• Morocco announced an international call for tenders to digitize the national civil registry.
• The digitization effort covers more than 38 million records across 1,821 civil registry offices.
• Phase one involves converting ~27 million paper documents (some dating to 1915) via manual entry and verification.
• Phase two targets ~11 million already-digitized records for auditing, indexing, and securing.

Morocco is launching an international call for tenders to select service providers for a national civil registry digitization project, the Directorate General of Local Authorities announced. The initiative, with a budget exceeding 194 million dirhams, or roughly $20.8 million, aims to overhaul the management of civil registry records and bolster the digitization of public services nationwide. Bids will be opened on May 29 at the Ministry of the Interior in Rabat.

"This project aims to establish a centralized and secure database, connecting all civil registry offices to a unified, high-performance information system," the Interior Ministry stated. "This will enable real-time data exchange with other public institutions, accelerating procedures, improving service quality, and strengthening the digital transformation of Moroccan administration."

The digitization effort will encompass over 38 million records spread across 1,821 civil registry offices throughout the country. It will proceed in two phases. The initial phase involves approximately 27 million paper documents, some dating back to 1915. These documents will undergo meticulous digitization, manual data entry, and rigorous verification to ensure data accuracy. The second phase will cover more than 11 million already-digitized documents, which will be audited, indexed, and secured to guarantee their integrity and traceability.

Selected service providers will be required to adhere to stringent cybersecurity standards and ensure the faithful preservation of the original documents. Payment for services will be phased, allowing for close monitoring of contractual obligations.

The project also includes the development of an integrated information system designed to centralize data while ensuring its seamless connection with other public services. This system will streamline administrative processes, reduce processing times, and ensure consistent service quality across the country.

Furthermore, an electronic portal will be created for citizens, enabling them to conduct various procedures remotely, including requests for birth certificates, family record books, and the registration of births and deaths. This portal is intended to enhance digital inclusion while alleviating pressure on physical administrative counters.

This project aligns with Morocco's national "Digital Morocco 2030" strategy, spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform. Through this initiative, the Kingdom seeks to solidify its ambition to become a leading regional player in the digital sphere, leveraging technological innovation to serve its citizens and modernize public administration. The country has already made strides in this direction, digitizing 600 public services, including 300 for citizens, 200 for businesses, and 100 for government agencies.

By Samira Njoya,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji