The Office of the National ID Program in Ethiopia has announced that over 7 million citizens have enrolled for a digital ID. The initiative is part of the country’s ambitious plan to enroll over 90 million people, potentially making it one of the largest digital ID systems globally.
The National ID project, guided by the motto “one person, one ID,” is being executed through a collaborative effort with various institutions. Olana Abebe, Institutional Participation Counselor at the National ID Project, emphasized that the registration process is being conducted in a well-coordinated and efficient manner. He highlighted the significant national benefits of the digital ID service, particularly in enhancing efficiency across various sectors, including tax administration.
The digital ID system involves the recording of demographic and biometric data, assigning a unique personal ID number to each resident. To ensure the uniqueness, accuracy, and security of the new ID system, Ethiopia is using technologies including biometrics, machine learning systems, and cryptography.
Last summer, the National Bank of Ethiopia announced the launch of a pair of major initiatives in collaboration with the country’s digital ID project.
The first aimed to onboard all financial sector customers onto a robust digital ID platform in the upcoming fiscal year, creating a secure and inclusive financial ecosystem. This would serve as a “primary Bank ID” and be legally accepted across all financial institutions.
The second initiative focused on leveraging the digital ID for electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) processes, enhancing service delivery, enabling trusted digital services like remote onboarding, and removing unnecessary barriers.
Source: ENA
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July 15, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis
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