UNFPA joins national governments to commemorate Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day

Every year on 10 August, Africa commemorates Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day, a time dedicated to highlighting the critical role CRVS systems play in ensuring that everyone counts and is counted. 

This year’s theme, "Strengthening the linkage of CRVS to legal identity systems through digitalization for enhanced inclusion," underscores the vital connection between CRVS and the official recording of every person’s identity to foster inclusive development across the continent.

The importance of CRVS in Africa

CRVS systems are the backbone of legal identity in Africa, ensuring that births, deaths, marriages and other vital events are officially recorded. This documentation is essential for individuals to access fundamental rights and services throughout their lives. In a region where millions still lack formal identification, strengthening CRVS systems is crucial for inclusive governance, gender empowerment, social protection and sustainable development.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has long recognized the importance of the life-course approach in strengthening CRVS systems within its broader data initiatives. In partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the UNFPA Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems has led efforts to enhance these systems across African countries. This collaboration has provided essential financial and technical support to enhance national capacities, provide thought leadership, drive advocacy, generate evidence and research, and improve knowledge management.

“Africa CRVS Day is a significant celebration of progress in building inclusive societies across the continent through universal legal identity systems,” said Dr. Priscilla Idele, Chief,  Data and Analytics Branch, at UNFPA. “It also reminds us of the work that still remains, particularly in strengthening marriage and divorce registration systems as a powerful strategy to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality.”

The Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems at UNFPA has been pivotal in these efforts, offering specialized expertise, fostering the exchange of knowledge and promoting innovative approaches to strengthening CRVS systems. By leveraging digital tools, the Centre of Excellence helps countries overcome traditional barriers to civil registration, ensuring even the most marginalized populations are included in national records. 

Dr. Montasser Kamal, Director of Global Health at IDRC, said, “Investment in civil registration and legal identity in Africa is a force multiplier. It ensures societal inclusion, ends invisibility and improves access to social services,” adding that IDRC is proud to continue its collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems and partners across Africa “to ensure everybody counts, by counting everybody.”

Africa CRVS Day 2024: A week of commemoration

The seventh Africa CRVS Day was commemorated in various countries across the continent, highlighting the importance of a life-course approach to CRVS as well as the strengthening of legal identity systems, from birth to death, including key transitions such as marriage and divorce. Celebrations included:

• Zanzibar: UNFPA joined the celebrations alongside the Second Vice President, Hon. Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, who reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to expanding the electronic registration system to more hospitals and health centres. Dr. Azzah Nofly, Head of the UNFPA Zanzibar Liaison Office, said, “By ensuring every life is counted, every event is recorded, we lay the foundation for a future where every Zanzibari is recognized, valued and empowered.”
• Sierra Leone: UNFPA partnered with national stakeholders to raise awareness of the importance of capturing all vital events, including marriages and divorces, at the community level.
• Lesotho:  The Ministry of Home Affairs  commissioned a mini-survey on customary marriage registration and associated procedures. 
• Ghana: UNFPA joined the Birth and Death Registry for the launch of a national conversation including a media briefing and a live interview to discuss the current status of birth and death registration. 
• South Sudan: As Africa’s youngest nation, efforts are under way to establish a functional CRVS system to improve universal access to registration services.

As we celebrate Africa CRVS Day, it is crucial to note that effective CRVS systems are not just about counting people, but about making everyone visible, officially recognizing their humanity and ensuring that no one is left behind. By strengthening the linkages between CRVS and legal identity systems, particularly through digitalization, we can enhance inclusion and empower individuals to fully participate in society.

UNFPA remains committed to supporting African countries and the African Programme for the Accelerated Improvement of CRVS in the journey towards more robust and inclusive systems, ensuring that every life is recognized and every person counts.