In Niger, civil documents are crucial for accessing basic services. Children without birth certificates suffer severe consequences – they are unable to continue their education, participate in exams or access certain rights as Nigerien citizens.
.jpg?width=768&height=433)
Securing the future of Niger’s children: Digitising birth certificates
For many children in Niger, especially those from internally displaced, refugee or host communities, obtaining a birth certificate represents an enduring challenge. But in the Tahoua region of Niger, a quiet transformation is taking place – one that could change the lives of thousands of children.
A lifeline for Niger's children
With only 62.9 per cent of births registered in 2023, many children are at risk of falling through cracks in the system.
To answer this urgent need, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with funding from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to digitise civil documentation across Niger – starting with birth certificates.
This initiative is not just an administrative update, but serves as a critical lifeline for people affected by emergencies. By making access to birth certificates more secure, it ensures that communities can maintain their legal identity even in the event of disasters or displacement, preventing fraud and safeguarding people’s rights. The initiative also aims to make the registration process faster, more efficient, and accessible to all.
The impact of this project has been deeply felt in Madaoua, where NRC has been actively working with administrators. In the town, we met with Alassane, a civil registrar who has witnessed the changes brought about by this project.
“Before NRC stepped in, we had up to four secondary centres where civil documents were drawn up. The process was slow. But today the digital system has revolutionised our work. Now, we can serve the community faster and more efficiently. We’re now able to make copies of documents quickly, and this has also reduced the town hall's operating costs. This initiative has truly been a blessing,” says Alassane.
NRC has equipped 81 communes across the country with essential tools such as computers, printers, and solar panels to power the technology. This has enabled them to digitise 240,925 civil status records, providing a crucial service for people affected by emergencies.
For many children in Niger, especially those from internally displaced, refugee or host communities, obtaining a birth certificate represents an enduring challenge. But in the Tahoua region of Niger, a quiet transformation is taking place – one that could change the lives of thousands of children.
A lifeline for Niger's children
With only 62.9 per cent of births registered in 2023, many children are at risk of falling through cracks in the system.
To answer this urgent need, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with funding from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to digitise civil documentation across Niger – starting with birth certificates.
This initiative is not just an administrative update, but serves as a critical lifeline for people affected by emergencies. By making access to birth certificates more secure, it ensures that communities can maintain their legal identity even in the event of disasters or displacement, preventing fraud and safeguarding people’s rights. The initiative also aims to make the registration process faster, more efficient, and accessible to all.
The impact of this project has been deeply felt in Madaoua, where NRC has been actively working with administrators. In the town, we met with Alassane, a civil registrar who has witnessed the changes brought about by this project.
“Before NRC stepped in, we had up to four secondary centres where civil documents were drawn up. The process was slow. But today the digital system has revolutionised our work. Now, we can serve the community faster and more efficiently. We’re now able to make copies of documents quickly, and this has also reduced the town hall's operating costs. This initiative has truly been a blessing,” says Alassane.
NRC has equipped 81 communes across the country with essential tools such as computers, printers, and solar panels to power the technology. This has enabled them to digitise 240,925 civil status records, providing a crucial service for people affected by emergencies.
In addition, NRC recruited and trained a team of 60 digitisers and supported 565 civil registration actors to develop their skills, ensuring long-term sustainability. Thus the project not only improves the civil documentation process but also empowers local actors to maintain and expand their services, reaching remote and crisis-affected areas.
Mobile teams now go from village to village, digitising civil status documents – particularly birth certificates. Citizens no longer have to go to great lengths to obtain their birth certificates from the registry office – instead, the registry office comes to them. This makes the process much smoother, giving as many people as possible the chance to obtain essential documentation.
Hassane, 65, father of 12 children, shares how the new system has helped his family.
“I used to worry that my children wouldn’t be able to go to school…because we couldn’t get their birth certificates on time. But now, thanks to NRC, my children have their documents. I feel like their future is secure” he says, his relief palpable.
He adds that the new system is efficient and secure: “Before…there were always a lot of people in line. Now all that is a thing of the past. The other problem solved by NRC’s intervention is fraud. Before, our birth certificates were handwritten and easily falsifiable. This is great progress.”
Digitising birth certificates has also made all the other related administrative procedures much easier.
Alongside, the technical improvements, NRC has conducted awareness campaigns across 1,215 villages to ensure that communities understand the importance of civil registration and how to access these new digital services. This project is a beacon of hope in Niger, a country where insecurity and disasters often disrupt daily life.
NRC’s efforts, in collaboration with local administrations, prove that with the right tools and commitment, even the most challenging problems can be tackled.
NRC remains committed to expanding this initiative to reach more communities, and ensure that no child from an internally displaced, refugee or host community is left behind.
Sign up to our newsletter to read more stories from around the world.