Abstract

One of the insidious forms of social inequality suffered by a third of children born around the world is the lack of registration of their birth. A situation that is more worrying in developing countries, including Benin. To address this situation, Dogbo municipal administration has initiated a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders in order to take control of its development. The present study carried out a documentary review and the experience of Dogbo Municipality in birth registration. Actors were interviewed on the basis of an expert choice taking into account the main factors involved in the process of birth registration and other civil status facts ranging from the municipal administration to the village level with the concept of saturation. From the first year of intervention, all births of the municipality are declared and registered. Withdrawal of birth certificates was carried out at a rate of 58.10% over the period considered. Death registration, on the other hand, increased gradually from 85 in the first year to 159 in the four–year interval. The process thus set in motion makes it possible to move to a phase of systematic registration of births and deaths with the prospect of extending it to other vital events. An experience highly appreciated by the actors at the national and international level. This received the first award of the European Parliament "PLATEFORMAWARDS" for the promotion of good governance.

Keywords

birth declaration, registration, social inequalities, community empowerment, Benin, West Africa