Q: Many African countries launch digital ID projects, yet some struggle to scale them nationwide. What causes this?
A: One major reason is misalignment of priorities. Governments sometimes put funding first because it is readily available or politically appealing. Moving quickly to implement systems without fully considering long-term maintenance, security, and adaptability. A few years down the line, they often discover that the system does not fit their local context or evolving needs.
Before committing resources, governments need to clearly define the specific problem they want the digital ID to solve. That process should include all key stakeholders, especially civil society. Too often, consultations focus on telecom companies, banks, health agencies, and immigration authorities, while the actual users are overlooked. A citizen-first approach results in systems designed around real needs, even if that means they look very different from standard off-the-shelf solutions.
Q: Does dependence on donor funding play a role in why some of these systems struggle to succeed or scale?
A: Not necessarily. These systems are expensive, and donor support can be essential. Even platforms that are open source still require significant implementation costs, procurement, and operational processes.
The real issue is intent and planning. Governments must ask why they are accepting funding. Is it simply because it’s available, or because they have identified a problem it will solve? They also need a plan for when that funding ends. Systems should be designed from day one to operate sustainably without ongoing external support.
Q: What does a truly sustainable national digital ID system look like?
A: A sustainable system must first have a viable economic model. It should be able to fund itself without burdening even the poorest citizens. One way to achieve this is by building useful services on top of the ID system and opening it to private-sector participation so that the ecosystem helps finance its operation.
Second, sustainability means planning for evolution. Too often, thinking stops at procurement, yet deployment is only the beginning. Technology changes constantly. If a country buys a system today but lacks the internal capacity to update and improve it tomorrow, it will face repeated costs and dependency. True sustainability means building local technical capacity so systems can be improved domestically, creating competition and strengthening national expertise.
Finally, digital ID systems must solve real problems for citizens. If they don’t improve people’s lives, the promised benefits, including economic gain,s will never materialize. Sustainability starts with a citizen-first approach: identify real problems, then design systems to solve them.
Q: How can governments build digital ID systems that citizens trust, especially where surveillance concerns exist?
A: Surveillance concerns are inherent to identity systems because they involve collecting personal data. Technology itself isn’t the problem; governance is. Strong policies with safeguards are essential.
Trust is built through transparency and accountability. Governments must involve civil society from the start in shaping policies and system design. If people are excluded early, they are unlikely to trust the system later. When problems arise and they inevitably will, authorities should address them openly and invite solutions rather than hiding behind political language. Initiatives like Open Government Partnership show how collaborative governance can help build trust over time.
Q: What is the biggest technical or governance mistake you see repeated across digital ID deployments?
A: The most common mistake is a “technology-first” approach. Governments focus on the tool instead of the problem. When that happens, systems may be technically impressive but practically ineffective.
Q: If you could change one policy decision African governments make about digital identity, what would it be?
A: From a technical perspective, it would be limiting systems to physical identifiers and restricting access so that only government agencies can use them. That’s like buying a Ferrari and putting a speed limit of five kilometers per hour on it.
Governments should provide the core digital identity infrastructure and establish strong policies to govern its use. After that, they should allow innovators and the private sector to build services on top of it while regulators ensure everyone operates responsibly. Open systems foster innovation, and innovation is what ultimately delivers value to citizens.