VITAL STATISTICS PRODUCTION PROCESS

One of the key outcomes of a well-functioning civil registration system is the publication and dissemination of vital statistics. Vital statistics provide important information for policymaking and planning across all sectors. While efforts have been underway to improve the registration of vital events and the civil registration system, there is minimal guidance on establishing or redesigning vital statistics systems from the point of data transfer to the dissemination of statistics.  

Building off existing guidelines, such as the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System, the CRVS Systems Improvement Framework, and the Generic Statistical Business Process Model published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, we have developed a systematic approach for assessing, designing and building vital statistics systems to ensure the regular production of vital statistics. The Vital Statistics Business Process Model consists of two phases, a “change work phase” and an “ongoing work phase”. During the change work phase, the vital statistics system is evaluated, needs are specified, and a new business process is designed and built. During the ongoing work phase, data are collected, processed, analyzed and disseminated using the newly built process.  

We work closely with the government agencies responsible for producing vital statistics in countries (which are usually national statistics offices) to use the Vital Statistics Business Process Model to assess their current business processes and to then design and implement new business processes.