Efforts Made in Establishing Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems in Ethiopia

1. Efforts Made in Establishing Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems in Ethiopia Samia Zekaria Gutu Director General Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia Presented at the Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems Addis Ababa , Ethiopia August 13-14, 2010

2. Background – Country Profile Total projected population of the country for July 2010 is estimated to be about 80 million, Federal government system and decentralized administration; Over 84% of the population residing in rural areas; IMR - 77 deaths per 1000 live births (2005); TFR – 5.4 children per women (2005);

3. Importance of CR&VS for a Country A working conventional Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CR&VS) System: assists various government departments in a country to formulate programs of services, could be used to develop an integrated legal and statistical population database that meets national and international standards. important to establish efficient public administration system. Ethiopia is one of the many African countries that does not have such conventional system.

4. Data Generated from CR&VS Types of data that could be generated from the civil registration mainly include number of birth, death, marital status of a specific place and time. If the system of civil registration could capture the events properly and continuously , the data obtained would be very useful to provide vital statistics where annual population statistics could be produced easily. Population dynamics components could be more reliable in computing population projection of a country.

5. Legal Provisions for the Establishment of CR&VS in Ethiopia The 1900 Proclamation was to carry out population censuses and to establish a vital events registration system by recording births, deaths and marriages, The 1960 Civil Code of Ethiopia Proclamation contains sets a detailed and compressive provisions on the establishment of vital events registration, Proclamations of 1976 and 1981 also states that every kebele in urban areas carry out the Registration of births, deaths, and marriages occurring with in its jurisdiction based on the directives to be issued. However, these directives have not come into existence and these proclamations came to no avail.

6. Legal Provision for the establishment of CR&VS in Ethiopia, (Cont’d) The 1995 FDRE Constitution specify the right of a child to a name and nationality which could be said the constitution accepts the importance of vital events registration, The National Population Policy of Ethiopia: In this document enacting laws/regulations for vital events registration, the responsibility to facilitate the establishment of vital registration systems has been imposed on the CSA. Proclamations that established the CSA clearly designated the CSA for the collection of vital statistics data through registration and enumeration (census or sample surveys).

7. Challenges Encountered in the Establishment of CR&VS System in Ethiopia, Even though there were legal provisions that stipulate the establishment of the CR&VS in the country, one would observe lack of coordination and integration of activities among the institutions involved in civil registration and vital statistics data collection systems. Lack of adequate, qualified and experienced persons and financial resources could also be main reasons for the failure.

8. Previous Efforts of CSA The CSA has made numerous attempts to lay the foundation for the establishment of civil registration and vital statistics system in the country. The Central Statistical Agency has done much in this field. In accordance to the powers and responsibilities given to the Agency. Several statistics oriented experimentations, sample registration and dual-record studies conducted (by the CSA since the 1970s);

9. Shift Towards the Conventional Civil Registration Method After in-depth review and adaptation of UN guidelines to the country’s initiatives towards conventional civil registration method; Management decision reached to abort all provisional studies and shift towards the conventional civil registration method; Consultative communication with regional child welfare and planning focal institutions conducted;

10. Strategies Followed for Making CR&VS a National Agenda After aborting CSA’s sample and survey based exercises: fully devoted to the development of conventional civil registration and vital statistics systems which includes methodological research, development of registration and statistical instruments, piloting and the other technical preparatory activities. Close communication, collaboration and involvement of regional states;

11. Strategies followed … Cont’d Establishment of national advocacy taskforce with the leadership role of high government officials and technical leadership of the CSA Lobbying key government officials (including Members of Parliaments and the executive); Involving the academics and professional associations;

12. The CSA shouldered technical aspects of the initiative and led the government towards conventional civil registration system; Advised UN agencies and NGOs to align their interventions to the UN principles and recommendations of CR&VS systems; Took a lead in engaging regional states in civil registration and vital statistics systems; Initiated technical debates on civil registration and vital statistics and collaborated with the academics and professional associations; Ongoing Efforts of the CSA

13. Ongoing Efforts of the CSA (cont’d) The 2005 UNICEF assisted Model Vital Registration that run in three regions showed the Sample Vital Registration outcomes are positive and worthwhile. In collaboration with other stakeholders, the CSA has been striving to incorporate necessary inputs for the drafting of the Civil Registration Law. Currently, the CSA is strengthening its Vital Events Registration and Statistics Department in order to be able to provide technical supports and to compile the vital events statistics regularly as the law comes into force.

14. Ongoing Efforts of the CSA (cont’d) The CSA has incorporated CR&VS in its NSDS The National Strategy for Statistical Development (NSDS) formulated a framework strategy and work program for strengthening statistical capacity across the entire National Statistical System of the country for the next five years (2009/10- 2013/14). In this NSDS document, one of the major statistical strategic themes that has been given due emphasis is the establishment of sound Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems. It has been endorsed by the statistical Council.

15. Involvement and Contribution of Development Partners UNICEF provided financial support for the pilot study and proactively engaged in the whole civil registration initiative of the country; UNSD provided the UN handbooks; PLAN Ethiopia and ACPF conducted comprehensive and scientific baseline study on perception and practice of birth registration in the country; PLAN Ethiopia and ACPF proactively engaged in advocacy work; HMN/WHO provided support for the study on causes of death.

16. Few Important lessons We Share Avoid parallel systems of administration and operation of civil registration, specifically at the local level; that is, treat civil registration as part of the public service administration; Before launching a reform program or improvement on civil registration, seriously consider meticulous type of technical preparations; Use the UN principles and recommendations as standard guiding tools in all endeavors of civil registration and vital statistics improvement;

17. Few Important Lessons We Share Involving Regional States to own the model vital registration has shown their motivation for implementation; Incorporating CR&VS in the upcoming five year national strategy of the country demonstrates the commitment of the Government.

18. Way Forward The new civil registration law is expected to be enacted by early next year: The federal civil registration organization and structure as per the provisions of the new law will be expected to be operational by 2011 and regional civil registration bodies will continue accordingly; The Ethiopian government will look forward to get support from regional organizations, such as UNECA-ACS and international development partners, i.e., the UN and bi-lateral and multi-lateral organization; The CSA and the forthcoming civil registration agency will continue collaborating with the rest of Africa in addressing the challenges and sharing experiences on CR&VS;