A workshop aimed at training government officials to survey commitments made on women and children's welfare and their implementation is underway at City Seasons Hotel.
The five-day workshop on Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which began on Saturday, will monitor the progress made in achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as the target year 2015 approaches.
In her address, Dr Laila Gad, the UNICEF representative in Oman, said that the purpose of the workshop is to provide technical assistance to countries designing MICS based on their needs. UNICEF is supporting countries all over the world to collect data on women and children through the MICS programme.
There are plans to structure the survey with questionnaires that will be used in the study. "The survey will cover areas such as health and education with a focus on women and children," said an official attending the workshop.
The results of the survey will be utilised by countries in the region to monitor their progress towards achieving national objectives and global commitments, including those outlined in the MDGs.
The workshop is being held with the support of the UN headquarters and will conclude on Wednesday.
© Muscat Daily 2011
