Participation in the CRVS Research Forum
30 March – 1 April 2026
Nationality for All (NFA) participated in the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Research Forum 2026, convened by regional and global partners to bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to strengthen CRVS systems worldwide.
CRVS systems play a critical role in establishing legal identity by recording vital life events such as births, deaths, and marriages—forming the foundation for access to rights, services, and protection.
NFA’s Contribution
At the Forum, NFA contributed to key discussions through a series of interventions focused on inclusion, rights, and accountability within CRVS systems, particularly in the context of rapid digital transformation.
1. Risks of Digitalisation Without Legal Safeguards
NFA highlighted the growing trend toward digitization of CRVS systems and the risks this poses if not accompanied by robust legal and policy safeguards.
While digital systems offer opportunities for efficiency and scale, they can also:
- Exclude individuals who lack documentation or legal recognition
- Increase risks related to data protection, privacy, and surveillance
- Reinforce existing inequalities if inclusion is not intentionally designed
NFA emphasized that digital transformation must be grounded in rights-based frameworks, ensuring that no one is excluded in the process.
2. Inclusion of Hard-to-Reach Communities
NFA stressed the importance of ensuring that CRVS systems are accessible to hard-to-reach and marginalized communities, including stateless persons.
Many individuals affected by statelessness face structural barriers to registration, including lack of documentation, discrimination, and administrative hurdles. Without deliberate inclusion strategies, CRVS systems risk further entrenching exclusion rather than addressing it.
3. Role of Civil Society and Community Engagement
NFA underscored the need for meaningful consultation with civil society organizations (CSOs) and affected communities in the design and implementation of CRVS systems.
Inclusive systems cannot be built in isolation. Engaging communities directly ensures that systems reflect lived realities, respond to actual barriers, and build trust among those they are meant to serve.
4. Importance of Digital Literacy
As CRVS systems become increasingly digitized, NFA highlighted the need to invest in digital literacy for marginalized groups.
Without adequate support, individuals may be unable to navigate digital systems, further limiting their access to registration and legal identity. Ensuring accessibility must therefore go hand in hand with capacity-building and user-centered design.
Key Takeaway
NFA’s engagement at the CRVS Research Forum reinforced a central message:
Efforts to strengthen CRVS systems must prioritize inclusion, rights, and accountability—ensuring that digital innovation does not come at the cost of equity.
