Zambia and Ethiopia have signed an extensive Memorandum of Understanding to work together on the adoption of digital identity systems as part of a larger effort to upgrade public services.
The pact, signed late last week, came weeks after the East African country established a similar partnership with Liberia, which will focus on sharing knowledge, capacity building, and improving cooperation between the two countries.
Zambia had previously indicated plans to use Ethiopia's Fayda digital identity system, which went live in 2023, as a model for its planned national digital identity program, which aims to expand digital access through locally developed technological solutions.
According to SMART Zambia Institute’s national coordinator, Percy Chinyama, the digital identity system is key for today’s economy as it helps people access health care, education, banking, and social services, while also making government processes more transparent and accountable.
Ethiopia’s digital identity system has enrolled over 25 million people, with a target of reaching 90 million citizens by 2027. The country has since vowed to continue to engage with regional and international partners to share experience and promote digital innovation.
The agreement, reached under the Permanent Joint Commission of Cooperation, aims to improve citizens’ access to essential services while strengthening transparency and public accountability.
At the core of the collaboration is the transfer of expertise from Ethiopia to Zambia, with a focus in biometric enrolment, open standards, and interoperable systems.
Smart Zambia further noted that in addition to strengthening bilateral ties, this collaborative process enhances transparency in governance and supports continental aspirations under the African Union’s Agenda 2063, a blueprint for development to achieve inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development over a 50-year period.
“This partnership between Zambia and Ethiopia is therefore not only bilateral but also Pan-African, strengthening Africa’s capacity to develop home-grown digital solutions," said Smart Zambia.
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