Overview
The United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME) is a collaborative mechanism that produces globally comparable and reliable estimates of child mortality.
It is the primary international source for data on under-five mortality, infant mortality, and neonatal mortality.
Establishment
- Established in 2004
- Created to address inconsistencies in national and international child mortality data
- Provides standardised estimation methods for global comparisons
Member Agencies
UNIGME is jointly led by key international organisations:
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Bank Group
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Population Division
Objectives
- Generate accurate and comparable child mortality estimates across countries
- Support monitoring of global development goals such as:
- Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3 (health)
- Improve data quality and statistical methods
Key Functions
Data Compilation and Analysis
- Uses multiple data sources such as:
- Civil registration systems
- Household surveys (e.g., DHS, MICS)
- Census data
Model-Based Estimation
- Applies statistical models to adjust for incomplete or inconsistent data
- Produces harmonised estimates for cross-country comparison
Global Reporting
- Publishes annual reports such as:
- Levels & Trends in Child Mortality
Technical Support
- Assists countries in strengthening data systems and estimation techniques
Key Indicators Produced
UNIGME generates widely used global indicators:
- Under-five mortality rate (U5MR)
- Infant mortality rate (IMR)
- Neonatal mortality rate (NMR)
These indicators are crucial for assessing child health outcomes and health system performance.
Significance
Policy Formulation
- Helps governments design targeted health interventions
Global Monitoring
- Tracks progress toward SDG targets on child survival
Evidence-Based Decision Making
- Enables comparison across countries and regions
Focus on Inequalities
- Highlights disparities in child mortality within and across countries
Conclusion
UNIGME plays a critical role in global health governance by providing credible, standardised child mortality estimates. Its work supports evidence-based policymaking and helps guide international efforts to reduce preventable child deaths.
