Somalia has taken a transformative leap in its digital governance journey with the launch of a Unified Digital Civil Registration Service across 19 districts.
Announced by the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation during the 8th Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day, this initiative marks a major milestone in expanding legal identity and access to essential services.
Digital Identity for All: A Game-Changer for Somali Citizens
The new unified digital civil registration platform enables local administrations in Federal Member States—including Jubbaland, South West, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Northeastern State—to digitally record births, marriages, divorces, and deaths.
All data is stored in a centralized national database, ensuring secure, tamper-proof, and easily accessible legal identities for citizens.
What is Expected from the Unified Digital Civil Registration System?
This digital shift is expected to:
- Eliminate paperwork and reduce administrative delays
- Cut costs associated with manual recordkeeping
- Improve accuracy and speed of service delivery
- Enable integration with key government services like healthcare, education, immigration, and national ID systems
Reaching the Unregistered: CRVS Integration in Schools
In partnership with UNICEF, the pilot program equipped 19 districts with modern registration tools, including tablets for health facilities lacking computers.
The Federal Ministry of Education is also integrating CRVS into school enrollment, targeting primary-age children who missed birth registration—ensuring digital identity begins early in life.
Addressing Somalia’s Low Birth Registration Rates
According to the 2020 Somalia Demographic and Health Survey, only 3% of children under five have had their births officially registered, and just 0.3% possess a birth certificate—among the lowest rates globally.
This lack of documentation limits access to education, healthcare, voting rights, and social protection programs.
Toward Inclusive Digital Transformation
The digital registry of births will help in the following:
- Boost citizen participation in public life
- Strengthen national planning with reliable population data
- Expand access to social services
- Support Somalia’s broader e-government strategy
Plans are underway to scale the unified digital civil registration system nationwide.
Including remote and underserved areas, aligning with the African Union’s vision of legal identity as the foundation of inclusive digital governance.
