The Second Annual Meeting of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Steering Committee

Minister of Interior Leads Second Annual CRVS Steering Committee Meeting

H.E. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation, joined by representatives from the Federal and State Ministries of Interior, Justice, Health, and Education, as well as the United Nations, presided over the Second Annual Meeting of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Steering Committee.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Fiqi emphasized the committee’s critical role in government service delivery and decentralization efforts, stating, “This committee, which is made up of Federal and State-level representatives, is at the center of the government’s service delivery and decentralization efforts.”

The primary objective of the meeting was to review the achievements of the past year and outline work plans for the upcoming period. Minister Fiqi reiterated, “The objective of the Second Annual Meeting of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Steering Committee is to discuss the achievements of the past year as well as the work plans for the next.”

Deputy Special Representative George Conway highlighted the significance of a robust National ID and Civil Registration system for effective national planning and service delivery. Similarly, Deputy Minister of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Bulaale, underscored the importance of an efficient Civil Registration System, noting that birth and death registration are essential for improving healthcare services.

Oliver Chinganya, Director of the African Centre for Statistics, acknowledged the progress made in CRVS system strengthening since 2012 despite administrative challenges, stating, “We acknowledge the great effort made since 2012 when the country achieved some milestones in CRVS system strengthening amidst a fragile administrative ecosystem.”

Experts from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation presented key insights into the National CRVS Strategic Plan 2024-2029 and the Digital CRVS System. Federal, State, and Regional representatives expressed gratitude to Minister Fiqi for uniting different government institutions and guiding Somalia’s Civil Registration efforts.

The meeting also saw participation from representatives of the United Nations and international partners, who shared their insights and recommendations. Concluding the session, the CRVS Steering Committee formally approved the 2024 annual work plan and the National CRVS Strategic Plan 2024-2029, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening Somalia’s civil registration infrastructure.

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