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1. Principles

There are certain high-level standards that practitioners should follow to ensure that ID systems are inclusive, trusted, and useful for people, governments, and the private sector. This includes the ten Principles on Identification for Sustainable Development, developed through a series of stakeholder consultations (see Table 2). As of 2019, these Principles have been endorsed by 25 international organizations, associations, and development partners. The Principles are organized according to three pillars - inclusion, design, and governance.

Table 2. Principles on Identification for Sustainable Development

PILLARS PRINCIPLES

INCLUSION:

UNIVERSAL COVERAGE AND ACCESSIBILITY

  1. Ensuring universal coverage for individuals from birth to death, free from discrimination.

  2. Removing barriers to access and usage and disparities in the availability of information and technology.

DESIGN:

ROBUST, SECURE, RESPONSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE

  1. Establishing a robust—unique, secure, and accurate—identity.

  2. Creating a platform that is interoperable and responsive to the needs of various users.

  3. Using open standards and ensuring vendor and technology neutrality.

  4. Protecting user privacy and control through system design

  5. Planning for financial and operational sustainability without compromising accessibility

GOVERNANCE:

BUILDING TRUST BY PROTECTING PRIVACY AND USER RIGHTS

  1. Safeguarding data privacy, security, and user rights through a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework.

  2. Establishing clear institutional mandates and accountability.

  3. Enforcing legal and trust frameworks through independent oversight and adjudication of grievances.

Source: Principles on Identification for Sustainable Development