This panel discussion delves into the critical topic of data risks and data governance in the digital identity ecosystem. Featuring representatives from African Data Protection Authorities (DPAs), the session explores how to identify, mitigate, and govern risks associated with the collection, sharing, and use of identity data. The five-member panel provides diverse perspectives on balancing innovation with the need to safeguard privacy, security, and trust. Participants gain actionable insights into creating resilient, rights-based data governance frameworks.

This panel discussion delves into the critical topic of data risks and data governance in the digital identity ecosystem. Featuring representatives from African Data Protection Authorities (DPAs), the session explores how to identify, mitigate, and govern risks associated with the collection, sharing, and use of identity data. The five-member panel provides diverse perspectives on balancing innovation with the need to safeguard privacy, security, and trust. Participants gain actionable insights into creating resilient, rights-based data governance frameworks.

Legal identity, rooted in civil registration, is a foundational element for upholding human rights, providing protection, and ensuring access to essential government services. Despite its importance and its inclusion in Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, access remains uneven due to systemic barriers, administrative inefficiencies, and social exclusion. In the context of mobility, legal identity plays a critical role in facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration, aligning with Objective 4 of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), while also serving as a lifeline for those forced to flee, such as refugees. The absence of legal identity—or barriers to obtaining it—can exacerbate vulnerabilities, especially for stateless individuals or those lacking proof of nationality. This session delves into the complex challenges of establishing and sustaining legal identity within the framework of migration and mobility. It also explores the impact of digital transformation and innovation on migration.

This session explores the transformative potential of digital identity in reshaping financial systems across Africa. Experts and central bankers from diverse countries share experiences, challenges and key lessons learned in integrating digital identity into financial systems.

This session explores the diverse landscape of digital identity credentials, focusing on their potential to enhance secure and inclusive identity systems. It examines some of the most promising credential types, including mobile IDs (mDoc) for secure and portable identity on mobile devices, Digital Travel Credentials (DTC) for seamless cross-border movement, and W3C Verifiable Credentials (VCs) for user-centric, interoperable digital trust. The discussion also addresses the unpinnings of these digital credential types by the physical credentials, including the eIDs, and the critical role of standardization in ensuring interoperability and scalability across systems. By diving into these cutting-edge solutions, participants gain insights into how different credentials can meet the varying needs of identity ecosystems.

The legal identity symposium continues through a series of segments that explore the synergies between civil registration, health and ID. In addition, it provides an important update on the African CRVS Shared Asset (ACSA), which was officially launched at the 2023 AGM to harmonize civil registration practices in Africa.

Trusted data sharing enables more efficient service delivery and drives innovation. This session explores ongoing efforts to address data sharing and interoperability within the digital identity ecosystem, focusing on governance principles, backend interoperability, and user-centric wallet solutions. A holistic view of the data-sharing ecosystem is crucial, including its interactions with multiple ecosystems. Key considerations include data quality, metadata (e.g., provenance), data governance, risk management, and foundational elements like data classification. The session examines varied implementation architectures, emphasizing the importance of aligning with existing systems and services. The session also discusses options for centralized and decentralized approaches, highlighting how they can complement rather than compete with each other.

This session showcases the transformative potential of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) through real-world use cases. Featuring five prominent DPGs, the session bridges the gap between innovation and implementation by pairing the developers of these DPGs with country representatives actively deploying them. Together, they explore how these tools address critical challenges in areas such as cash transfers for farmers and disaster relief, unique social protection registers and programs, universal health insurance schemes, and other health applications such as Malaria vaccination. The session highlights how DPGs can foster inclusive, efficient, and sustainable development globally.

This high-impact session brings together world-renowned experts to explore the opportunities and challenges of digital identity, setting the stage for the day’s discussions. It begins with a keynote on global adoption trends, examining diverse strategies across Europe, the USA, India, Africa, and Asia. Next, the session highlights biometrics as the foundation of secure digital identity, addressing cutting-edge techniques, vulnerabilities, and best practices. It then explores liveness detection and fraud prevention, emphasizing trust and resilience. Finally, theory meets practice with a deep dive into Aadhaar’s implementation of advanced liveness technology across all biometric modalities. Attendees gain actionable insights for building robust, secure and inclusive digital identity ecosystems.