Expert Talks: Understanding civil registration and vital statistics systems is a series of 22 short interviews with CRVS experts from around the world. They explain what CRVS systems are, how they help governments and people alike, why improving CRVS systems matters and what strategies different countries are using. For example, learn how Cambodia cleared a civil registration backlog by providing free, time-bound registration. Hear how verbal autopsies in India helped to inform decision-making in healthcare, or how the Philippines and Thailand made changes to increase access for vulnerable populations. Developed by the Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems, the videos are all available in both English and French here. 

Located at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada, the Centre of Excellence was established with seed funding from the Government of Canada. Its mission is to act as a global knowledge hub for information sharing and learning about CRVS systems, as well as to provide access to expertise. The Centre contributes directly to the work of the Global Financing Facility. Active in 16 countries, the GFF’s goal is to end preventable maternal, newborn, child and adolescent deaths, as well as to increase the health and quality of life of women, children and adolescents. Recognizing the important role of CRVS in calculating health indicators and improving evidence-based health policy, the GFF invests in CRVS projects in a number of countries in addition to supporting global knowledge sharing and learning initiatives such as the Centre of Excellence. The GFF is currently engaged in a replenishment drive which it hopes to use to expand its operations to 50 countries, including countries in the Asia-Pacific region.