Digital identity in developing nations

With UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 calling for legal identity for all by 2030, Biometric Update is taking a special in-depth focus on digital ID projects in developing countries with daily coverage of biometrics-based national digital identity projects. Give a listen to our podcast ID16.9.

Cameroon introduces legislation to allow biometric visas, residence permits

By Ayang Macdonald

The plan by the government of Cameroon to put in place a system for the issuance of biometric visas and…

Worldcoin says SDK lets you prove you’re a human online. Coins not included

By Frank Hersey

Worldcoin’s dream of providing biometrically unique “proof of personhood” for the entire globe takes a step forward with the release…

Thailand’s blockchain digital ID infrastructure – an ecosystem in an ID ecosystem

By Frank Hersey

Thailand is progressing rapidly with enrollment into its blockchain-based biometric digital identity infrastructure operated by the National Digital ID Company Limited (NDID),…

Africa has the capabilities: 20 African nations on track for SDG 16.9

By Frank Hersey

“We’re convinced there are 20 countries in Africa who can achieve the SDG, achieve Mission 100. And we believe actually…

Social protection lessons: Indian interoperability, opportunities for private sector

By Frank Hersey

India sees an interoperable future for its economy and African countries could benefit from separating population registers and social protection…

MOSIP prepares to launch Inji digital wallet for all, identity verification tool

By Frank Hersey

“I can design my own systems, I don’t need IIIT-Bangalore. That would be the success of this project,” says Prof…

UNICEF, AfDB reports reveal civil registration gaps and opportunities in Africa

By Chris Burt

Civil registration and vital statistics systems are being gradually digitalized in African nations, and the pictures both of how they…

Delays, extortions, and voter exclusion: Cameroon’s national biometric ID card conundrum

By Ayang Macdonald

Ashu M. just clocked 20 years this November, the legal age for voting in the central African nation of Cameroon.…

World Bank proposes $250M for Indonesia digital ID for public and private service access

By Frank Hersey

Indonesia may receive US$250 million in funding from the World Bank Group’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to…

Free-to-use civil registration system OpenCRVS adds features, configuration

By Frank Hersey

The open-source, free-to-use civil registration and vital statistics platform OpenCRVS has introduced substantial developments in its latest version, 1.2. New…

ID16.9 podcast

The ID16.9 podcast examines progress towards the realization of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 of providing legal identity for all people, including birth registration, by 2030.

All episodes available on Spotify, Apple and Google podcasts.

Open-source, homegrown tech and systems reform can put birth registration on track

Global estimate for people without ID reduced to 850M: ID4D report

Low birth registration in Zimbabwe and ensuing roadblocks explored on ID16.9 podcast

Privacy International leader argues digital identity exceeds SDG scope on ID16.9 podcast

Features and interviews

Read Biometric Update exclusive features and in-depth interviews with project stakeholders about digital identity initiatives in developing countries.

Exploring how lives are saved through humanitarian stack, decentralized ID

How Sierra Leone joined forces for national digital ID – ID4Africa livecast

Thailand’s blockchain digital ID infrastructure – an ecosystem in an ID ecosystem

Worldcoin says SDK lets you prove you’re a human online. Coins not included

Cameroon introduces legislation to allow biometric visas, residence permits

Social protection lessons: Indian interoperability, opportunities for private sector

UNICEF, AfDB reports reveal civil registration gaps and opportunities in Africa

MOSIP prepares to launch Inji digital wallet for all, identity verification tool

Africa has the capabilities: 20 African nations on track for SDG 16.9

Free-to-use civil registration system OpenCRVS adds features, configuration

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ID4Africa news, conference coverage

ID4Africa is an ID-4-All movement to promote legal identity for all in Africa. It is a tripartite with representation from governments, development agencies and industry. Biometric Update has provided full coverage of the meetings and livecasts since 2016. ID4Africa 2022 was held in Morocco.

Does the husband know? Some issues surrounding IDs for refugees can shock

By Jim Nash

It can be tempting for some to think that for all the despair and chaos assumed at a refugee crisis,…

How Sierra Leone joined forces for national digital ID – ID4Africa livecast

Social protection lessons: Indian interoperability, opportunities for private sector

UNICEF, AfDB reports reveal civil registration gaps and opportunities in Africa

Africa has the capabilities: 20 African nations on track for SDG 16.9

ID4Africa unveils concept note, ambassador class for 2023 AGM

Does the husband know? Some issues surrounding IDs for refugees can shock

Malawi’s biometric ID approaches total coverage, huge cost savings

Lessons from Aadhaar for digital ID architecture, financing shared by Nilekani and ID4Africa

The Aadhaar project by UIDAI

The Aadhaar project aims to provide a single, unique identifier which captures all the demographic and biometric details of every resident of India.

Banks hit with biometric fraud, fake mobile driver’s licenses

By Joel R. McConvey

As long as the quest for secure digital identity persists, so, too, will attempts to game the system. From aggravated…

Platform to enable auto-update of ID credentials on India’s DigiLocker coming soon

Aadhaar transaction number jump; deadline nears to link financial accounts

Better security for Aadhaar fingerprint authentication in place

Indian police nab fraudsters who cloned fingerprints to spoof Aadhaar

India plans expansion of DigiLocker to organizations for digital document, ID management

Biometric partnerships boost KYC in SE Asia, Ukraine as Nigeria and India see gains

UIDAI calls for clarity, ‘informed consent’ prior to Aadhaar biometrics submissions

Deal between Philippines and Singapore could herald more digital ID interoperability

International Identity Day

The campaign calls to recognize September 16 as International Identity Day in tribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 which calls for legal identity for all by 2030. The purpose is to raise awareness about the role identity plays in empowering individuals to exercise their rights and responsibilities fairly and equitably in a modern society. Biometric Update is proud to be a coalition partner.

Ethiopia’s national digital ID prepares foundation ahead of scale-up

By Chris Burt

The lessons learned from other countries implementing digital ID systems have helped inform the development of Ethiopia’s national program, panelists…

ID Day boost, SDG warning and dynamic new identity and inclusion models for Togo

Why we support International Identity Day

ID Day coalition grows by 45 percent, new slogan adopted

International Identity Day an opportunity for knowledge sharing for Idemia