36 million babies are born each year without anyone officially recording their existence. The Global Health Advocacy Incubator is changing how countries collect and use health data to save lives, and their system is already changing policy for billions of people worldwide. Learn more: https://www.advocacyincubator.org/program-areas/health-systems-strengthening/data-for-health
Let's talk about something you probably never think about: your birth certificate.
Now imagine not having one. Not being counted. Not existing—on paper, at least. That's the reality for over one billion people around the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries. And when people aren't counted, they're not protected. They don't get access to healthcare, services, or even legal recognition.
And that's where the Global Health Advocacy Incubator—or GHAI—comes in.
They've been tackling this crisis head-on through their Health Data Program for Advocacy, Policy Planning, and Impact Measurement. Basically? They help countries fix broken health data systems so policies actually work—and people don't fall through the cracks.
Here's the problem: in many countries, half of all deaths go unrecorded, and 36 million babies are born each year without a birth certificate. Health records are missing, paper-based, or scattered across disconnected systems. Ministries don't share data. Local workers can't access what they need. And without reliable numbers? Governments are flying blind.
GHAI works directly with countries to turn this around. They support legal reforms for civil registration laws; technical help to modernize systems; budget advocacy to secure sustainable funding; and training for civil society groups to push change from the ground up.
And the results are already showing.
In Cambodia, GHAI's support helped pass a groundbreaking new law guaranteeing civil registration for everyone in the country—plus a new digital system, no registration fees, and stronger privacy protections. In India, they helped issue the country's first gender-aligned birth certificate to a transgender individual.
In Thailand, their policy reviews led to new perinatal reporting guidelines, ensuring stillbirths aren't overlooked in national health stats. And in the Maldives, their budget advocacy helped secure funding for more civil registrar positions and biometric tech rollouts.
All of this is part of a bigger mission: making sure no one is invisible. Because civil registration isn't just about paperwork—it's about being seen. It's about unlocking access to healthcare, education, legal protection, and more. Without it, people remain uncounted—and underserved.
By helping governments build strong, standardized health data systems, GHAI is changing the way countries plan, budget, and deliver care. So if you care about health equity, data-driven policy, or just making sure every person counts? This work matters. Learn more about GHAI's impact by clicking on the link in the description. Global Health Advocacy Incubator City: Washington Address: 1400 I Street Northwest Website: https://www.advocacyincubator.org/