(Newsletter May 2023)

The Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) developed a new report titled “Strengthening the Birth Registration System in Samoa”. It highlights birth registration as a fundamental right, representing a critical first step for the protection and development of children in Samoa. The report is the result of effective partnerships between SBS, through its Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) Division, UNDP through its Accelerator Lab (AccLab), and relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, and actors involved in the birth registration process at the community level. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current situation, identifies gaps and opportunities, and proposes innovative and concrete recommendations such as using collective intelligence, and leveraging technology and whole-of-government collaboration across sectors to improve birth registration in Samoa.