The Fiji Bureau of Statistics, in partnership with UNICEF, has released the results of the latest MICS Plus Wave 3 survey, bringing together data from Wave 1, Wave 2, and Wave 3. Conducted between February last year and April this year, the survey drew responses from more than 2,000 participants and examines a wide range of social and economic conditions affecting households.
The findings offer a snapshot of current livelihoods and living conditions across Fiji, covering market access nationwide, drinking water and sanitation, education, child labour, forms of child discipline, livelihoods, electricity, and connectivity. It also marks FBOS’s first longitudinal, phone-based household survey, a shift from traditional face-to-face interviews and paper questionnaires. FBOS chief executive Kemueli Naiqama says the new approach enables real-time, meaningful data that helps address data gaps, measure development progress, and monitor key indicators as Fiji moves toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
As Fiji approaches 2030, Naiqama notes that the National Statistics Office must increasingly respond to the demands of government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders in closing data gaps. He also acknowledged that deeper collaboration with government bodies and other partners remains a challenge that must be overcome. UNICEF’s Chief of Social Policy, Jun Fa, welcomed the initiative, saying the data will support policymakers, program managers, and researchers in driving broader progress and reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment to backing similar efforts in the future.
Context from earlier MICS Plus findings adds depth to the picture. Past surveys in the series highlighted significant child wellbeing and household challenges, including concerns about child discipline practices and child labour, as well as gaps in access to reliable water and digital connectivity. For example, earlier results showed high levels of reported violent discipline and substantial rural-urban disparities in access to essential services such as water and electricity, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. The data also underscore both the opportunities and pressures created by strong internet access in urban areas, which could be leveraged to improve service delivery and information sharing.
Experts and policymakers can draw on these combined insights to shape policy responses that improve water security, expand reliable electricity and internet access, and strengthen child protection and education programs—especially in rural communities where disparities are most pronounced. The ongoing use of phone-based data collection is expected to enhance timeliness and responsiveness of the statistics the government relies on to guide programs and investments.
Additional value and notes:
– The wave-based, longitudinal design allows closer tracking of trends over time, which can improve monitoring of SDG-related progress.
– Policymakers may consider pairing survey data with administrative records to better identify geographic hotspots and allocate resources efficiently.
– Given the emphasis on collaboration, joint capacity-building initiatives with ministries and development partners could help standardize data use and improve stakeholder engagement.
– Localized dashboards and public-facing summaries could help communities understand how the data relate to daily life, potentially driving community-led improvements.
Summary: Fiji’s latest MICS Plus Wave 3 release, conducted with UNICEF, consolidates multiple waves into a single longitudinal view of households and children, highlighting both progress and persistent gaps in livelihoods, water, electricity, education, and digital connectivity. The data serve as a critical tool for policy design and program targeting as Fiji advances toward the 2030 SDGs, with a clear push for stronger collaboration among government agencies and development partners.
Positive framing: The move to a phone-based, longitudinal survey points to a future where data are more timely and actionable, enabling faster responses to needs and more precise investments in water, connectivity, and child protection—paving the way for a healthier, more equitable Fiji.
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