Ethiopia to require digital ID for accessing government services

According to Yohade Zemichael, the executive director of the Ethiopia National ID Program (NIDP), Ethiopians will be required to present a digital ID when accessing government services. This move is part of the government’s plan to integrate all government services into the digital ID system.

Less than four million people have enrolled for the digital ID, named Fayda, but Ethiopia aims to register 90 million eligible citizens by 2028. However, the initial deadline for this target was 2025, and significant delays have been experienced in the enrollment process.

While the Digital ID Proclamation, approved by Parliament last year, does not make enrollment mandatory, it grants government and private institutions the right to deny services to individuals without ID.

The NIDP has taken several steps to expand the use of Fayda. It has made the digital ID mandatory for civil servants and students. The authority has also partnered with UN agencies to accelerate the adoption of digital IDs, particularly among children and forcibly displaced persons. Additionally, the NIDP has collaborated with banks to increase enrollment.

Why does it matter?

To support the implementation of the digital ID program, Ethiopia has received $350 million in funding from the World Bank for the ‘Digital ID for Inclusion and Services Project.’ This project aims to facilitate access to digital ID for millions of citizens and invest in various components of the country’s digital public infrastructure ecosystem.

The mandatory requirement of a digital ID for accessing services highlights the increasing reliance on digital technology and the importance of a comprehensive digital identification system. This development can potentially improve governance and enhance citizen services in Ethiopia.