Digital IDs for Development : Access to Identity and Services for All
Lack of personal official identification (ID) prevents people from fully exercising their rights and isolates them socially and economically - voting, legal action, receipt of government benefits, banking, and borrowing are all virtually closed off...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/07/24441435/digital-ids-development-access-identity-services-all http://hdl.handle.net/10986/22297 |
| Summary: | Lack of personal official identification
(ID) prevents people from fully exercising their rights and
isolates them socially and economically - voting, legal
action, receipt of government benefits, banking, and
borrowing are all virtually closed off. The widespread lack
of ID in developing countries is a critical stumbling block
to national growth. Digital ID, combined with the already
extensive use of mobile devices in the developing world,
offers a transformative solution to the problem - a simple
means for capturing personal ID that can reach far more
people; and new, more efficient ways for government and
business to reach and serve the population. Robust digital
ID systems can produce huge savings for citizens,
government, and business, increase transparency and
accountability, and drive innovation. Harnessing their power
will require strong political will and leadership, foreign
assistance matched with local incentives, and a supportive
institutional environment. Trust in data security will be
critical to achieving tangible results. |
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