6.3 Million
Population
25%
Live in rural areas
135,000
Field Staff Trained
Bringing biometric ID services to rural El Salvador has transformed access to essential government services for underserved communities. The Government of El Salvador partnered with Laxton to deploy mobile biometric devices specifically designed for rural environments. This initiative brought services directly to remote communities, saving time and money while bridging the gap between urban and rural access, creating a more inclusive future for all citizens.
Project
Solution: National ID
Region: El Salvador
Year: 2019 to present
Government services in rural areas are limited
Delivering essential government services to all citizens is a challenge for many developing countries, and El Salvador is no exception. With a population of over 6.3 million, approximately 25% live in rural areas where access to public services such as ID registration, healthcare, and financial services remains limited. Rural Salvadorans often endure long and costly journeys to urban centres to obtain documents like IDs, passports, and birth certificates. This lack of access to essential services has disproportionately affected citizens in remote areas, creating a gap that leaves many underserved.
El Salvador’s population is expected to grow by 8% by 2030, putting more strain on public services. Recognising the urgency of addressing this gap, the Government of El Salvador (GOES) embarked on an innovative, technology-driven approach to expanding access to government services for rural populations.
Bridging the Urban-Rural Service Gap
The Government of El Salvador initiated a comprehensive plan to streamline its registration processes to resolve the longstanding disparity between urban and rural service access. The two primary objectives of this plan were:
Extending registration services to underserved rural populations
Enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of identity verification
This initiative aimed to ensure that every citizen, regardless of their location, could access essential government services.
Bringing Services to Rural Communities
In partnership with ScreenCheck LA and Laxton, the Government of El Salvador introduced a tailored solution that brought ID services directly to rural areas. The solution featured the Chameleon 8, a mobile biometric registration and verification device. This rugged device was designed to function effectively in remote areas, overcoming the challenges posed by limited access to electricity, internet, and infrastructure. The Chameleon 8 brought significant improvements in the registration process:
Multimodal biometric capabilities, such as fingerprint scanning and facial recognition, ensured secure and accurate data collection and prevented identity fraud.
Portability enabled operators to easily reach remote communities, enabling citizens to register for services within their local environment.
Rugged was a key advantage; the Chameleon 8’s IP65-rated case protected it from dust, water, and shocks, ensuring reliable performance even in harsh conditions.
The offline registration option allows people to register in areas without an internet connection or mobile phone service. The 4G and Wi-Fi module ensured seamless data transmission when there was internet access.
Extended battery life was critical in regions with scarce electricity, allowing the device to function for extended periods in the field.
By leveraging this technology, El Salvador significantly reduced the geographical barriers to accessing government services.
Pilot Programme Success: Testing in Real-World Conditions
Before nationwide implementation, the Government of El Salvador launched a pilot programme to test the Chameleon 8 in rural environments. The pilot allowed the government to evaluate the device’s performance under the very conditions it was designed to address.
The results were promising. The Chameleon 8 proved highly reliable, successfully operating in remote areas where traditional ID verification services were difficult to access. Citizens expressed satisfaction with the registration process’s convenience and efficiency, citing significant improvements over previous methods. The positive feedback from the test assured the government they could proceed with a broader rollout.
Citizens Benefit from Increased Access
The introduction of mobile biometric registration technology has transformed the lives of rural Salvadorans. Several key benefits have emerged:
Time and Cost Savings: By eliminating the need for lengthy and expensive travel to urban centres, rural citizens can now access essential services within their communities. This has reduced both the financial and time burdens traditionally associated with obtaining identification documents.
Faster and More Reliable Service: Biometric technology has streamlined the registration process, significantly reducing delays and improving data accuracy. The process is faster, more secure, and far less prone to errors.
This community-centred approach has greatly narrowed the service gap between urban and rural populations, empowering rural citizens by making essential government services more accessible.
A Nationwide Rollout for a More Inclusive Future
The successful pilot programme paved the way for a nationwide implementation. The collaboration between the Government of El Salvador, ScreenCheck LA, and Laxton has demonstrated how advanced technology and strategic partnerships can bring about meaningful change. By bringing essential services closer to its rural citizens, El Salvador is building a more inclusive and efficient public service system that benefits everyone, regardless of where they live. As the project moves towards nationwide implementation, it promises to create a more inclusive and efficient system for all citizens, irrespective of where they live.
