Imagine a world where countries come together, sharing their expertise and resources to build a more connected and inclusive digital future. This vision is becoming a reality with the inspiring collaboration between Ethiopia and Zambia, a true testament to South-South cooperation.
A World Bank expert, Paul Ndungutse, has highlighted this partnership as a remarkable example of African nations uniting to develop their digital public infrastructure (DPI). Through an MoU signed in September, these countries are not just working side by side but are actively learning from each other's DPI experiences.
Zambia, with its Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP), is sharing its journey of integrating platforms for e-services. Meanwhile, Ethiopia is offering insights from its Fayda ID implementation, aiming to issue a staggering 63 million digital IDs by the end of this year. Both nations are receiving financial support from the World Bank for their ambitious DPI projects.
Ndungutse emphasizes the significance of this collaboration, stating, "It's not just a milestone; it's a blueprint for South-South Cooperation. By joining forces, we exchange knowledge, technology, and most importantly, we empower our communities and build trust."
The partnership's goal is clear: to co-create and implement secure and inclusive digital identity systems across both countries. Ndungutse believes that the open exchange of knowledge is a major gain, from learning about Zambia's e-services integration to understanding how Ethiopia designed Fayda to be inclusive from the get-go, ensuring accessibility even in rural areas.
But here's where it gets even more intriguing: this collaboration is not just about sharing best practices. It's about learning together and building integrated systems that act as bridges to economic opportunities for citizens. Both governments are taking a use case-driven approach, linking ID registration and verification to essential services like social protection, mobile money, and civil registration.
By showcasing the tangible benefits of digital identity, Ethiopia and Zambia are building public trust and demonstrating that digital ID can make daily life more efficient and equitable. This is a powerful message, especially for those who may have doubts about the benefits of digital transformation.
And this is the part most people miss: the potential for digital inclusion to transform lives. Inclusive digital ID is a gateway to a wide range of services in both the public and private sectors. It's about ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age.
The case of Senegal and Togo is another inspiring example of bilateral collaboration on DPI within Africa. This partnership, too, aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063, envisioning a digitally connected and integrated continent.
So, what do you think? Is this a step towards a more inclusive and connected Africa? Should more countries follow this example? Let's discuss in the comments and share our thoughts on this exciting development!
