Albania Signs Agreement to Launch Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) for Children
New Nationwide Survey to Deliver Reliable Data on Children and Families, Guiding Albania’s Path Toward EU Standards
Tirana, 8 August 2025 – The Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) and UNICEF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the next round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Albania. This marks a significant step forward in strengthening the country’s data systems to better serve children and families.
The initiative comes at a pivotal time as Albania continues to accelerate its accession to the European Union, positioning itself as a regional leader aligned with EU standards and values. The MICS will generate high-quality, internationally comparable data on key indicators related to health, education, child protection, and social inclusion—many of which are directly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and EU benchmarks.
The survey will be led by INSTAT, Albania’s national statistical authority, whose technical excellence was recently demonstrated through the successful implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census. INSTAT’s leadership ensures that the MICS will be conducted with the highest standards of data quality, transparency, and inclusiveness. UNICEF’s regional and global experts will provide technical support and quality assurance during MICS.
The MICS will:
- Provide disaggregated data to inform inclusive and equitable policymaking.
- Support evidence-based monitoring of national and international commitments.
- Include modules tailored to vulnerable and marginalized groups, ensuring no one is left behind.
This initiative also responds to the 2023 Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which urged Albania to strengthen its data systems to better monitor the implementation of child rights policies. While acknowledging Albania’s progress in legal and institutional reforms, the Committee emphasized the need for reliable, disaggregated data to close persistent gaps in areas such as parenting, education, child protection, and juvenile justice.
Dr. Elsa Dhuli, General Director of INSTAT, highlighted: “The MICS survey supports the objectives of Chapter 18 of the EU acquis and reflects INSTAT’s steadfast commitment to complying with European and international statistical standards, while providing essential evidence to inform policies and programmes in the country.
Reliable data is the foundation of policy making and sustainable investment for human capital. As Albania advances toward EU membership, MICS will help ensure that children and families are at the heart of this progress.
“It is a privilege to work with INSTAT’s colleagues. We at UNICEF are excited to embark on MICS together with them. High appreciation for their hard work and commitment,” concludes Elda Denaj, Child Rights Monitoring Specialist.
Data collection is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2025, with results available by mid-2026.
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UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org/albania.
