10.5281/zenodo.884178
https://zenodo.org/records/884178
oai:zenodo.org:884178
Anderson, C. Leigh
C. Leigh
Anderson
University of Washington
Biscaye, Pierre E.
Pierre E.
Biscaye
University of Washington
Reynolds, Travis W.
Travis W.
Reynolds
Colby College
National ID Programs: A Multi-Country Review and Analysis of Policy and Practical Challenges
Zenodo
2017
national identity
implementation challenges
biometric identification
authentication
citizen data
2017-09-04
10.5281/zenodo.884177
https://zenodo.org/communities/dfp17
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
National identity programs are increasingly being introduced into low and middle income countries, and may be used by governments for surveillance, supporting fair and democratic elections, fostering national unity, and facilitating health, financial and agricultural transactions. We review evidence on 42 national ID programs in low- and middle-income countries, with particular attention to evidence of the implementation challenges the programs have faced. We identify seven general categories of implementation challenges, with evidence that 39 of 42 countries have faced at least one category of challenge while 8 countries have faced challenges in three or more areas. Further, we observe some associations between country and national ID program characteristics and evidence of particular implementation challenges. Better understanding of the challenges that countries have faced in implementing national ID programs may support the development of more sustainable and usable ID programs.