Each interviewer was tasked to complete a minimum two Household questionnaires plus all eligible individual’s questionnaires (Women/Men 15-49, Children 5-17 and Children Under Five per day.)

They were able to apply the knowledge and skills from their training and experience the challenges associated with the fieldwork.

The MICS is a globally recognized household survey tool, developed by UNICEF in 1995. It has since become the world’s largest source of statistically sound and internationally comparable data on the well-being of children and women and a major source for Substantiable Development Goals (SDGs)

For Solomon Islands, participating in MICS for the first time represents a significant milestone in its ability to produce high-quality data that can be compared with over eight Pacific Island countries who have already completed nathtional MICS and   over 400 other countries globally.

The Solomon Islands National Statistics Office, SINSO, on behalf of the National Government is partnering with UNICEF to implement the MICS.

ENDS.///