AFRICAN WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES FOR ACCELERATING
THE IMPROVEMENT
OF CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS
SYSTEMS
Addis Ababa, 5-9 December
1994
PLAN
OF ACTION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS
SYSTEMS IN AFRICA
I. GOALS
The workshop adopted the following
goals for the year 2000 on Civil Registration coverage of Births and Deaths
and Vital Statistics:
A.
BIRTHS
1.
Those countries that have below 30 percent registration coverage should increase
to at least 50 percent.
2.
Those countries that have between 30 to 50 percent
registration coverage should raise
their coverage up to at least 70 percent.
3.
Those countries that have between 50 to 70 percent should raise their coverage
to at least 80 percent.
B.
DEATHS
1.
Those countries that have under 15 percent should raise death registration
coverage to at least 30 percent.
2.
Those countries that have between 15 and 30 percent should raise their coverage
to at least 50 percent.
3.
Those countries that have 30 to 50 percent coverage should raise to at least
70 percent coverage.
4.
Those countries that have 50 to 70 percent coverage should raise to at least
80 percent.
C
VITAL STATISTICS
The agency responsible for vital
statistics should disseminate vital statistics on a regular and timely basis,
including tabulations for areas in the country that have almost complete registration.
II. STRATEGIES
In order to attain these goals,
the governments of Africa should accorde high priority and provide adequate
budgetary support to the improvement of civil registration and vital statistics.
To this end, the Workshop adopted the following strategies:
1.
Steering Committees
The agencies responsible for civil
registration and vital statistics should take action to set up interministerial
steering committee to assist, advise and guide the responsible agencies to
the efficient functioning of the civil registration and vital statistics systems.
The responsible agencies together with the steering committee should seek
cooperation and assistance from the international, regional, bilateral, non-governmental
organizations, and all the private organizations within the country.
2.
Registration laws
Countries should review existing
laws concerning civil registration and related laws such as the vital statistics
law, the health code, the family code, the municipal code, the civil code,
etc. in order to make civil registration comprehensive, compulsory and effective
nationwide and free of charge.
3.
Registration officials
The civil registration system should
move from a passive to an active system. Toward this purpose, local registrars
should be civil servants not subject to political waves, be given periodical
training, and opportunities for career development. In addition, health personnel,
midwives, tribal chiefs, religious authorities and other local authorities
may be appointed as notifiers to aid the local registrars to enhance registration
coverage.
4.
Public Awareness
The workshop attached great importance
to increased public awareness of civil registration and vital statistics systems.
For this purpose, each country may set up a special committee of local experts.
Awareness creation should also be promoted by increasing the demand and use
of vital records.
5.
Training
The Workshop recognized the need
for training of civil registration and vital statistics personnel at all levels
(national, regional , local) as well as other personnel involved in civil
registration and vital statistics activities. For these purposes, manuals
and technical documentation should be prepared by the agency(ies) concerned
with civil registration and vital statistics systems and disseminated widely.
6.
Logistic support
The Workshop emphasized the need
for government to provide the civil registration and vital statistics systems
with an efficient logistic support including, transport, communications, printing,
storage, archives and processing facilities.
7.
Registration records
Countries should put in place an
efficient system capable of conveniently storing and retrieving civil registration
records and issuing certificates.
8.
Coordination and cooperation
Countries should ensure close coordination
and effective cooperation among all agencies involved in civil registration
and vital statistics activities. To this end, it is recommended that the registration
agency provide registration records to the vital statistics agency in a timely
manner and that a National Committee on Civil Registration and Vital statistics
be set up. The Committee should also be comprised of representatives of the
main end- users of the data and information generated by the systems.
9.
Monitoring and evaluation
Countries should put in place an
effective mechanism for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the civil
registration and vital statistics systems, including clear assignment of responsibilities.
10
Technical and financial assistance
The UNFPA and other multilateral
and bilateral agencies are urged to lend technical and financial assistance
to countries in the region, and to enhance the scope and implementation of
the International Programme for Accelerating the Improvement of Vital Statistics
and Civil Registration Systems.
The United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa in collaboration with the United Nations Statistical Division and
other concerned agencies, should prepare manuals for training of civil registration
and vital statistics personnel and to guide the operation and maintenance
of civil registration and vital statistics systems.
11.
Vital statistics
Countries should increase the capability
of data processing of the Agency responsible for vital statistics to ensure
their timely production and dissemination.
12.
Implementation of the Plan of Action
The Workshop recommended to ECA/UNSTAT
to set up a monitoring mechanism to evaluate the attainment of goals of the
present plan of action.
END