Ethio-Telecom initiates nationwide Digital ID enrollment across 29 urban centers.

Ethio-Telecom has joined the nationwide effort to register millions of Ethiopians for digital identification, marking a significant step forward in the country’s digitization drive.

In a signing ceremony held on Wednesday, Ethio-Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru and Yodahe Zemichael, Executive Director of National ID Ethiopia, inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership enables Ethio-Telecom to kickstart the registration process at 29 centers across the country, including its service centers in various cities, including the capital, Addis Ababa.

With an ambitious goal of registering up to one million Ethiopians monthly, Ethio-Telecom aims to contribute to the overall target of registering 32 million individuals, representing 36% of the national plan.

In another significant development, the Ethiopian Bankers Association has entered into a strategic agreement with Lamino Engineering PLC to expand the availability of Digital IDs to 40 million people.

Under the agreement, Lamino Engineering will supply 6000 Digital ID registration equipment valued at 1 billion birr to the association, enabling over 11 thousand bank branches nationwide to offer registration services.

The agreement is expected to enhance digital financial services for the 40 million people already integrated into the financial sector. Additionally, it will facilitate access to financial services for 30% of the population previously hindered by the lack of identification documents, according to the EPA.

The mandatory integration of digital ID into banking activities in Ethiopia marks a significant stride in the country’s pursuit of financial inclusivity. Leveraging the Fayda system, Ethiopia aligns itself with a worldwide initiative to establish secure, streamlined, and inclusive digital identification platforms. This shift holds the promise of transforming Ethiopia’s financial landscape and enabling its citizens to seamlessly tap into a wide range of services and opportunities.

The ‘Digital ID for Inclusion and Services Project’ aims to register a minimum of 90 million Ethiopians by 2026, providing them with access to an inclusive and secure ID that enhances their access to services and economic opportunities. The initiative also includes refugees and migrants residing in Ethiopia.

In 2022, the National Identity Program initiated the enrollment process for the Fayda ID, which serves as Ethiopia’s primary identification document for confirming one’s identity. Financed with $350 million from the World Bank in December 2023, the program has already registered 4,680,152 Ethiopians to receive the Fayda Digital ID Card, as reported on the National ID Ethiopia portal.