Mogadishu (AX) — Picture this: a bustling capital city where modern technology meets age-old traditions. Somalia is not just a country on the horn of Africa known for its rich cultural tapestry and, admittedly, its complex history. It’s a nation on the move, charging headlong into the digital age with an ambitious new tool – a Civil Registration Management and Vital Statistics System (CRMVS), courtesy of Pakistan’s very own National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
This technological leap isn’t just a fancy addition to Somalia’s toolkit. Oh no. It’s nothing short of the linchpin of a grander vision: the National Identification System (SNID) project. The groundwork was laid when the CRMVS was handed over to enthusiastic Somali officials last November, paving the way for a future as sleek and efficient as the new digital system itself. It’s all thanks to NADRA’s funding and technical wizardry, smoothing the path already trodden by the National Identity Management System (NIMS), which had its grand unveiling at the National ID Conference earlier in September 2023.
From the corridors of NADRA comes a statement that practically beams with pride and a touch of diplomatic flair, declaring their unwavering commitment to not just hitting the mark but smashing it out of the park for their global partners.
This collaboration, like a fine wine, has aged since 2018, blossoming under Pakistan’s “Look Africa” policy—an initiative that brought along a hefty $10.5 million grant and the invaluable sharing of cutting-edge technology and expertise.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, with palpable enthusiasm, likened the rollout of biometric ID cards—an innovation somberly absent for over three decades—as a watershed moment in Somalia’s relentless march toward governance that is both inclusive and innovatively digital.
Here’s where the rubber meets the road: an ambitious venture aiming to register 15 million Somali souls by the 2026 elections, with registration offices popping up like daisies in each district. But every rose has its thorn. The initiative faces a gauntlet of challenges, from regional disparities and pesky security concerns to an infrastructure that might kindly be described as “underdeveloped.”
Formal ID is not just an entry on a checklist – it’s a key, unlocking bank accounts and formal economy participation for millions. It promises to turbocharge access to essential services, not least of which includes healthcare and education—a leap from a stagnant past into a promising future.
According to a 2019 McKinsey report, implementing systems like this could see global GDP jump by 3–13% come 2030. Just think of the possibilities!
In dialing up the accuracy of citizen identification, the federal government sees CRMVS as a Swiss Army knife in their pocket. From fortifying borders to cleaning up elections and putting the kibosh on corruption, it’s viewed as nothing short of a game-changer.
Spearheading this whole shebang is the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), fully backing the system and extolling its importance at every turn. And there you have it—a story of ambition, challenge, and the inexorable march toward transformation in the heart of Somalia. Who knows what stories of success will emerge next? Report By Axadle.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
