1. Forum on African Statistical Development
Africa Programme on Accelerated Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems
Forum on African Statistical Development
Session III
17th January 2012
Cape Town, South Africa

2. Content Introduction Improving CRVS in Africa
Moving Towards an African Programme
APAI-CRVS
Development of CRVS plans at county level
Funding CRVS at country level
Funding CRVS at regional level

3. Civil Registration (CR)
Background
Civil Registration (CR)
Continuous, permanent, compulsory, universal recording of the occurrence and characteristics of vital events in accordance with the legal requirements in each country 3 3

4. Events to be registered (UN recommendation)
Background…
Events to be registered (UN recommendation)
Annulment
Judicial separation
Adoption
Legitimization
Recognition
Live birth
Death
Fœtal death
Marriage
Divorce 4 4

5. Some Functions of CR Legal: proof of occurrence of the event
Administrative: assist (govt) service provider to accomplish their respective functions
Statistical: best source of current and continuous vital statistics 5 5

6. Some Uses of CRVS Systems
Efficiency of public administration services
Protection of children/women from abuses and exploitation
Civil matters and criminal cases in courts
Provision of public health/education services
Provision of current and continuous health and demographic statistics
Measurement and monitoring of Dev. efforts (MDGs) 6 6

7. Improving CRVS in Africa
CR is multi-disciplinary and could be improved only through a coordinated and holistic approach
Improvement requires:
Strong legislative provisions
Appropriate organization structure
Efficient mngt and operations backed by suitable M&E mechanisms
Political commitment
Regional framework to guide reforms and ensure sustainable progress in CRVS

8. Moving Towards an African Programme
First EGM in Dar-es-Salam (June 2009):
Identified bottlenecks and planted the seed for new approach
Highlighted the need for political commitment from African countries
Mandated ECA, AfDB and AUC to develop a Medium Term Plan (MTP)

9. Moving Towards an African Programme…
CoM Responsible for CR (August 2010):
Committed to improve CRVS (country and regional)
Provided policy direction to the regional agenda
Endorsed the MTP and EGM to finalize
Requested for thorough assessment of CRVS in all African Countries
AUC to institutionalize the CoM as a standing platform
ASSD for next five years to focus on CRVS

10. Moving Towards an African Programme…
EGM (January 2011):
MTP reviewed and finalized
Ministers declarations converted into implementation plan - Call to Action
Assessment Questionnaire reviewed
Development of the APAI-CRVS in Africa

11. APAI-CRVS: Objectives
Brings together various CRVS initiatives into a common regional agenda
Based on international P&R
Builds on political commitment and policy directives of the CoM in charge of CR
Objectives:
Provide mngt and programmatic guidance to the regional agenda for reforming CRVS systems
Provide guidance on institutional and operational linkages, workflows, M&E in a more comprehensive and holistic manner

12. APAI-CRVS: Strategic Directions
Country ownership and leadership
Coordination between CR Authorities and NSOs
Systematic and coordinated approach
Phased-based, holistic and integrated approach
Strong regional policy and advocacy fora
Building capacities of national CRVS focal institutions
Promoting partnership at country and regional levels
Strengthening the regional CRVS Secretariat at ECA 12 12

13. APAI-CRVS – Institutional Arrangement

14. APAI-CRVS – Implementation Framework

15. Development of CRVS Plans: Country Level
Every country needs to develop LT and MT plans based on clear set of strategies for accelerated improvement on CRVS
Plan should have clear goals and measurable targets
Plan should address systemic issues such as legal, organizational, management and capacity development and should be project based (eg. Campaign)

16. Development of CRVS Plans: Country Level
Plan based on comprehensive assessment of the CRVS
Developed in consultation with all stakeholders and interested development partners
Have clear set of activities with timelines and should be appropriately costed
M&E system should be an integral part of the plan
A responsible agency (or agencies) should identified for execution of each of the activity

17. Funding CRVS: Country Level
CRVS is a routine government function and needs to be primarily funded through government budgets
Partners may support the plan developed by the country for the accelerated improvement of CRVS
CRVS is a LT engagement and may not produce immediate results – it is about reforming and revamping of governance

18. Funding CRVS: Country Level
Multi-faceted nature of CR system should help in fundraising (e.g. national identity scheme/project)
Funding mechanism can be chosen country’s requirements and based on ease of execution
Plan can either be funded through a pooled fund or each agency (or a group of agencies) can fund specific activities of the plan based on their comparative strengths

19. Funding CRVS: Regional Level
Categories of MTP activities:
Advocacy for orienting countries towards adopting a more holistic and integrated approach
Developing operational guidelines and manuals on CRVS
Improving technical capacities of countries
Monitoring of the MTP
All activities are have timelines and are costed

20. Funding CRVS: Regional Level
ECA as a the Secretariat has provision for CRVS incl. under a Development Account Project
Chief of DSS is leading the Programme with support of the regional adviser supported by AfDB
UNFPA, UNICEF and UNHCR do support ASSD

21. Funding CRVS: Regional Level
Areas that need immediate support:
Strengthening the Secretariat with staff
Creation of pool of experts to
Support countries in undertaking comprehensive assessments
Support countries in development of MTPs

22. Thanks 22 22