The process for conducting the assessment began August 2016 with the CRVS Core Team assembling the materials available about the setup and operations of the system. These included the legal frameworks of institutions involved in CRVS, and of those whose functions impact on or whose performance can be influenced by the existence of an efficient CRVS system.
An exhaustive literature review on each thematic area was done before the field exercise. Various policies, legislation, reports and other documents from government and other sources were considered and found to be useful sources of information.
A number of questions suggested under the topics in the CRVS CA tool were answered by the exercise. Some issues which were not adequately covered necessitated further investigation or verification through field visits, interviews with functionaries and stakeholders.
The desk review exercise involved the following: (i) Studying the available literature; (ii) Referring to the available literature in answering questions relevant to the thematic topic with reference to the assessment tool; (iii) Plotting the relevant organizational charts and process flows as required; and (iv) Compiling a list of specific issues requiring investigation during fieldwork.