The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has commenced a two-day stakeholder validation meeting to review and validate Sierra Leone’s 2025 Vital Statistics Report, with particular attention to the quality, accuracy and reliability of data on vital events, including fertility and mortality.

The meeting, which began on Thursday, September 10, 2026, and concludes today, Friday, September 11, brings together representatives from government institutions, development partners and other stakeholders to assess the processes, data quality and analytical methods underpinning the country’s vital statistics.

Opening the exercise, NCRA Director General Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi said the validation process is critical to strengthening Sierra Leone’s civil registration and vital statistics system and ensuring that the information produced can effectively support national development.

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He stressed that reliable vital statistics depend on strong collaboration among institutions and partners involved in collecting, managing and using data.

Massaquoi said NCRA has been working with relevant institutions and development partners to improve the civil registration and vital statistics system, noting that credible data is essential for evidence-based decision-making, policy formulation and the implementation of effective development interventions.

He also highlighted the need for Sierra Leone to take greater ownership of data generated through its national civil registration operations. According to him, information obtained from multiple external sources could result in inconsistencies if it is not properly coordinated, assessed and validated.

The NCRA Director General said a stronger national system would provide government and development partners with more credible, consistent and nationally owned information for planning and decision-making.

He explained that the validation exercise would allow stakeholders to identify data gaps and weaknesses in the systems used to collect and manage vital statistics, while providing space for technical discussions, group reviews and validation of the draft report.

Particular attention during the exercise is being given to statistics relating to fertility and mortality, with Massaquoi urging participants to make meaningful contributions to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the final report.

He also acknowledged the support of development partners towards strengthening Sierra Leone’s civil registration and vital statistics system.

Speaking at the meeting, Kadija Kamara, Data Specialist at the Ministry of Health, emphasised the importance of accurately registering births and deaths to improve health planning and service delivery.

She said every birth and death should be properly recorded because such information provides critical insight into population trends and helps authorities plan public services.

Kamara noted that accurate vital statistics are particularly important to the health sector, enabling authorities to formulate policies, design appropriate interventions, allocate resources and assess the needs of different population groups.

She said the Ministry of Health is interested in strengthening systems capable of producing clean, reliable and usable data, while improving the ability of institutions to visualise and effectively use information generated through the civil registration and vital statistics system.

The validation meeting is expected to conclude with stakeholders reaching consensus on the findings from their review of the 2025 Vital Statistics Report, particularly data on fertility and mortality, as NCRA continues efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s national civil registration and vital statistics system.