 Population – 2.06 million; Pop
Density 3.6Km/2
 Country size – 581, 780 sq km,
almost the size
of France.
 National Registration to date :2
655, 390
INTRODUCTION
• In September 2012 at the Conference of African Ministers responsible for
Civil Registration held at Durban, South Africa a resolution was made for
each country to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the status of
CRVS as well as develop a medium term CRVS strategic plan
• Following this, training of a pool of experts on CRVS assessment was
carried out in May 2013 at Gaborone, Botswana where UNECA guidelines
on CRVS assessment were discussed and adopted
• Subsequently, Botswana conducted the Comprehensive assessment from
October 2013 drawing from the above noted and the assessment went on
for almost a year.
• Assessment was led by the Department of Civil and National Registration
in the Ministry of Labour and Home affairs through its Director, Ms. Neo C.
Lepang on close collaboration with the Ministries of Health,
Administration of Justice and Statistics Botswana.
• Assessment was co-guided technically as well by Dr. Grace Bediako as
consultant who came in and out of the country as per need.
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
• Assess the relevance of and gaps in policy and legislative framework
governing CRVS
• Document processes and practices for registration of vital events at
different operational levels
• Assess the adequacy of current structures and procedures
• Ascertain the extent to which information on vital events are
registered , captured, processed and compiled
• Review records management, storage, archival and retrieval
procedures and facilities
• Identify challenges and best practices in the management of
registration and data production
• Determine required improvements for:
– Quality service delivery and products
– Universal and complete registration
ASSESSMENT ORGANISATION
• A team of forty officers, organized in eight task teams
and drawn from the four key ministries involved in CRVS
namely Administration of Justice, Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs and Statistics
Botswana planned and conducted the assessment
including desk reviews and field visits.
• The teams visited a selection of locations across the
country to obtain information from interviews and direct
observations. The selection procedure was purposive;
ensuring that the communities visited included rural and
remote areas.
• The teams then proceeded to develop a draft costed 5
year strategic plan which is still being finalized
WAY- FORWARD
• The findings of the assessment are to be shared at a national
consultative forum (Pitso) scheduled for the 16th December
2014
• Pitso Targets the NGO sector, Private Sector, various
Government Departments, UN family and University of
Botswana as well as the members of the public.
• The main objective of the Pitso is to share the findings of the
assessment with stakeholders and solicit feedback and buy-in
from stakeholders as well as to position Botswana CRVS to
facilitate the country towards the implementation of the Post
2015 development agenda
SUCCESSES
• Completion of the CRVS Comprehensive Assessment
• Political commitment : support by leadership led by Minister of
Labour and Home Affairs and other Ministers responsible for CRVS
• Leadership commitment and resilience at Executive level
Permanent Secretaries and Directors as well as general staff
commitment
• Cooperation between CRVS organizations(Statistics Botswana,
MLHA, MOH, AOJ)
• Cooperation of development partners who provided technical and
financial support (UNFPA, GOB, WHO, AfDB, UNECA etc)
• Resource mobilization from CRVS organizations: Transport, Human
resource, funds
SUCCESSES
• Good reception at most organizations/ offices visited for
interviews
• Cross fertilization of learning and ideas among team members
from different agencies leading to improved understanding of
registration processes
CHALLENGES
• Varying commitment levels of stakeholders initially
• Varying understanding of roles of each stakeholder
• Establishing collaboration and coordination between CRVS
stakeholders was tedious and very involving
• Some respondents were not forthcoming with information
• Inadequate coordination of development partners at country level
yet development partners were very supportive in their own way
• Initially allocated time for the study was inadequate- 3 months
• Logistical challenges experienced along the way
LESSONS LEARNED
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The assessment exercise requires adequate time resource, minimum of 6
months
Assessment require sufficient budget for successful execution
Resources must be pooled from across the stakeholders spectrum, earmarked
and dedicated to the exercise during its implementation - Personnel, finance,
transport , materials etc.
Assessment requires combination of adequate technical and analytical skills to
support it– research, analysis, strategic planning, financial management,
operational, public relations etc.
Sound training on the assessment tool is required prior to undertaking the
assessment to create same understanding and expectations and execution
Adaptation of the tool must be undertaken to tailor make it to the local
environment without compromising on what must be achieved- no one size
fits it all.
Need to prepare respondents on value of the exercise in order to build trust
and to motivate them to cooperate and to give relevant and correct
information
LESSONS LEARNED- cont’d
• Need to ensure staff teameness and commitment through
continuous motivation, and effective communication as the exercise
is tedious and involving.
• Assessment require a timed, robust operational plan that must be
closely monitored for possible adaptation especially during initial
implementation phases.
• Need for a clear information, education and communication and
change management plan to manage stakeholder expectations and
needs and to share information timely to avoid disruption and
failure
• Need for proper logistics management (accommodation and meal
allowances, transport etc) and timely resolution of queries to avoid
staff disgruntlement
LESSONS LEARNED- cont’d
• There is need for good lobbying especially of the leadership and
stakeholders to procure buy-in, commitment and facilitation in
decision making.
• Need for local leadership engagement for easier access to
communities.
• Need to plan for business continuity in case of any risks
materializing – transport breakdown, officers on sick leave etc.
• Need to take care of cultural sensitivities and to accommodate
unity in diversity as well as provide for special services in relation to
language barriers among others and the need for interpretation
especially when dealing with minority groups
• There is need for continuous linkages and collaboration with CRVS
Desk Office at UNECA for technical support and to share
experiences to better guide other countries in the region an to
update on the status of countries.
CONCLUSION
• AFRICA REINASSENCE ASSURED