Africa Programme on Accelerated Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems

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

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

5. 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 Some Functions of CR 5

6. 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) Some Uses of CRVS Systems 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

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