The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced a Request for Information (RFI) for a project focused on developing a roadmap for the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC). This initiative, part of the larger West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) program, is funded by a grant from the World Bank. The RFI seeks to engage a consulting firm to create a clear, agile, and implementable process roadmap that will guide the deployment of the ENBIC across the 15 member states of the ECOWAS region.
The scope of the project includes various essential elements. The consulting firm will be responsible for stakeholder consultations to determine strategic pathways for countries to use their foundational Identification (fID) systems to implement the ENBIC. Furthermore, the firm will define the roles of stakeholders in planning, designing, developing, deploying, operating, and managing the lifecycle of the ENBIC, including establishing institutional coordination mechanisms.
The project will also require addressing legal and institutional considerations, recommending digital infrastructure and equipment requirements, and outlining potential risks, resource requirements, and progress metrics for the Member States in delivering the ENBIC to their citizens.
This three-month engagement, starting from the contract effective date, is crucial for facilitating the transition from existing fID systems to the biometric identity card. It emphasizes the importance of legal frameworks, technological infrastructure, and stakeholder involvement in creating a unified biometric identity system across West Africa.
The ECOWAS Commission has invited eligible consulting firms to express their interest and demonstrate their qualifications and experience for this project. The selection process will follow the Consultant’s qualification-based Selection set out in the Consultant Guidelines. The deadline for the submission of expressions of interest is December 6, 2023.
Source: ECOWAS CEDEAO
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December 1, 2023 – by the Mobile ID World Editorial Team
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