Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) are amongst the largest international household survey programmes designed to collect estimates of key indicators related to households, with a special focus on women and children. Since the inception of MICS in the 1990s, over 300 surveys have been carried out in more than 100 countries. In Azerbaijan, the last MICS was undertaken 20 years ago in 2000 by the State Statistical Committee with the technical and financial support of UNICEF and other partners. As part of the global effort to develop further national capacities to generate and analyse high quality and disaggregated data, UNICEF launched a sixth round of MICS in October 2016 (known as MICS 6)– specifically designed to meet policy-makers’ needs in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Underlining the global status of MICS, and following advocacy by UNICEF Azerbaijan, the conducting of MICS was included in the Azerbaijan State Programme on Improvement of Official Statistics 2018-2025. Currently, the State Statistical Committee and UNICEF are jointly preparing for implementation of the first MICS in two decades, with fieldwork planned for 2022 and the first results expected by mid-2023.

The overall objective (Impact) of the Action is to provide the most up-to-date, high-quality and disaggregated statistical data and analysis that are used as baseline and basis for evidence-based policies, programmes and investments for the government to achieve equitably medium and long-term national development goals including the SDGs and the socio-economic recovery from COVID-19.
The specific objectives (Outcomes) of the proposed Action are to strengthen national statistical capacity in collecting, analyzing and using disaggregated data in supporting the identification of vulnerable groups of the population and developing evidence-based, targeted and equitable social policy, financial investment and intervention programmes.

• Gender disaggregated, timely and analysed in line with internationally accepted methodology data is available and used to inform decision-making and policies that leave no one behind.
• Increased capacity of the State Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan on managing the generation of high quality reliable and disaggregated data.
• Evidence-based policies and programs aimed at advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in Azerbaijan.