Simplified birth registration implemented in all 26 Regions of Mainland Tanzania

Dar es Salaam, 8 December 2023 – Today’s official launch of the Simplified Birth Registration System Programme in Dar es Salaam completes the nationwide roll-out, extending this critical service for families to register their child at birth to all 26 regions in Mainland Tanzania.

Launched in 2013 by the Registration Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA) and Government ministries, supported through the partnership between Global Affairs Canada, UNICEF and Tigo Telecom, the Simplified Birth Registration System introduced a new era of efficiency for registering the birth of all newborns and children under the age of five.

“Canada has contributed CAD 30 million in the birth registration programme,” said Helen Fytche, Head of Cooperation, Global Affairs Canada. “This is because Canada recognises that investing in Tanzania's youth, and in particular girls, will have a crucial impact in shaping Tanzania’s future with demographic trends underscoring the urgency of such investments. Proof of age is particularly important for protecting girls against exploitation.”

With over nine million children under the age of five registered already, more than 248,000 young children in Dar es Salaam are set to receive their birth certificates over the next 10 days, securing their rightful recognition and identity. Parents and caregivers in Dar es Salaam now have access to over 500 registration points, including 102 wards and 403 health facilities.

Birth registration is a fundamental right for every child and is the cornerstone for granting children access to essential social services and protection from harmful practices., bridging the rural-urban divide, and improving access for marginalised communities. By focusing on accessibility and affordability, the Simplified Birth Registration programme addresses gender, inclusion and economic barriers in order to overcome previous challenges in the birth registration process.

This forward-thinking Public-Private Partnership enhances the accessibility of birth registration services by establishing registration points at health facilities and community ward executive offices, aligning with the Government's decentralisation policy. It adopts a streamlined 'one step, one visit' allowing families to access critical birth registration, immunization and nutrition services in the same location, thereby also facilitating improved data collection. To reduce the affordability barrier, all registration fees are waived, and the first copy of the birth certificate is provided free of charge.

"The launch of the Simplified Birth Registration System in the Dar es Salaam Region completes the roll-out of this critical service to all 26 regions across Mainland Tanzania and is a testament to the continuous effort by the Government to realize the right to recognition for every child by making birth registration accessible and affordable for families throughout the country," said Elke Wisch, UNICEF Representative to Tanzania. “It is crucial to build upon the success of the birth registration system and develop it into a robust Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System and ensure every child's right to identity and a brighter future.”