By 2026, the Prime Minister's Office's National Identification Programme would produce these IDs.

Ethiopia intends to give digital identity cards to 9 million citizens and residents during the next three years.

This is part of the effort to increase access to critical services.

By 2026, the Prime Minister's Office's National Identification Programme (NIDP) would produce these IDs, including for migrant returnees, internally displaced people, and other vulnerable groups.

The NIDP has an agreement with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to expand access to digital IDs for vulnerable migrant returnees, displaced individuals, and other affected communities.

According to the organisations, access to these IDs is essential for global mobility and development.

IOM and NIDP will collaborate on identity governance, data protection, verification, and authentication processes.

According to IOM Ethiopia Chief of Mission Abibatou Wane, vulnerable people suffer barriers to basic socioeconomic rights and necessities due to a lack of legal identification.

"This partnership enhances access to national digital ID for migrants, and other affected communities," Wane stated.

Djibouti, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen account for the vast majority of migrants to the 127 million-people East African country.