A name, a document, a future: Cameroon’s fight to register every child
In Cameroon, about 30% of primary school children lack birth certificates, hindering their access to education and basic services. The 'My Name' campaign, supported by UNICEF, has registered over 17,000 children so far.
In the northern city of Garoua and the southwestern town of Tiko, Cameroon, birth registration has become a priority after the first Mayors’ Forum on Birth Registration in April 2024, where local authorities signed a charter to strengthen civil registration systems.
According to Cameroon’s Ministry of Basic Education, more than 1.5 million children, about 30% of primary school pupils, are enrolled without birth certificates. Without this document, children cannot enter secondary school, sit public exams, or obtain a national ID card needed for many services.
UNICEF estimates that of the 560,000 births recorded in health facilities in 2023, only 43.77% were officially registered. Undocumented children are harder to trace and protect, and in conflict-affected areas they are more vulnerable to exploitation, including recruitment into armed groups.
In response, after the forum, UNICEF, the government, and local partners launched the “My Name” campaign, aiming to identify and register children without legal documentation across all 360 councils and 14 cities. Since its launch, more than 17,000 children have been registered.
Municipalities were assessed on how effectively they improved registration systems, such as setting up civil registration services in health facilities and identifying out-of-school children without documents. In Tiko, officials brought registration closer to remote communities by working with traditional leaders. In Garoua 2, authorities moved from handwritten registers to a digital system, issuing certificates within minutes.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. In many communities, birth registration is still not a priority, with parents only acting when children are denied school access. Deeper social barriers persist: in some rural areas, harmful norms hold that girls do not need formal documentation or education, increasing the risk of early marriage.
Globally, UNICEF estimates that 166 million children under five remain unregistered. In Cameroon, officials say closing the gap requires not only administrative reform but also shifting how communities view a child’s legal existence.
