Recommended strategies for improving civil registration and vital statistics systems

It has been emphasized that improvement in the vital statistics system is contingent on the establishment of a reliable civil registration system, since most vital statistics are generated through the civil registration system. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that all efforts be made to improve and strengthen civil registration. The present chapter briefly describes some of the steps Governments may undertake to improve the civil registration system. However, these are only some of the many activities that proved useful in countries that have improved their systems— they do not by any means cover all the steps needed for such improvement. Activities described in this chapter include engaging high-level political figures in improving civil registration; periodic training of staff and others peripherally involved with civil registration and vital statistics systems; outreach and communications with government officials, professional groups and the general public; continuous performance monitoring; and maximum use of current and new information technologies as they pertain to the operation of the systems.

Related Subject(s): Economic and Social Development