Authored by Dr. Margie Cheesman – Assistant Professor at Kings College London, and Dr. Emrys Schoemaker – Senior Director, Advisory & Policy at Caribou.
In crisis situations, establishing a person’s identity remains a fundamental challenge, especially when documents are forged, lost, or never existed in the first place.
This affects many of the core processes that underpin humanitarian response, as organisations register people to receive life-saving support, or ascertain their status to be recognised as refugees and to support their transition from immediate relief to longer-term development support.
At Caribou, we’ve supported digital identification efforts in the humanitarian sector for some time – from conducting research into registration processes in Lebanon, Jordan, and Uganda, advising UN humanitarian agencies on digital identification strategies, to the wider challenge of identification and migration. One of the underlying challenges that we know the sector faces is the fragmentation of identification systems and processes, including how humanitarian organisations share data with governments as part of supporting the policy goal of ‘transitioning’ people from humanitarian aid to longer-term development support.
As part of that work, last week, we hosted a workshop at the Global Digital Collaboration, the first-of-its-kind ‘unconference’ led by the Open Wallet Foundation, bringing together humanitarian practitioners to explore the future of digital identity in crisis response. The session emerged from a unique convergence of technological advancement and sector-wide challenges facing the humanitarian community. The workshop brought together representatives from major humanitarian agencies, including UNHCR, WFP, IFRC, IOM, and NGO representatives, alongside technical experts and policy specialists, to examine both the challenges and possibilities ahead.
Three takeaways from the discussion:
- Addressing fragmentation: Humanitarian digital identity management is fragmented with multiple ID systems in use within and between organisations. This is despite the fact that most systems require the same data, creating inefficiency and a significant burden on beneficiaries who must register repeatedly. Navigating the patchwork of identity systems can be draining and unclear for all involved, giving rise to errors and duplications. Trust is also a key challenge, with organisations lacking shared approaches to authentication, verification, or levels of confidence in individual identity. As one participant shared:
Registration is the easiest part. What matters is knowing who’s going to trust the document – what is needed for relying parties to trust it.
- Consolidating resources: Since Donald Trump’s unprecedented attack on international aid, the humanitarian sector is facing historic budget cuts, tasked with making immediate cost savings whilst pursuing long-term digital transformation goals. The urgency is palpable: “We are under pressure to give examples demonstrating that the reset is bringing cost savings now,” shared a participant. Digital identity is a key area where clear efficiency gains could be made. Forging a more consolidated, interoperable approach could help organisations consolidate information and resources, bringing meaningful improvements to humanitarian operations.
- Strengthening the humanitarian and development nexus: There is also a growing awareness that a more integrated sector could strengthen the link between humanitarian and development response, with identity systems acting as a bridge to national identity systems. One participant, speaking about communities returning to Syria and Afghanistan, suggested:
These families ideally should go home supported – the digital information we have on them should cross the border with them. But this is extremely difficult legally and technically
Organisations must balance operational efficiency with maintaining the inclusion, recognition, dignity, and privacy of affected populations over time.
Abstract, theoretical discussions about harmonised identification are important, but now is not the time for empty promises. Instead, there is a need for practical, immediate use cases that organisations can already rally around and implement together. The infrastructure largely exists; the main barriers are governance, legal frameworks, and organisational willingness to share data and resources. The traditional business model of competing for donor funding has historically impeded collaboration, with organisations being territorial about their mandates. However, as one participant noted, the current crisis has shifted these dynamics:
We don’t have the money to continue that conversation. There is room for improvement now.
Three steps for stronger digital identity systems in humanitarian response:
- Focus on low-level technical agreements, data standards, and concrete implementations rather than ambitious system-wide overhauls.
- Define a concrete vision, but adopt an incremental approach with small steps oriented towards a defined end goal. The sector lacks the resources to undertake the large-scale infrastructure projects we see in advanced states.
- Establish a joined-up approach. This effort requires sector-wide buy-in as well as leadership. A working group to advance these efforts could help catalyse commitment and action.
The sector is facing its biggest challenges, just as humanitarian needs are growing. The potential for digital transformation to enable a stronger, more joined-up approach is great, and we’ll continue to support efforts to leverage the power of digital technologies to deliver lifesaving assistance.
Watch the full panel discussion here.
Authors
Dr. Emrys Schoemaker
Follow Dr. Emrys Schoemaker on LinkedInAssociate, Advisory & Policy
See More by Dr. Emrys Schoemaker
