Benin has introduced a new birth registration system allowing parents to declare births directly at hospitals, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to modernise its civil status services.
The pilot phase of the Single Window for Birth Registration and Declaration was officially launched on 20 August 2025 at the Lagune Mother and Child University Hospital (CHU-MEL) in Cotonou.
The initiative, spearheaded by the National Agency for the Identification of Persons (ANIP), aims to streamline the process of birth registration and reduce administrative burdens.
Under the new system, births can now be registered at maternity wards, bypassing the traditional requirement to visit municipal offices.
Information collected at health facilities is transmitted to the National Register of Natural Persons (RNPP), which then automatically generates a Personal Identification Number (NPI) for the newborn. Parents receive this number via SMS.
The process includes early identification during prenatal consultations, particularly for pregnant women not yet listed in the national database or whose information requires updating. This anticipatory step ensures that a child’s details are promptly and accurately recorded at birth.
Official documents, including birth certificates and NPI certificates, can be accessed either online or collected in person, offering parents greater flexibility. This initiative forms part of Benin’s broader strategy to digitise public services.
Following its launch in Cotonou, the six-month pilot phase will extend from 25 August 2025 to several referral hospitals, including the Cotonou University Hospital, Abomey-Calavi University Hospital, departmental hospitals in Zou-Collines, Ouémé, Borgou-Alibori, Mono, as well as the Natitingou and Suru-Léré zonal hospitals and the Order of Malta Hospital in Djougou.
The government plans a nationwide rollout once the pilot phase is complete, advancing its goal of making civil registration more accessible, efficient, and secure.
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