(Newsletter: CRVS Insight May 2021)

Each month, our community newsletter puts a spotlight on one person from Asia-Pacific who has gone above and beyond in their efforts to support CRVS programmes, raise awareness of CRVS issues or lead CRVS improvement efforts in their home country. This month we are happy to highlight Shorena Tsiklauri from Georgia.

What is your current title and role?
I am the head of the Population Census and Demographic Statistics Department at the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat). In addition, since 2017 I have been teaching at the Ilia State University a course on the Principles of Demography. I am member of the Regiona Steering Group for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Asia and the Pacific.
The main functions of Population Census and Demographic Statistics Department is to plan, organize and implement the population census and demographic surveys in Georgia. In addition, the department is responsible for the collection, processing and dissemination of demographic data.
My key role is to lead the department. With my excellent team we are working to produce reliable, accurate, timely and internationally comparable demographic data.

Can you please share with us a particular experience which highlighted the importance
of CRVS to you?
I have been working at Geostat for 8 years and in my current position since 2018. Throughout this time, we have had close collaboration with the Public Service Development Agency under the Ministry of Justice and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, as it is quite difficult to produce reliable vital statistics without a strong civil registration system and good collaboration.
In 2017, the first Vital Statistics Report was published. I am proud to have been a member of the working group and to have been actively involved in the preparation of the publication. Last year, I have had the honor of working closely with colleagues in Thailand as a consultant supporting the publication of their first Vital Statistics Report.

How would you like to see CRVS in Georgia develop by the end of the CRVS Decade?
Georgia has highly developed online registration system of births and deaths. Not only quantity but also quality matters. Therefore, one of Geostat priority is to produce demographic statistics which is compatible with international standards. The National strategy for the Development of Official Statistics of Georgia (2020-2023) highlights activities which are related to the improvement of the quality of causes of death indicators.
In addition, the publication of Vital Statistics Reports is included in the Statistical Working Program which is approved by the Government of Georgia.

Which advice would you give to others trying to improve CRVS systems?
Close collaboration between NSOs and concerned Ministries is the key for CRVS system’s
improvement.
At the same time, solving the problem first requires realizing that the problem exists. It means that any country should assess the current situation, analyze and plan how to improve the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics processes.