Over 24,000 Children Receive Birth Certificates Under EU-Supported Project

More than 24,000 children have been issued birth certificates under the European Union Human Development Support Project as Zambia intensifies efforts to improve birth registration among children under the age of five.

The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services says 34,307 children have been registered under the initiative, with 24,673 having received birth certificates since implementation of the project began.

The programme seeks to strengthen birth registration and improve children’s access to legal identity and essential social services.

The figures were disclosed during a courtesy call on Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Prudence Kangwa by a delegation from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services led by Director of Social Welfare Morris Moono.

Representatives from UNICEF and the Department of National Registration, Passports and Citizenship were also part of the delegation, which was in the province ahead of the launch of the Mwana Ni Muntu campaign.

Mr Moono said the Ministry’s case-management strategy is strengthening child protection and improving access to essential services. He emphasised that birth registration and possession of a birth certificate are fundamental rights of every child.

Registrar General Davies Chikalanga said government is simultaneously working to digitise and integrate Zambia’s birth-registration systems.

The reforms are intended to improve the timely capture, transmission, verification and storage of registration information and make the process of documenting children more efficient.

Authorities also reported 20,313 birth notifications awaiting registration since the project began.

Government has commended cooperating partners and other stakeholders for supporting efforts to strengthen birth registration and promote the welfare and rights of children.

The initiative forms part of wider efforts to ensure children are formally recognised and can access services for which proof of identity and birth registration may be required.