Cameroon has secured a financial partnership with South Korea, obtaining XAF 23.21 billion (approximately $38 million) to fund five developmental projects, focusing on digital transformation.
According to reports, the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey confirmed that part of these funds will go towards advancing Cameroon’s civil status registration system.
“A significant portion of the grant, $4.8 million, is designated for creating a robust and secure foundational identity system throughout Cameroon to establish a reliable and accessible civil identification infrastructure.”
The “e-Procurement System Development Project” in Cameroon will also benefit from this funding, receiving $5.6 million to transition the public contracts procurement system to a digital platform; to streamline the processes and enhance both transparency and efficiency.
Minister Mey highlighted the “Smart Campus” initiative, which will receive $8 million from the grant to advance digital governance within public administration and modernize public service delivery, in line with the country’s broader digital government strategies.
Cameroon has been working on a master plan for the digitalization of the civil registration system since 2018, part of the Strategic Plan for the Rehabilitation of Civil Registration in Cameroon from 2018 to 2022 where an interface has been established to link the civil status system with other critical sectors, such as the national identity agency and the ministries of justice, transport, and health.
“A pilot project using the OpenCRVS platform for birth registration has been successfully completed in 20 municipal councils across Cameroon, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digitalization efforts,” the report stated.
The “Support Program for the Modernization of the Civil Registration System” (PAMEC) in Cameroon has received international support, notably from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
It is worth noting that these agencies have provided financial backing and expertise to assist Cameroon in modernizing its civil registration system.
In August 2022, Cameroon secured a grant agreement amounting to 1.683 billion FCFA (approximately $2.8 million) to enhance the National Civil Status System, demonstrating that the international community’s is commitment to helping the country address systemic challenges.
The reports further noted that Cameroon’s civil registration system has historically struggled to accurately record vital events such as births and deaths.
“Statistics show that only about half of all births are documented, and death registration is even less common. This inadequate documentation has far-reaching consequences, often leading to exclusion from critical services and civic participation. Without birth certificates, many are denied access to formal education, healthcare services, legal travel, voting, and opportunities to open bank accounts or own property.”
The PAMEC project is essential for resolving these issues by creating a more inclusive and effective civil registration system that reliably documents vital life events. This will protect citizens’ rights and enhance the quality of life for people in Cameroon.