Addis Ababa, January 12, 2026 (ENA)\u2014Digital identity is reshaping humanitarian assistance and refugee inclusion in Ethiopia, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).<\/p>\n
Approached by ENA, UNHCR Representative to Ethiopia Aissatou Aissatou M. Ndiaye Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy, particularly the Fayda national digital ID system, which she described as a critical enabler of a more efficient and inclusive humanitarian response.<\/p>\n
The Ethiopian government has repeatedly underscored the strategic importance of the Fayda system within its long-term digital transformation agenda. <\/p>\n
Fayda constitutes a core pillar of the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy, officially launched toward the end of last year, and forms part of a broader global shift in which digital identity systems are increasingly influencing national economic development pathways.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has previously identified Fayda as a cornerstone of the Digital Ethiopia 2025 blueprint.<\/p>\n
Against this backdrop, Ndiaye said digital identification is fundamental to understanding the real needs of refugees and internally displaced persons and to delivering effective assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is impossible to provide effective assistance without an accurate knowledge of the populations concerned. Digital identity is the starting point for sustainable solutions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She emphasized the universal and inclusive nature of the Fayda system, which applies to both Ethiopian citizens and foreign residents, noting that she herself holds a Fayda ID card.<\/p>\n
Ndiaye explained that Fayda enables accurate digital registration, improving humanitarian planning, reducing duplication, and minimizing the risk of exclusion. <\/p>\n
Beyond aid delivery, she said the system marks a major advance in social and economic inclusion, particularly for refugees.<\/p>\n
Combined with Ethiopia\u2019s progressive 2019 refugee proclamation, digital identification now allows refugees to access essential services such as opening bank accounts, enrolling in public schools, accessing healthcare, and seeking employment.<\/p>\n
\u201cFayda provides legal recognition, strengthens the dignity of refugees, and empowers them to take charge of their future while contributing to the development of the host country,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
UNHCR believes Ethiopia\u2019s approach could serve as a regional and continental model, demonstrating how digital solutions can simultaneously enhance humanitarian protection and strengthen national systems.<\/p>\n
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