At the close of the opening session on April 20, 2026, in Yaoundé, the regional workshop on civil registration stands out as a coordinated response to persistent challenges in the sub-region. In Central Africa, nearly 4 out of 10 births are not registered, while fewer than 30% of deaths are officially declared. Gathered around these issues, about forty experts from CEMAC and their partners aim to strengthen the production of reliable demographic data.
In Central Africa, the formalization of civil registration records remains a major challenge, marked by low registration coverage and persistent territorial inequalities. Fewer than 60% of births are registered, while certain events, such as deaths, remain largely underreported. To reverse this trend, around forty experts from CEMAC and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) met in Yaoundé on April 20, 2026, to develop a practical guide aimed at sustainably improving civil registration systems in the sub-region.
We are gathered to validate the guide, the framework, which will ensure that the work carried out in each country is comparable and aligned with the standards we will jointly adopt. We directly support countries to ensure that census operations comply with international standards, and that civil registration systems are implemented accordingly. There is also the aspect of data use.
Nicolas Beyeme Nguema, CEMAC Commissioner
The Yaoundé meetings are expected to help address persistent gaps in the registration of civil status events, particularly deaths, of which fewer than 30% are officially declared in some countries. The lack of reliable data hampers public policies. Participants are therefore analyzing the statistical production chain, from data collection to use, while promoting the digitalization and interoperability of national systems.
UNFPA also works with countries, universities, research centers, civil society, and other United Nations agencies to ensure that the data collected can be transformed into information usable by policymakers.
Donatien Beguy, Regional Advisor on Population Data for Central Africa
At the end of the workshop, the guide is expected to be validated as a regional standard and adopted by member states. It will serve as a reference to improve civil registration service coverage and achieve the goal of legal identity for all by 2030. In Central Africa, only 45% of countries currently have integrated digital systems, a major challenge that this initiative aims to address sustainably.
