Strategies for improving civil registration and vital

statistics systems

Discussant: Dr AJ Lanyon

Australian Bureau of Statistics

29 June 2011

2

Papers/Presentations

• 2 papers/presentations were very complementary

• ECA• Very good overview of key components of an

improvement strategy

• VSC, Canada:• Lived example of a commitment to ongoing

improvement in a way that links the CRS and the VSS

3

Reflections on Chapter IV

• Support (in general) endorsement of content of existing Chapter IV

• Chap IV is clear – not meant to be comprehensive – draws attention to importance of

improvement strategies– framed to cover both CRS and VSS

• One size will not fit all (ECA paper)

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Reflections on Chapter IV

• Emphasis in next P+R?– A monitoring and improvement plan

should be INTEGRAL to system design – governance, regular operation, commitment to training

– Risks when seen as an add-on– Periodic independent evaluation has a

role – but should not be the sole focus of investment in improvement

5

Reflections on Chapter IV

• WHO / UQ HIS-Hub Assessment Framework and tool provides:– comprehensive resource for reviewing

CRS and VS produced– results in of improvement/action plans

to achieve sustainable CRS• Covers:

– number of components raised by ECA– majority of components of Chapter IV

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Reflections on Chapter IV• Ensuring strong links between CRS

and VSS is important – inter-agency co-ordinating mechanisms are key (Canadian experience)

• Feedback loops at operational level also important

• Not sure current Chapter emphasises importance of CRS/VSS links sufficiently

7

Reflections on Chapter IV

• Some further comments:– Need to be careful about how to frame

membership of co-ordination committees

– Stakeholder analysis should inform– Could be a way of making links with

Health Agencies and the research community (key part of CRS and VSS)

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Reflections on Chapter IV• Some further comments:

– ECA paper (para 27) re-affirms value of targeted outreach program to address problem areas (applicable to developing and developed countries)

– Mobilization of funds is important – balance between national and donor funding required to be sustainable

– With UQ HIS-Hub, ABS developed a tool to assist in development of ‘business cases’ to obtain $

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Reflections on Chapter IV• Some final (!) comments:

– Keeping abreast of ICT developments is key but challenging (Canadian experience is heartening – demonstrates value in collaboration!)

– Access to technical expertise/resources required to support improvement

– Role to play by regional programmes to monitor and support strong CRS + VSS.