Govt Inks Deal On Electronic Civil Management System

Source: Vientiane Times

The government is developing an electronic civil registration and vital statistics system to increase capacity to collect demographic statistics and produce and disseminate reliable and timely socio-economic and poverty information.

The system will also enable more efficient monitoring and evaluation of the progress made towards fulfilment of the government’s socio-economic development plans. The Ministry of Home Affairs has inked an agreement with the WCC Group B.V. of the Netherlands to develop the system. The WCC Group B.V. is a leading product company, providing advanced software solutions for public and private employment services.

A contract for the project was signed at an online event on Thursday by the Director General of the Citizen Management Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs Kommaly Vilaphanh, and the CEO of WCC Group B.V., Mr Jan Jensen.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Dr Thongchanh Manixay also attended the event. Mrs Kommaly said the ministry had conducted an international tender for the purchase of electronic civil management software in accordance with World Bank procurement rules and regulations.

The WCC Group B.V. won the tender because of its experience in software development (HERA) for electronic civil registration and vital statistics (eCRVS), which was in line with the criteria set out in the bidding documents. The contract is worth more than US$3.2 million. Development of the electronic civil registration and vital statistics system will be carried out over a period of 38 months.

Implementation of eCRVS database software system development will be divided into four phases, with the first phase to be conducted in the capital and Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces this year. The second phase will take place in the provinces of Oudomxay, Xieng Khuang, Huaphan and Phongsaly later in 2022. The third phase will be carried out in the provinces of Bokeo, Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Savannakhet in 2023.  The fourth phase will be rolled out in the provinces of Attapeu, Luang Namtha, Saravan, Xekong, Vientiane, Xayaboury and Xaysomboun later in 2023.

 “By 2030, all Lao citizens will be able to use the registration system and so that population statistics are compiled in a comprehensive and efficient manner,” Mrs Kommaly said. By 2024, 70 percent of all Lao citizens, including newborns, will be registered.

An electronic civil registration and vital statistics system is viewed as necessary for the achievement of targets and the provision of services, as well as the provision of legal status to individuals and the preparation of relevant documents. The system will enable the verification, collection and analysis of statistics systematically in relation to important events in the life of each citizen, such as their birth and death.