DATAKOMEZA

A MOSIP-compatible digital ID layer enabling secure, consent-based service access for refugees.

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DATAKOMEZA: Privacy-Preserving Digital ID for Refugees Inspiration

Our inspiration came from witnessing the struggles of millions of Congolese refugees displaced by the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Families are forced to flee across borders, often carrying nothing but the clothes on their backs, and arrive in host countries with lost, destroyed, or unrecognized identity documents.

Without a trusted form of identification, access to healthcare, education, humanitarian aid, and livelihoods becomes uncertain even for legally registered refugees. Repeatedly proving their identity to multiple organizations delays essential support and exposes them to privacy risks as personal information is scattered across disconnected systems.

These challenges motivated us to create DATAKOMEZA, a privacy-preserving digital identity platform designed to restore dignity and agency to displaced populations.

What DATAKOMEZA Does

DATAKOMEZA provides a portable Digital Refugee Identity, enabling secure access to essential services while allowing users to share only the minimum information necessary. Key features include:

Minimal-data profiles for privacy-by-design

Consent-driven selective disclosure of identity attributes

Offline-friendly authentication via QR codes or PINs

Interoperability with NGOs, government institutions, and humanitarian platforms

Post-quantum cryptography ensuring data remains secure against future quantum threats

How We Built It

Architecture: MOSIP-compatible backend supporting modular APIs

Frontend: React.js / Next.js portal for refugee users

Backend: Node.js / Express.js server with PostgreSQL database

Security: End-to-end encryption enhanced with post-quantum cryptography, audit trails, and privacy-preserving protocols

Offline support: QR/PIN authentication for low-connectivity environments

The platform was designed to be ethical, inclusive, scalable, and future-proof, balancing secure identity verification with privacy and usability for vulnerable populations.

Challenges We Overcame

Designing for low-infrastructure, conflict-affected environments

Balancing identity verification with privacy, ensuring no risk of surveillance or exclusion

Achieving interoperability across organizations with different data standards

Integrating post-quantum security while keeping authentication simple for refugees

Accomplishments

Developed a refugee-centered digital ID use case grounded in real displacement scenarios

Built a MOSIP-compatible, modular platform with future-proof post-quantum security

Embedded ethical, inclusive, and privacy-preserving design principles from the start

Designed offline authentication and low-connectivity functionality for refugee camps

What We Learned

Identity barriers have a profound impact on refugees’ access to basic rights

Digital rights, consent, and trust are essential in humanitarian systems

Foundational digital ID platforms can enable inclusive public services

Conflict-sensitive, community-aware design is critical for real-world impact

Incorporating post-quantum security strengthens long-term trust and resilience

What’s Next for DATAKOMEZA

We plan to test the platform with sample datasets, gather community feedback, and build a working demo showcasing:

MOSIP integration

Offline and low-connectivity authentication

Selective attribute sharing for service access

Post-quantum secure identity verification

Our ultimate goal is to scale DATAKOMEZA across refugee-hosting regions in Africa, ensuring that digital identity becomes a tool for empowerment rather than a barrier.

Project Architecture Diagram

Diagram Highlights:

Secure connection between frontend, backend, and PostgreSQL database

MOSIP integration for authentication and identity management

Post-quantum encryption for user data

Consent-driven data flow ensuring minimal exposure of sensitive information

Offline support via QR/PIN-based authentication

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Updates

posted an update —

We’re excited to share progress on DATAKOMEZA, a privacy-preserving digital ID platform for refugees in Eastern Africa. The platform now supports MOSIP integration, offline authentication via QR codes or PINs, and a minimal-data identity model that gives users full control over shared information. We’ve also developed a prototype admin dashboard for NGOs and government agencies to securely verify identities and manage service delivery. Next, we’ll continue refining the system, testing with sample datasets, and preparing a working demo for deployment.

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