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Compendium of Good Practices: Harnessing Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Conflict, Emergencies and Fragile Settings

Date
14 April 2021

The Centre of Excellence is pleased to announce that the Compendium of Good Practices: Harnessing Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Conflict, Emergencies and Fragile Settings is now available online in English and French. The compendium highlights successful experiences in building effective CRVS systems in conflict, emergency, and fragile contexts to ensure those most in need are counted and can access services. The compendium provides examples of CRVS in the context of responding to natural disasters, serving as a safeguard for gender equality during conflict, protecting rights of refugees and migrants, ensuring proper death registration of all, and combatting COVID-19.  The collection of papers begins with papers which provide an overview of CRVS in conflict and emergency settings and also includes case studies from a wide range of countries: Brazil, Ecuador, New Zealand, South Korea, Syria and Iraq, and Vanuatu. This infographic highlights some of the key messages.

The importance of CRVS in conflict and emergencies

Crises and emergencies due to conflict, climate and COVID-19 are on the rise. Despite the hardships, life in conflict, emergency, and fragile situations continues – people are born, marry, divorce, and die. Civil registration and identification systems are particularly important in these contexts. Without functioning CRVS systems, people can be prevented from accessing basic rights (right to an identity) and services that they deserve (health, humanitarian aid, education).

Crises and emergencies put additional strains on CRVS systems. Archives can be destroyed, records can be lost and the barriers facing people to who wish to register a life event can seem more daunting. During a crisis, too often maintaining and strengthening CRVS systems is not a priority. Yet governments need accurate, reliable and timely data to plan and respond to the crisis as well as continuing development priorities.

The short promotional video is also available in French, Spanish and Arabic.  

Download and read the compendium 

Download the complete compendium.

Launching the Compendium 

On April 14 2021 we were pleased to officially launch the Compendium with close to 90 participants. The Canadian Ambassador to Jordan, Donica Pottie, and the International Development Research Centre's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Barbara Shenstone made opening remarks. The Center of Excellence's Irina Dincu and Open Data Watch's Shaida Badiee introduced the compendium. A group of distinguished panelists delved into the topic. Panelists included:

  • Samira Asma, Assistant Director General for the Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact Division, World Health Organisation
  • Martin Clutterbuck, Regional ICLA Advisor, Norwegian Refugee Council 
  • Ida McDonnell, Senior Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • Francesca Perucci, Assistant Director, United Nations Statistics Division

This virtual event was moderated by Montasser Kamal and was translated in English, French and Arabic. 

Watch the recording of the launch