Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Governance
Africa
Tunisia
2010 Category 2 — 1st Place Winner
Madania Civil Status System
Ministry of the Interior and Local Development
Description
This initiative involves a centralized database for civil-status records, allowing municipalities
all over Tunisia to share information, and facilitating citizens’ access to
their personal data.
Summary
The Unified Civil Status System is a component of Tunisia’s public-sector management
reform programme, which aims to improve the quality and responsiveness of
public-service agencies. Several agencies require individuals to submit proof of their
civil status before they can exercise certain rights, such as register for school, finalize
marriage contracts or obtain pensions. The new Madania system provides a centralized
database for the civil-status details of all Tunisian citizens (records of birth,
marriage, death, etc.), as well as data on foreign residents and visitors. All municipalities
have adopted the system and employ standardized methods for collecting and
storing information. Any municipality can get an immediate response to a request for
information. The public is also assured of the protection of their personal data, in
accordance with the laws of the country.
The Problem
To obtain access to civil-status documents, citizens formerly had to return to the
municipality where the information was first recorded. They often incurred travel
costs and were frequently absent from work, resulting in wasted time, lost productivity,
and loss of income. Furthermore, the civil-status records had to be manually
transcribed from the civil registry files where they were stored, and this was frequently
the source of errors.
The Solution
The solution comprised the electronic centralization of civic data to make it accessible
across all municipalities and to all citizens. As a precursor, several organisations
were invited to develop a computer application allowing access to civil-status
information in the best condition and format, and as quickly as possible. These organisations
included the National Computer Centre, which succeeded, with the assistance
of Tunisian consulting firms, in conducting the necessary technical studies
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