Example CRVS Implementation Guide
0.1.0 - ci-build

Principles

Principles and data standards

Principles for Digitalization

These principles ensure digital CRVS systems align with United Nations standards (UNSD, 2014) and address inclusivity, security, and sustainability, as emphasized in Workshop Group 1 feedback.

  • Compulsory
    • Legal Compliance: Systems must adhere to national laws (e.g., civil registration, ICT, privacy, data protection) and international frameworks (e.g., UN treaties), ensuring digitally issued documents are legally recognized.
    • Free Access: Registration and the first certificate must be free, with fees limited to additional services like duplicate certificates.
    • Data Quality Assurance: Embed tools to monitor timeliness (current, late, delayed), accuracy, and completeness, supporting reliable vital statistics.
  • Universality
    • Inclusivity and Accessibility: Design systems to serve all populations, including rural and vulnerable groups, with mobile and multi-language support (Workshop Group 1).
    • Equitable Digital Access: Ensure fairness across geographic and socioeconomic divides, preventing a digital divide.
    • User-Centric Design: Prioritize user needs to avoid marginalization, incorporating intuitive interfaces and accessible channels.
  • Continuous and Permanent
    • Legal Recognition: (Digital) Certificates must hold legal validity under national and international law.
    • Resilience and Continuity: Build systems to withstand disruptions (natural or human-induced) with robust disaster recovery plans.
    • Sustainability and Scalability: Ensure long-term viability through cost-effective scaling and sustainable technical, financial, and administrative plans.
    • Country Ownership and Data Sovereignty: Governments must control systems and data, using open standards to avoid vendor lock-in.
    • Flexibility and Adaptability: Enable systems to evolve with technological and national changes.
  • Confidentiality and Security
    • Data Protection and Privacy: Implement encryption and comply with laws like GDPR or national equivalents, safeguarding personal data (Workshop Group 1).
    • Promote Data Use and Interoperability: Facilitate secure data sharing across sectors (e.g., health, ID systems) using open standards (Workshop Group 1).
    • Alignment with National Context: Leverage existing infrastructure and skillsets, adopting gradual scale-up strategies.

Standards

Standards ensure consistency, security, and interoperability, harmonization and best practices.

  • Legal Framework and Governance
    • Align with national ICT and data protection laws, defining minimum hardware specifications for reliability.
  • Data Standards
    • Use UNSD-recommended data fields for vital events (birth, death, etc.), ensuring comprehensive capture (UNSD, 2014).
  • Security and Privacy
    • Adhere to ISO 27001 for cybersecurity, with regular audits and backup policies (Workshop Group 1).
  • Interoperability
    • Employ open standards (e.g., OData, XML) for data exchange with systems like national ID or health databases (Workshop Group 2).
  • International Standards
    • Comply with global frameworks for consistency and cross-border data sharing.

Best Practices and Recommendations.

  • Harmonization: Align systems across regions using shared standards and APIs (e.g., Benin’s interoperability model).
  • Evaluation: Regularly assess performance and efficiency, adopting best practices from member countries.
  • Case Studies: Highlight successes like Rwanda’s pre-reform birth registration (UNICEF, 2017).