1. GOVERNANCE
Information Technology Tools for the
Registration of Births in Haiti
Moïse CELICOURT
Economist,
Priority Haiti Eminence Conference, Haiti – April 29 to May 3
2. Information Technology Tools for the Registration of Births in Haiti
• Critical situation in terms of identification
• About 40% of the population does not have an original identity document
• 20% of children are not registered and 27% have no birth certificate (EMMUS,
2012) – 340,000 children (under 5 years old)
• Implementation of the new civil registry (ONI Decree, 2005)
• Identification of all Haitians from birth
INTRODUCTION
3. Objective
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the computerization of the birth registration
process in order to provide birth certificates to all newborns.
Institutional framework for civil registration in Haiti
Long registration process
Fragmented civil registration organization
Constraints and consequences of non-registration
Political will unasserted
Administrative slowness and under-equipment
Inaccessibility of services
Social and economic consequences (education, health, protection, social participation,
statistical reliability)
Information Technology Tools for the Registration of Births in Haiti
4. • Birth certificate service coverage for 1.9 million children aged 0-4 years by
2027
• With coverage rates in the first three years equal to 40, 60 and 80%, the number of
affected children is 139 743, 225 821 and 253 439 respectively.
INTERVENTION
Digital service for the granting of birth certificates to children
Information Technology Tools for the Registration of Births in Haiti
5. Estimated Costs
• Estimated costs arising from various interventions related to
assistance programs to the Haitian government since 2005 for its civil
registry
• Costs of improvement of the civil registration system (hardware and software,
maintenance and training, data transport)
• Cost in 2016 estimated at $4.43 USD for the granting of a birth certificate to a
child
• Equivalent to 305.8 gourdes today
Information Technology Tools for the Registration of Births in Haiti
6. Estimated Benefits
• Time savings for parents
• Transportation costs avoided
• Savings (identity document)
• Inherent benefits
• Education of children
• Voting
• Access to the formal financial
sector
• Access to formal savings
320,000
340,000
360,000
380,000
400,000
420,000
440,000
460,000
480,000
500,000
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Economie Gain de temps Coût de transport évité
Scenario 1: Lack of Effect on Education
$-
$1
$2
$3
$4
$5
$6
$7
$(5)
$5
$15
$25
$35
$45
$55
$65
$75
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Millions
Millions
Coût de transport évité Gain de temps Economie
Scenario 2: Impact on Education
Possession or Non-Possession of a Birth Certificate
7. Total Costs and Benefits and Ratio
Discount
3 % 5% 12%
Benefit 29 590 300 18 967 609 8 324 650
Cost 9 988 284 8 879 079 6 183 368
BCR 3.0 2.1 1.3
Scenario 1: Lack of a birth certificate is not an obstacle to education ->
The birth certificate does not affect enrollment in education
Scenario 2: Lack of a birth certificate is an obstacle to education ->
The birth certificate improves enrollment in education, but increases the cost of education
Discount
3% 5% 12%
Benefit 570 105 243 273 533 512 37 290 498
Cost 32 821 005 26 093 594 13 049 730
CBR 17.4 10.5 2.9
