Afri-ID Hub: Unified Digital Identity for Public Services

Inspiration

As students at Ecole Polytechnique de Thiès, we’ve always been deeply concerned about the barriers that prevent millions of African citizens from accessing vital public services. Living in Senegal, we’ve witnessed firsthand the inefficiencies, delays, and obstacles people face in getting civil documents, healthcare, and education. Many struggle with the lack of a unified and secure system to access these services, and rural populations suffer the most.

We realized that the solution to these issues lies in creating a secure, interoperable digital identity system that could work not only within our country but across Africa. This vision grew from our desire to contribute to the digital transformation of our nation and the African continent as a whole, making public services more accessible, transparent, and inclusive for everyone.

What it does

Afri-ID Hub is a digital identity platform that simplifies access to public services across Africa. It provides citizens with a unique, secure digital identity linked to biometric data, enabling them to access civil documents (such as birth certificates and ID cards), apply for administrative documents (like passports and driver’s licenses), pay taxes, and access social services (including scholarships and subsidies). The platform supports both smartphones and basic phones through USSD codes, ensuring inclusivity. It also integrates a digital wallet for payments and benefits. Transactions are secured and made transparent using blockchain technology. Additionally, Afri-ID Hub is designed to be interoperable across African countries, enhancing regional integration and making public services more accessible and efficient.