1. Accelerated Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics
Africa Programme on
Accelerated Improvement of
Civil Registration and Vital Statistics
- Translating political commitments into actions
Raj Gautam Mitra
UNECA
Workshop on Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2-5 December 2014

2. WHO Counts Series 2007 Lancet
Scandal of invisibility – Many Africans are born and die without leaving a trace in any legal record and official statistic
The single most critical failure of development over the past thirty years

3. A good CRVS system for good governance
Three Levels
Individual level
Community level
Aggregate level
Legal documents
Identity Management
Reliable vital statistics
Evidence based policy making and programme implementation
Realizing Human Rights
Improved Service delivery
Good Governance

4. Why past efforts in Africa did not succeed in the past?

5. The new paradigm
CRVS systems is multi-disciplinary in nature and can be improved only through holistic and coordinated approach
It requires strong legislative provisions, appropriate organization structure, efficient management and operations backed by suitable monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
Above all political commitment is required to improve CRVS systems
Thus was born the APAI-CRVS that derives policy guidance from Conference of Ministers responsible for Civil Registration, which is now institutionalized as a permanent conference under AUC

6. APAI-CRVS: Guiding principles
Promoting country ownership and leadership;
Promoting coordination between Civil Registration Offices, National Statistics Offices, Health Ministry and other stakeholders at country levels;
Promoting phased-based, holistic and integrated approach;
Establishing strong partnerships and coordination at regional and country levels;
Building capacities of national CRVS institutions;
Promoting innovations and knowledge sharing 6 6

7. CRVS System and Multi-sectoral Linkages An ideal model7 7

8. Creating momentum at the highest political level
2 Ministerial conferences (Addis Ababa 2010, Durban 2012) with strong declarations
Endorsement of the APAI-CRVS and a Medium Term Plan
Institutionalization of conferences under the AU permanent structure

9. Second Conference of Ministers – Key declarations
Committed to urgently undertake comprehensive assessments of their CRVS systems and develop costed action plan with the support of the Secretariat (ECA) and partner organizations;
Called upon the development partners to continue their support to countries on capacity development and resource mobilization;
Requested countries to establish high-level coordination mechanisms involving all stakeholders;
Called upon countries to allocate adequate human and financial resources for day to day operations of CRVS

10. Some common challenges identified in countries
Lack of demand for registration
High cost of registration
Colonial law with only incremental changes
Distance to registration centres
Lack of linkages between systems (eg, with national id)
Inappropriate organizational arrangement
Incorrect and inefficient business processes

11. Some common challenges identified in countries
Insufficient training of staff
No performance monitoring or supervision
Inappropriate use of technology
Poor service delivery
Vital Statistics variables not included and/or not compiled
Causes of death system does not exist or inadequate
Huge backlogs – no systematic approach

12. Moving from a current business process to a new business process
How do we get there?
STRATEGY
Where are we going?
What needs to Change?
Where are we now?

13. What actions are needed for changing a business process?
Advocacy
Review the Law
Innovate
Modify the design of the reporting and registration forms
Review data items in the registration form
Introduce ICT
Develop capacity
Improve coordination
Raise yourself from within the system and take an areal view of the system
Look around and you will find solutions

14. Some key messages
Identify low hanging fruits – small changes may help quick wins
Make CR services accessible – move information not people, may not need creation of separate structures
Make CRVS inter-operable
Introduce appropriate technology – but get the business process right
Do not try of find a solution in search of a problem
The three most important ways of establishing an efficient and sustainable CRVS system
Coordination, Coordination and Coordination

15. Thanks