Digital identity and the African Continental Free Trade Area
Key activities
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is seeking to advance the digital identity agenda in Africa. There are multiple benefits of digital identity, ranging from establishing a legal identity through digital identification systems, to catalysing social protection, financial inclusion and digital trade. The full potential of digital identity platforms in Africa is, for the moment, yet to be harnessed. The present brochure highlights the work of ECA in promoting the greater use of digital identity in Africa.
One of the objectives of the Retreat is to support the joint efforts invested in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union. The particular efforts being supported include, but are not limited to, improving civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) in Africa and establishing digital identity platforms. In parallel, it is proposed that the agreements negotiated in respect of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be fully utilized, with a view to exploring, in that regard, ways to unlock the economic and social potential of digital trade.
ECA and the African Union — the digital identity partnership
The scale of implementation of digital identity in Africa presents an opportunity to use a regional platform to influence member States of the African Union, as issuers of those digital identities.
The intention is to ensure that the availability of digital identity is a starting point for addressing matters relating to regional harmonization and data protection, and for bridging civil registration and digital identity.
To that end, ECA is requesting support for a partnership with the African Union that is focused on digital identity as part of an effort to reiterate the need for a decision by the Executive Council of the African Union on an initiative on digital identification for Africa. The envisaged partnership with the African Union will leverage the strategic importance of CRVS in contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to the momentum gained with AfCFTA, and to the associated opportunities of digital trade.
Digital identity and the African Continental Free Trade Area
Key activities
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is seeking to advance the digital identity agenda in Africa. There are multiple benefits of digital identity, ranging from establishing a legal identity through digital identification systems, to catalysing social protection, financial inclusion and digital trade. The full potential of digital identity platforms in Africa is, for the moment, yet to be harnessed. The present brochure highlights the work of ECA in promoting the greater use of digital identity in Africa.
One of the objectives of the Retreat is to support the joint efforts invested in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union. The particular efforts being supported include, but are not limited to, improving civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) in Africa and establishing digital identity platforms. In parallel, it is proposed that the agreements negotiated in respect of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be fully utilized, with a view to exploring, in that regard, ways to unlock the economic and social potential of digital trade.
ECA and the African Union — the digital identity partnership
The scale of implementation of digital identity in Africa presents an opportunity to use a regional platform to influence member States of the African Union, as issuers of those digital identities.
The intention is to ensure that the availability of digital identity is a starting point for addressing matters relating to regional harmonization and data protection, and for bridging civil registration and digital identity.
To that end, ECA is requesting support for a partnership with the African Union that is focused on digital identity as part of an effort to reiterate the need for a decision by the Executive Council of the African Union on an initiative on digital identification for Africa. The envisaged partnership with the African Union will leverage the strategic importance of CRVS in contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to the momentum gained with AfCFTA, and to the associated opportunities of digital trade.
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The Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union has requested the Specialized Technical Committee on Trade, Industry and Minerals to discuss the issue of digital identity and AfCFTA during the session of that Committee that is taking place from 15 to 19 October 2018.
In the same vein, ECA was requested by the Chairperson of the African Union to produce an issues paper on digital identity and AfCFTA.
Those efforts will inform policy discussions during the Specialized Technical Committee. It is anticipated that, based on those consultations, the Specialized Technical Committee will issue policy recommendations that, during the 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, serve as a basis for a decision on a digital identity initiative for Africa. The aim of that work is to define the minimum requirements for the establishment of digital identity platforms through a continental approach that will enable African member States to maximize the benefits of development of digital identity.
Planned ECA interventions
In parallel with the policy process of the African Union that will lead to a continent-wide initiative on digital identity, ECA is also seeking to constitute an
Advisory Board in that regard, with the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Mr. Paul Kagame, as Chair.
The Advisory Board will include leading members of the private sector involved in the digital identity initiative, together with the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of the Republic of Botswana, Ms.
Bogolo Kenewendo, and an expert on regulatory frameworks. ECA will serve as the secretariat of the Advisory Board.
In addition, ECA is working to raise resources to promote the progress of the initiative, including the hosting of two technical meetings (a ministerial meeting and a meeting on the regulatory framework for digital identity). The active participation of leading members of the private sector is a critical element in efforts to sensitize high-level African policymakers; an additional high- level event around the African Union Summit on the digital identity directive is also expected to contribute significantly to such efforts.
2
The Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union has requested the Specialized Technical Committee on Trade, Industry and Minerals to discuss the issue of digital identity and AfCFTA during the session of that Committee that is taking place from 15 to 19 October 2018.
In the same vein, ECA was requested by the Chairperson of the African Union to produce an issues paper on digital identity and AfCFTA.
Those efforts will inform policy discussions during the Specialized Technical Committee. It is anticipated that, based on those consultations, the Specialized Technical Committee will issue policy recommendations that, during the 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, serve as a basis for a decision on a digital identity initiative for Africa. The aim of that work is to define the minimum requirements for the establishment of digital identity platforms through a continental approach that will enable African member States to maximize the benefits of development of digital identity.
Planned ECA interventions
In parallel with the policy process of the African Union that will lead to a continent-wide initiative on digital identity, ECA is also seeking to constitute an
Advisory Board in that regard, with the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Mr. Paul Kagame, as Chair.
The Advisory Board will include leading members of the private sector involved in the digital identity initiative, together with the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of the Republic of Botswana, Ms.
Bogolo Kenewendo, and an expert on regulatory frameworks. ECA will serve as the secretariat of the Advisory Board.
In addition, ECA is working to raise resources to promote the progress of the initiative, including the hosting of two technical meetings (a ministerial meeting and a meeting on the regulatory framework for digital identity). The active participation of leading members of the private sector is a critical element in efforts to sensitize high-level African policymakers; an additional high- level event around the African Union Summit on the digital identity directive is also expected to contribute significantly to such efforts.
