How a smartphone app is enabling newborn registration in Burkina Faso

Ten million people globally are stateless, lacking any form of nationality or legal recognition, according to The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Among these, children bear the brunt of the crisis, with one in four children under the age of five not registered at birth, often relegated to the category of "ghost children.” 

These children are exposed to various risks from human trafficking, child labour, and exploitation and are unable to access the legal protections that citizenship affords. These circumstances perpetuate cycles of poverty and marginalisation, particularly in rural African areas where slow processes of registration and a lack of resources hinder traditional registration processes.

In Africa, close to half of all children under five are unregistered, according to UNICEF, denying them access to essential services such as the opportunity to attend school, receive healthcare or inherit property while exposing them to threats such as early marriages. 

In Burkina Faso, over half of births go unregistered due to the long distances—sometimes requiring up to four days of travel—to civil registry offices, combined with time-consuming registration procedures that deter parents. A not-for-profit organisation is leveraging technology to simplify the process and improve access.

A smartphone between statelessness and identity

The iCivil system employs a unique “bubble code,” a tamper-proof identifier on a bracelet worn by newborns. Midwives use their smartphones to scan the code, which generates a registration form to note essential details such as the child’s name and parentage. The information then passes via encrypted SMS to the National Civil Status Centre, which verifies the data and ensures the bracelet is only registered once.

While this technology is new to Burkina Faso, it has long been essential for newborn registration in other regions.

Plan International has run digital birth registration (DBR) projects in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong since 1998. Its projects allow health workers to record births directly via the DBR mobile phone application, which they key in birth information on-site. After entry, the data is transmitted automatically to the local union council, which is responsible for validating the information. It then gives parents an identification number from which to collect the birth certificate from their union council.

SAP Africa also has a mobile application allowing individuals to do the same. Parents have 90 days after the birth to complete the registration, which streamlines the registration process for families across the region.

Burkina Faso’s bubble code innovation provides added security by preventing duplication. “iCIVIL is a powerful tool against digital identity theft,” Adama Sawadogo, the Co-founder of iCivil Africa, told FairPlanet, emphasising the system’s tamper-proof security and confidentiality features.

Having been trialled between August 2015 and July 2016 and registering 1,500 newborns in 10 health centres in the capital, the technology has been scaled in over 100 health facilities across the country, including rural areas, reaching thousands of children. Having launched operations in Chad in 2022, the project aims to expand globally. “What we’ve developed in Burkina Faso can be adapted to meet the needs of other African nations,” said Sawadogo. 

Reaching the unregistered

While a significant majority of births in Africa occur in health facilities, iCIVIL recognises that many children are born outside these institutions. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 84 per cent of newborns are taken to health points to receive their first vaccines, providing an opportune registration moment. Those not identified at birth receive their bubble bracelets during these visits. The organisation also runs community education campaigns to raise awareness and encourage parents to register their children promptly. While the pilot project took place in the capital, Ouagadougou, it has now been deployed nationwide in over a hundred health centres.

Despite the promising progress, the iCIVIL team has faced financial challenges, having funded the initiative through personal investments. “Without the passion and commitment of our team, particularly Francis Bourrières, the [co-founder and] inventor of the bubble code, we might not have reached our goals,” Sawadogo reflects. However, he is optimistic that with the proper support, the iCivil can scale across Africa.

In September 2015, all United Nations member states committed to ensuring legal identity for all by 2030, including birth registration. With innovative solutions now readily available globally, Sawadogo calls on governments to facilitate the eradication of unregistered births. “Now is the time for action,” he said.

Hurdles in Accessibility and culture

While this solution has made significant strides in addressing the issue, experts agree that enhancements are necessary to maximise its potential and overcome existing challenges.

One concern is the need for broader infrastructure support. Dr Patricia Lume, a public health expert and advocate for maternal and child health, told FairPlanet: “For this technology to be truly effective, we must ensure that health facilities are equipped with the necessary tools and training. Many rural areas still lack the basic resources for effective data collection.”

Accessibility remains another significant challenge. “While the bubble code can capture data efficiently, it is important that midwives and health workers in remote areas have access to smartphones and reliable internet connectivity,” she said. In Burkina Faso, 30 per cent of women own smartphones compared to 67 per cent of  men. 

In addition to logistical challenges, cultural attitudes toward birth registration can slow progress. Many communities may not understand the importance of registering births or may have traditional practices that conflict with modern registration processes. “It’s vital to engage with communities and educate them on the benefits of legal identity. This requires not just technological solutions but a comprehensive approach that includes community outreach and education,” added Lume. 

Image by Robin Worrall.