Zambia has entered into a strategic partnership with Ethiopia to advance its national digital identity agenda, marking a significant step toward enhancing access to public services and improving digital inclusion. The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Permanent Joint Commission of Cooperation to collaborate on the development and implementation of digital identity systems that will drive efficiency, transparency, and accountability in governance.
This partnership follows Ethiopia’s successful rollout of its Fayda digital identity system in 2023, which has already enrolled over 25 million citizens, with a goal of reaching 90 million by 2027. Zambia intends to use Ethiopia’s experience as a blueprint for its own national program, leveraging locally developed technological solutions to strengthen citizen verification processes and facilitate access to essential services such as healthcare, education, banking, and social welfare.
According to SMART Zambia Institute’s national coordinator, Percy Chinyama, the adoption of a robust digital identity framework is a cornerstone of Zambia’s economic modernization efforts. He emphasized that digital IDs play a crucial role in enabling citizens to participate in the digital economy while improving service delivery and ensuring greater accountability within public institutions. The initiative aligns with Zambia’s broader vision to create a more connected, transparent, and efficient public sector powered by home-grown innovation.
At the core of this collaboration is the transfer of technical expertise from Ethiopia to Zambia, focusing on biometric enrolment, open standards, and interoperable systems. This knowledge-sharing arrangement will not only enhance Zambia’s capacity to deploy secure and scalable digital identity infrastructure but also deepen regional cooperation on digital transformation. Ethiopia’s commitment to sharing its experience with other African nations underscores the continent’s growing emphasis on collaboration and self-reliance in digital governance.
Beyond national interests, the Zambia–Ethiopia partnership reflects a Pan-African vision of shared progress and innovation. By aligning their efforts with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the two countries are contributing to a continental agenda that promotes inclusive development and sustainable digital growth. This collaboration stands as a powerful example of African countries building digital solutions for Africa—empowering citizens, strengthening institutions, and driving socio-economic transformation across the region.
