Electronic Civil Registration System

Registration system proposal

Proposed Solution

In recent times, home security improvement, one-man-one-vote, fight against corruption and transparency have gained prominence in not only Somalia but also across the global. One of the most implemented approach is having a direct, continuous, and up-to-date record of citizen vital events and information such as marriages, deaths, births, employment status, and, importantly, movement. For every government, service delivery grounds its effectiveness, progress, protection of citizen’s rights, and governance in which is depended on having an in depth understanding and aware of the needs and population of its citizens. Furthermore, countries need to know population size (birth and death rate) as well as cause of death, number of people living in drought prone areas (for relief purposes), senior citizens (elderly), unemployed, and those living with disability collectively allows countries to identify pressing issues such as poverty, insecurity, and health problems. As such, civil registration comes with multiple benefits ranging from implementation of fundamental services delivery mechanism to social inclusion. In Somalia perspective, the primary purpose of civil registration is to create a legal document that can be used to establish and protect the rights of individuals. A secondary purpose is to create a data source for the compilation of vital events that are typically recorded on the register include live birth, families relationship, death, foetal death, name, marriage, divorce, annulment of marriage, adoption, legitimization and recognition.

Although Somalia has recently strategized towards registering its citizens countrywide, the process has been relatively slow. The government of Somalia currently registers less than 5% of children. Given these gap and importance of civil registration in promoting efficient government planning, monitoring progress towards achieving sustainable development goals, and effective use of resources, we, as a company are delighted to help and build registration system for the government to support their vision.

These proposal highlights intention to develop an electronic civil registration system that, unlike existing manual registration system, is efficient, time consuming saving, easy to implement, and no triple registration. The project will supports technical assistance, capacity building, and information and communication technology equipment to move from manual registration towards a more technologically advanced and efficient electronic system. These align with the culture and core principles of the firm focusing on capturing data accurately and safeguarding against damage or misplacement while fostering timely and easily access to the stored information. With 10years experience in Norwegian tax and civil registration system, the organization is confident it has capability and capacity to record and handle huge data.

System Architecture

Based upon the experiences of the previous registration system, implementation of the registration systems in Somalia require specific set of servers and devices as core components. Such as Server will host web applications and web service applications. Whereas database server will store and manage registry data. Personal computer to access the website. Other core components include a modem/ router/ switch/ hub/ Wi-Fi network/ cable network, and need an Internet Service Provider to have the internet connectivity. It will work in collaboration with National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) in ensuring the system comprising of software and hardware supplied and implemented is effective and technologically advanced to curb civic registration need.

Drawing a Use Case Diagram in Rational Rose

The above diagram outlines various components and respective relation between different variables and key persons required in implementation and maintenance of the system. The personnel needed are categorised into two, namely users and administrators while key tasks (activities) are grouped into three each with sub-group of three differentiated in accordance to the access to data and task to be done. The super admin will nine role that include managing civil registration, birth records, death records, users, operations of full civil registrar system, civilization, blocks, and any encountered cases. Importantly, s/he will have full control of the system including overseeing the implementation and management of registry (recording, safeguarding, and safe storage of the data). Nevertheless, s/he will liaise with system user in credentials (password and login details). We aim to have an individual who will coordinate with government officials and users (those being registered) during implementation, maintenance, and verification process of the system.

Fingerprint Clocking In System

Fingerprint identification system uses biometric technology that keeps individuals’ (in this case registered individuals) fingerprint in an image format. By using the concept of biometric recognition where a person can be identified on the basis of unique physiological characteristics, fingerprint systems captures ridges, furrows, and patterns on the surface of a finger during identification then stores the data for future verification when needed. Ideally, people have different patterns (that include ridges, swirls, and furrows) with very few isolated cases where family members share finger patterns. Hence, capturing the characteristics of a one’s fingers that include ridge thickness, curvature, and density means even close relatives can be differentiated during registration and verification process. During template formation (minutiae extraction), finger print information (data) is captured the processed marking valleys and ridges then in verification process, the stored data is matched to new information in a computerised manner. In this light, the implemented system will make use of the technology (fingerprint system) in recording individual’s information aligning to the respective name, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, clan etc. In essence, the fingerprint will make the verification process whether during registration process or identification significant effective and time-saving.

Potential challenges

1. The time associated with designing and implementing of the system estimated 15000 hours for the first year of implementation and 2000 hours in subsequent years.

2. Teaching and training government employee estimated 2000 would be challenge and time consuming

3. The cost of equipment will be approximately $1M. Considerably, this is a minor cost and would be offset, as explained above.

4. Management and additional cost including transport and administration activities