Digital-ID in Africa: Assessing Progress and Challenges to Date

This chapter provides an overview to the Biometric Digital-ID in Afr… edited collection. The collection synthesises evidence from new studies in ten African countries assessing the current state of digital identification (digital-ID) programmes across the continent. In doing so, it provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date picture of digital-ID in Africa. The collection provides evidence that some African governments have put in place sophisticated legislative frameworks that provide protections for fundamental human rights that biometric digital-ID systems can put at risk. However, it also identifies gaps and failings that urgently need to be addressed.