This document summarizes the agenda for a High-Level Meeting on improving civil registration and vital statistics systems in Asia and the Pacific. The goals of the meeting are to build consensus and commitment among countries to implement a Regional Strategic Plan to improve these systems. The Strategic Plan aims to enhance evidence-based policymaking and governance. Key topics at the meeting will include increasing political and financial support, strengthening registration systems, and improving regional coordination and monitoring of progress. The meeting aims to catalyze action toward fully implementing improved civil registration and vital statistics systems across the region by 2020.

1. High-level Meeting on the Improvement of
Civil Registration and Vital Statistics
in Asia and the Pacific
Regional Strategic Plan
for the Improvement of
Civil Registration and Vital Statistics
in Asia and the Pacific
Haishan Fu
Chair, HLM Organizing Committee
Director, Statistics Division, ESCAP

2. Call for action by ESCAP Committee on
Statistics
 Inaugural Session (February 2009)
Recognized the urgent need to improve vital
statistics to plan, monitor and evaluate policies
 Second Session (December 2010)
Requested the development of a Regional
Programme

3. Commitment of national governments
ESCAP Commission Resolution
67/12 (May 2011)
 “Convene a high-level meeting of
national statistical organizations, civil
registration offices, ministries of health
to raise awareness and foster increased
commitment to improving civil
registration and vital statistics”

4. Country actions and development
partners support
 Country assessments of CRVS systems
34 rapid self-assessments; 12 comprehensive
assessments and priority plan
 Regional Forum (2009)
Outcome Statement basis of Resolution
 Development of Regional Strategic Plan
20 partners; country consultation

5. Regional Strategic Plan: Goal and
outcomes
 Overall goal
The improvement of evidence based policy-
making, efficiency in resource allocation and good
governance, as well as the progressive realization
of the basic rights of all individuals
 Eight outcomes
 Combination of country actions and
regional support activities

6. Regional Strategic Plan: Guiding
principles
 Countries take the lead
 A stepwise approach
 Flexibility and responsiveness
 Consistency with international legal principles
 Building on local expertise and strategies
 Partnerships and coordination
 Harmonization and alignment

7. Feedback received so far …
 Overwhelmingly positive and constructive
 Stressed the need for political commitment
and sharing of knowledge and good practice
 Further development of specific targets
and activities

8. High-level Meeting: Build consensus and
momentum for action
 Global and regional momentum
 Regional push to increase political
support and commitment
 Regional exchange to build technical
capacity

9. Open engagement for shared understanding
and concrete recommendations
 Session 4
Important role of, and benefit for, key stakeholders
 Session 5 (Outcomes A, B and C)
Public awareness, political commitment and investment
 Session 6 (Outcomes D, E and F)
Complete and high quality civil registration and vital
statistics
 Session 7 (Outcome G)
Coordination of national and international stakeholders
 Session 8 (Outcome H)
Improving the use of vital statistics

10. Effective management for successful
implementation
 Session 9 Governance
Regional governance arrangements and
national coordination mechanisms
 Session 10 Moving forward as a region
Sustain momentum, raise resources, ensure
collaboration for effective implementation

11. Moving forward
 Session 11 Conclusion
Call for a “2020 Promise to Make Every Life
Count”
 Messages to member States
 Messages to development partners
Consider ministerial-level inter-governmental
endorsement of the RSP