Promotion of birth registration through digitization of civil status services in the commune of R-1
Context

To date, some 240 million children have no birth certificate and therefore do not exist in the eyes of their country's authorities. These so-called "ghost children" are unable to prove their age or nationality, and are excluded from society, deprived of citizenship and civil rights. Unregistered children are unprotected against trafficking of all kinds, forced labor, enlistment as child soldiers or as smugglers for all kinds of trafficking (drugs, diamonds, etc.). The justice system is unable to protect them from early marriage or sexual exploitation.

Burundi is a small country in the heart of Africa, at the crossroads of Central and East Africa. It is a densely populated country with 13,039,000 inhabitants over an area of 27,834 square kilometers. To date, only 66% of children under the age of 17 are registered and have a birth certificate. In Rumonge, a commune of 75,000 inhabitants in the south-west of the country, more than 2,000 children born in 2022 have not been registered and therefore do not have a birth certificate, representing 45% of births recorded over this period.

FVS Amie des Enfants has been working for many years with the most vulnerable populations in Burundi.

As part of its activities, and through its network of Child Protection Committees (CPEs) and Solidarity Groups (GSs), the association regularly runs campaigns to regularize the status of children without birth certificates, and lobbies provincial governors to waive the fees stipulated by law for late registration.These activities have led the association to question the need to work further upstream, and thus contribute to increasing the number of birth registrations.

Building on the long-standing partnership between AMADE and FVS Amie des Enfants, and as part of the Un Etat Civil pour Tous program supported by AMADE, this pilot project, carried out in close collaboration with the Burundian Ministry of the Interior in charge of Civil Status, aims to deploy the technical equipment (IT, internet, electricity) necessary for the deployment of a digital tool, as well as capacity building for civil registry and health service actors in the commune of Rumonge, with a view to contributing to the modernization of the civil registry and increasing birth registration.This pilot project will also enable the collection of key data on the state of civil registration in Burundi, with a view to lobbying the authorities for the modernization of the system.

 This pilot project will also enable the collection of key data relating to the civil status situation in Burundi, with a view to lobbying the authorities for the modernization of civil status on a wider scale in the country.

Completed activities

Formalized partnership with local authorities

Installation of etatcivil.org software in health facilities and registry offices

Training of civil registrars in registration methodology and use of étatcivil.org software

Raising awareness of the importance of birth registration

Identification of children under 17 without a birth certificate

Systematic registration of newborns in maternity wards and health centers

Documentation on the subject and lobbying of authorities

Results

1. A digital birth registration system is installed in the commune's registry offices and health facilities.

2. The commune's registrars are trained in birth registration methodology and the use of the system.

3. The population and local players are made aware of the importance and challenges of birth registration.

4. Children under 17 without birth certificates are identified and regularized.

5. Children born in maternity wards, health centers or at home are registered at birth.

6. An advocacy campaign based on a capitalization study is carried out with the authorities to request that the recommendations be taken into account in the civil status action plan.

Protection

Promotion of birth registration through digitization of civil status services in the commune of Rumonge

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  • Burundi

    Rumonge

  • Project status

    In progress

  • Duration

    2024-2025

  • Funding

    150 000

  • Beneficiaries

    5,000 newborns in the commune of Rumonge 
    2,000 children under 17 without birth certificates
    Parents made aware of the importance of birth registration
    76 civil registrars and health center staff in Rumonge commune

  • Partners

    Operating partner : 
    FVS Amie des Enfants

    Institutional partners : 
    Burundian Ministry of the Interior (in charge of civil status issues and owner of the birth registration software)
    UNDP

  • Objectives

    1. Build the capacity of local and national players to modernize civil registry services.

    2. Increase the birth registration rate in the commune of Rumonge through the interoperability of civil registry services and health structures.

    3. Document the civil status situation in the commune of Rumonge and contribute to advocacy with the relevant authorities.