From commitment to action: Financing inclusive civil registration and vital statistics systems

Strong civil registration and vital statistics systems (CRVS) record every birth, adoption, marriage, divorce and death, providing the legal identity documents people need to go to school, receive health care, inherit property and participate fully in civic life. They also generate the population data that governments require to plan and deliver essential services and to measure progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. In short, CRVS is the backbone of an inclusive development agenda.  

At IDRC, we have long viewed CRVS systems as essential to building inclusive, equitable and resilient societies. Almost a decade ago, IDRC and Global Affairs Canada invested in establishing a Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems. It was initially housed at IDRC and later transferred to UNFPA, with ongoing IDRC support. This partnership aims to strengthen CRVS and legal identity systems, recognizing their power to transform lives. CRVS is not simply a data exercise — it is about securing rights, enabling access to services and ensuring that women, girls and marginalized communities are recognized by the state and protected under the law. 

Overcoming challenges, together 

Despite important advances, major challenges remain. In many countries, marriage and divorce registration still fall outside compulsory registration laws, leaving women without the legal documentation they need to claim inheritance, secure custody, or access social protection. Disparities by gender, geography and income persist, with rural and marginalized populations the most likely to be left behind. 

Closing these gaps will require more than technical fixes — it will require political will and sustainable financing. Countries must prioritize CRVS within their national budgets to maintain registration offices, train registrars, invest in technology and raise awareness among communities. Development partners must align their support with country-led priorities, pool resources and avoid fragmentation. CRVS and legal identity systems should be treated as foundational investments — on par with infrastructure, health and education systems — because they enable progress across sectors. 

Spotlight on financing for CRVS 

To help governments and partners take action, the UNFPA Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems, alongside IDRC and Open Data Watch, is proud to highlight a paper on Financing for CRVS Systems: Building Resilient and Sustainable Investments. This paper explores the financing landscape for CRVS, identifies gaps and provides practical recommendations for mobilizing and coordinating resources. It emphasizes the need for a mix of domestic resource mobilization, donor support and innovative funding mechanisms to future-proof CRVS systems and ensure they are resilient in the face of crises. 

The paper is intended to inform discussions at the 4th Global CRVS and Gender Symposium taking place from 15 to 17 October, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, and to guide concrete commitments from governments, donors and development partners. By grounding investment decisions in evidence and aligning financing with national priorities, we can build systems that deliver for decades to come. 

Meeting the moment in Nairobi 

The Nairobi symposium is more than a gathering of experts — it is a catalyst for action. It brings together governments, development partners, researchers and civil society to reflect on progress, surface innovations and chart practical steps toward stronger, gender-responsive CRVS systems. 

This year’s focus on financing is timely. As countries invest in digital public infrastructure, there is a unique opportunity to integrate CRVS with identity management systems, population registers and censuses. Digitalization, implemented with strong privacy and data protection safeguards, can extend coverage, improve data quality and make systems more efficient and inclusive. But without sustained investment, these opportunities risk going unrealized. 

A call to build together 

At IDRC, we remain committed to a life-course approach to CRVS that puts gender equality at the center — ensuring that no vital event goes unrecorded and no person remains invisible. Working together, we can mobilize resources, secure sustainable financing and build the strong, inclusive CRVS systems needed to achieve the promise of leaving no one behind.