Ethiopia’s Fayda national ID programme

Helping Ethiopia build a digital national ID

129.6 million

Population

97%

Population lacks legal or digital ID

51 million

Registrations by October 2026

Laxton is helping Ethiopia move to a more efficient digital identification (ID) system for its citizens. With a population of approximately 130 million, Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country. Yet despite rapid economic growth, Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in Africa, with a per capita gross national income of $1,020.

The lack of a widespread digital ID has far-reaching consequences for citizens and the nation. Without a reliable ID programme, citizens are excluded from many essential services, including healthcare, education, financial, and social welfare programmes. It also holds back economic growth by creating barriers to entrepreneurship, trade and investment. Businesses may struggle to verify identities and conduct secure transactions, limiting their ability to expand.

Project

Sector: National ID

Region: Ethiopia

Year: Since 2024

The shortcomings of the Kebele ID card

The main form of identification in Ethiopia is the community-issued Kebele identification card, distributed across over 18,000 locations. While it functions as a national ID for many public and private transactions, it has significant drawbacks. The system relies on outdated paper records, which are prone to loss and destruction. It also lacks a central registry for every unique identity. Kebele IDs can also be duplicated and forged, creating authentication issues. These flaws showed the need for a centralised digital ID system that gives Ethiopians secure, dependable identification.

Improved ID coverage for all citizens

Recognising the deficiencies of their outdated system, the Ethiopian government embarked on an ambitious National Digital ID Programme (NIDP) in 2020. The programme was designed to work alongside the Kebele system and create a more reliable, centralised digital identification process. With fewer than 10% of children under five registered, the NIDP aims to provide digital ID coverage, security and inclusion for all citizens, even in rural areas where birth registration rates have historically been low. The National ID Programme aligns with the ten global principles of Identity for Development (ID4D), with a focus on data protection and service delivery.

Fayda: one person, one identity

The NIDP introduced the Fayda number, a unique 12-digit identification number based on the principle of “one person, one identity.” This digital ID uses biometrics to give every citizen a unique identity. It gives access to a wide range of digital services nationwide, making Fayda a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s digital transformation.

Ethiopian citizens now have more secure identity verification and better access to services such as education, healthcare and financial services. It also modernises service delivery, strengthens national security and reduces the risk of data breaches.

Digital ID systems have also been shown to drive significant economic growth. For Ethiopia, the Fayda ID system could contribute between 3% and 13% of GDP by 2030. This growth comes from greater financial inclusion, more employment opportunities, higher agricultural productivity and time savings for individuals and businesses. Fayda supports sustainable development and a better quality of life for citizens across the country.

Integration with existing student records was a notable achievement. Fayda imported the records of 600,000 students, which simplified registration and reduced manual data entry, saving time and resources.

Dr Ermias Yemanebirhan, the Ethiopian State Minister of Justice, registered for the national ID programme using Laxton technology.

Laxton’s role in the start-up phase

Laxton played a key role in the start-up phase of Ethiopia’s National ID Programme, helping it build a secure, widespread electronic ID system. Using Laxton’s registration equipment, up to 8 million Ethiopians had been registered by August 2024. Our goal is to have 90 million identity registrations by 2030.

“NIDP aims to create a secure, digital ID system that ensures every resident has access to vital services, fostering inclusion across the nation. For this, our registration systems need to be as equally adoptable and accessible ensuring our success”

National ID Programme, Ethiopia

MOSIP-compliant registration kits

We knew our identity registration kits had to make registration fast and easy for citizens and operators. Our kits contain all the equipment needed for fast, reliable ID registration, with well-placed components and premium parts, which suits them to large-scale projects like Fayda. Feedback from the field confirms the equipment’s low failure rate and long-term reliability.

“We are pleased with the progress that Laxton is making in achieving the ‘identity for all’ goal, and we value their ongoing contributions to strengthening the movement towards inclusive digital identity”

Nagarajan Santhanam
Chief Dissemination Officer, MOSIP

Rugged and ultra-mobile

Laxton’s registration equipment is built to work reliably in Ethiopia’s deserts, tropical forests and cool highlands. Most ID registrations happen in remote areas, so the equipment is built to withstand tough conditions. Its IP67-rated case also holds accessories such as the photo backdrop and solar panel, so the whole kit is easy to carry.

Durable and cost-efficient

Laxton’s registration equipment and accessories are engineered to withstand extensive use over many years. This durability significantly reduces the cost per registration (CPR) over the life of Ethiopia’s National ID Programme, which runs until 2030.

No internet, no electricity, no problem

Laxton’s ID Registration Kit works without an internet connection. Its integrated battery management system and solar panels keep registration going where there is no electricity. The registration data is securely stored on the device and is ready to be uploaded to a central server once a secure internet connection is established. This means every citizen can take part in the national ID programme, wherever they live and even during internet or power outages.

Training, technical support and warranty services

Laxton offers extensive support through design workshops, advanced training, and a dedicated support and warranty team. We train local teams to operate and maintain registration systems, minimising downtime. Our experienced technical team provides on-the-ground support in Ethiopia for operations and maintenance.