Many countries are now striving to modernize their administrative systems to better address the challenges of data and identity management. These efforts rely on the adoption of digital technologies to enhance efficiency and inclusion.

Cameroon is undertaking a significant overhaul of its civil registration system, with a draft law recently debated in the National Assembly. This ambitious reform aims to modernize the 2011 framework, which has become outdated, and align the country with international digital standards. The objective is to create a more efficient, inclusive, and secure system for managing essential citizen data.

According to the government daily Cameroon Tribune, the proposal includes adopting digital technologies for registering civil events such as births, marriages, and deaths. A key innovation is the introduction of a unique personal identification number assigned at birth. This numeric code will enable citizens to access various administrative services more easily, including those related to employment, health, and education. Additionally, the reform extends the deadline for declaring births to 12 months, a measure aimed at including more people in the national registry.

This initiative aligns with the Cameroonian government’s broader efforts to modernize public services. Despite recent progress, the country lags in digital governance. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Cameroon ranks 155th out of 193 countries in the 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.4294 out of 1. This ranking reflects significant challenges related to digital infrastructure and connectivity, which the project seeks to address.

Beyond administrative streamlining, digitizing civil registration is expected to have positive socio-economic impacts for Cameroon. Centralizing data in a secure national digital registry will enhance transparency and protect personal information while reducing risks of fraud or data loss.

Samira Njoya