On Friday, Ethiopia shared its experience implementing the “Fayda Digital Identification Program” (Fayda ID) at the ID4Africa 2026 Annual General Meeting, which concluded in Côte d’Ivoire.

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The Fayda ID is Ethiopia’s foundational digital identity system, led by the National ID Program (NIDP). It issues a secure, unique 12-digit identification number (FIN) to all eligible residents using biometric verification to ensure a “one person, one identity” standard.

The executive director and deputy director of the Ethiopian National Identification Bureau, Yodahe Zemichael and Rahel Abraham, respectively, highlighted how the system supports the Ethiopia Digital Strategy 2030 by improving access to services, the local institution revealed on its social media account.

This initiative facilitates integration in sectors such as finance, health, and other public and private services. Addis Ababa’s participation reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to build an inclusive, reliable, and scalable digital identity ecosystem that strengthens service delivery and promotes inclusion.

The source acknowledged that, despite Ethiopia’s late entry into the field of digital identity, it quickly established itself as an innovative country, going from zero to over 43 million registrations in a short time, which contributed to the evolution of identity models.

The ID4Africa 2026 Annual General Meeting is being held from May 12 to 15 at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The event, which brings together representatives from 13 African nations, is focused on Digital Public Ecosystems and explores how digital identity acts as a fundamental pillar for inclusive and reliable transformation on the continent.

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