Ethiopia Launches Mobile App for Fayda National Digital ID System

Ethiopia has launched a mobile application for its Fayda National Digital ID system, advancing the country’s digital transformation efforts. The National Digital Identity Program Office created the application in-house for both Android and iOS platforms.

The mobile app enables users to recover lost or unissued Fayda numbers instantly, download digital identity credentials securely, update demographic information, and print digital ID cards. The app also provides customer support services and accepts user feedback.

Ebenezer Feleke, Communications and Public Relations Officer of the National Digital Identity Program Office, noted the app’s quick Fayda number recovery feature. He emphasized its security, stating that it “underwent extensive testing and received a qualification certificate from the Information Security Service.”

The launch advances Ethiopia’s expanding digital identity infrastructure. The Fayda system will become mandatory for all banking transactions by 2026, and the ID is now required for many government and private sector services. More than 12 million citizens have registered for digital identity services.

The initiative is part of Ethiopia’s “Digital ID for Inclusion and Services” project, which targets registering 90 million Ethiopians for digital ID by 2030. The World Bank-funded project aims to create a foundation for digital government services.

At a recent “Fayda for Ethiopia” forum, NIDP deputy coordinator Rahel Yitbarek discussed the system’s economic impact, noting that “The ID is meant to enable citizens enjoy their full rights and contribute to the growth of the economy.”

The Fayda system extends to Ethiopia’s education sector, where it identifies teachers and students using biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images for administrative tasks.

The mobile app launch marks another milestone in Ethiopia’s digital transformation strategy, improving access to digital identity services for its citizens.

Source: Shega

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February 14, 2025 – by Ali Nassar-Smith