UNHCR expands digital identity pilot for displaced families
A digital identity pilot is helping displaced families access aid faster, with lessons being scaled across three more regions.
UNHCR is expanding a digital identity pilot that lets displaced families verify their registration and access assistance using a mobile app — cutting wait times at aid points and reducing the risk of losing paper documentation.
How it works
Families receive a digital ID linked to their case file, which can be presented at distribution points, health clinics and registration centres. Offline verification ensures it works where connectivity is limited.
Early results
- Wait times at distribution points cut by more than half
- Reported cases of lost documentation dropped sharply
- Aid actors report faster beneficiary verification for cash assistance
Privacy and safeguards
The programme is built around data-protection principles: minimal data collection, explicit consent, and offline verification. Agencies stress that digital identity is a tool to serve people, not a condition for receiving help.
The pilot is now being scaled to three more regions, with training for front-line staff on data protection and safeguarding.