Durban: The 2nd Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Conference (CRVS) will kick off in Durban on Monday with a meeting of experts in the field. Experts from African countries have gathered at the International Convention Centre, where they will deliberate over the next few days ahead of the Ministerial Conference on 6 and 7 September.

Their meeting is expected to provide a comprehensive analytical framework and a roadmap that will culminate in recommendations for the ministers to deliberate upon and ratify. The conference, held under the theme ‘Improving Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Institutional and Human Infrastructure in Africa’, is coordinated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), African Development Bank, and hosted by the South African government.
The Ministerial Conference will be chaired by Home Affairs Minister and Chairperson of the AU Commission Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Fifty-four African ministers responsible for civil registration and vital statistics are expected to attend the conference, as well as about 500 delegates from African countries, including senior civil registration technical experts, development partners, young statisticians and professional associations.

The South African government delegation will be led by Dlamini Zuma and includes representatives of the Ministries of Home Affairs, International Relations and Co-operation, Health, Social Development, SAPS, Defence and Stats SA.