Ethiopia Digital ID for Inclusion and Services Project

The National ID Program (NIDP) is tasked to implement a foundational legal ID in Ethiopia and is tasked to execute the Ethiopian Digital ID Proclamation (Proc No. 1284/2023). This flagship initiative, also known as “Fayda ID”, works by issuing a 12 digit unique identifier to all qualified registrants, i.e. all residents of Ethiopia, serving as an important service delivery and KYC (Know Your Customer) tool fo all integrated use-cases in both the public and private sector services. The program ensures the quality of its enrollment relying on biometrics and authentication services with an expected registration of 90 million residents by 2028.

This project is also focused on both data minimization, security and privacy of collected data through both technological and legal safeguards, including the Personal Data Protection proclamation, that was recently passed by the FDRE Council of Ministers.

To meet its very ambitious target of 90 million digital IDs issues in less than 5 years, the program has secured a  $350 million funding from the World Bank,  including a $50 million grant from the International Development Association’s Window for Host Communities and Refugees, to enable the government of Ethiopia to accelerate the implementation of the digital ID system, eventually benefiting the entirety of an estimated 120  million Ethiopians and residents.

This initiative also highlights a unified commitment towards advancing digital transformation and fostering inclusive economic development in all sectors and income groups in Ethiopia. This funding demonstrates confidence in the nation's vision for harnessing the power of technology to drive progress and bridge the digital divide. It builds on more than five years of partnership with the World Bank’s Identification for Development (ID4D) initiative. The program now will have sufficient financial backing in executing its stated objectives with the Financing Agreement  signed in December  2023.

Currently, the program is under the implementation of a national rollout, having already reached 3.7million registrations. The new project by the WorldBank will focus on scaling this initiative as well as enabling service delivery based on the Fayda System.