Co-Authored with Smart Zambia Institute
In May 2023, amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the ID4Africa conference in Nairobi, a quiet but important meeting took place. Representatives from the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI) convened with officials from Zambia’s Smart Zambia Institute (SZI). At first glance, Zambia appeared an improbable contender for digital transformation. The nation grappled with numerous obstacles: limited funding, a legacy of vendor-locked solutions, and insufficient support for digital public infrastructure (DPI) necessary for fostering ecosystem innovation, including the absence of data exchange frameworks, e-KYC, and verifiable credentials.
Yet, just over a year later, Zambia is set to go live with an open-source electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) system, leveraging the MOSIP (Modular Open-Source Identity Platform) framework. This is the story of how determination, local leadership, and strategic partnerships propelled Zambia to digital innovation in 12.
Starting from Scratch
When CDPI first engaged with Zambia at the ID4Africa conference, the obstacles were evident. Emmanuel Khisa, CDPI’s Africa Director, recalls, “They had challenges around vendor lock-in. Their national ID project had been entangled in vendor struggles for over a decade, leading to significant delays.” The country’s identification system was entirely manual, lacking any digital database. This meant that basic services requiring ID verification were cumbersome and inefficient.
Moreover, there was no allocated budget for overhauling the system. As Khisa notes, “They were implementing this project with zero budget. Co-Develop stepped in with a seed fund of $100,000 to support the project, and MOSIP provided technical backing. Beyond that, it was the commitment of the Zambian team that drove the project forward.”
A Strong Local Leadership
The Smart Zambia Institute, the government’s IT department tasked with spearheading e-government initiatives, played a crucial role in driving the project. Unlike many other countries where technological implementation is fragmented across various ministries, Zambia benefits from a unified structure under the leadership of the dynamic and committed Smart Zambia Institute’s Mr. Percy Chinyama, the national coordinator. SZI acts as a centralised hub, coordinating digital efforts across all government sectors.
Other key figures like Luke Mate, Director of Systems Development, and Kasali Musenge, Chief Technology Officer, have been very instrumental in this journey. Their leadership under the keen eye of Mr. Chinyama ensured that despite financial constraints, the project remained a priority. “Luke and Kasali were fully committed,” says Khisa. “Their dedication meant that we could make progress even when resources were scarce.”
Ecosystem Partnerships
Throughout the process, collaboration was key. Partners like MOSIP and OpenG2P played crucial roles, offering technical expertise and support. The project also became a proof of the power of open-source solutions in fostering international cooperation.
Vijay Venkatesh, the CTO at CDPI and Lead Technical Advisor to the project, often emphasised Zambia’s potential. “I believe Zambia’s commitment to open-source solutions will pave the way for significant progress,” he said.
A Different Path from Others
Zambia’s progress stands out, especially when compared to other countries in the region facing similar challenges. In some neighbouring nations, efforts to implement digital public infrastructure have been slower due to political changes and less centralised coordination. Zambia’s experience highlights how strong leadership and clear goals can help overcome some significant obstacles.
An Underdog Story Worth Celebrating
As Zambia prepares to officially launch its new eKYC system, it’s worth reflecting on what this achievement represents. It is both a technological milestone and a story of resilience and grit.
Recently, representatives from Zambia and CDPI, the technical advisor to the entire process, met at the Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit to finalise a few remaining steps. This catch-up meeting highlighted the strong partnership and ongoing commitment to shared goals.
Pramod Varma, Co-Chair of CDPI, emphasised the significance of Zambia’s progress. “Zambia’s journey showcases the impact of strong local leadership combined with collaborative efforts,” he said. “Their dedication to embracing open-source solutions and innovative approaches sets a powerful example for digital transformation across the continent.”
Next Steps?
The success of the eKYC project opens the door for more digital advancements in Zambia. Plans are already in place to integrate the system with services like disaster management and healthcare. There’s also potential for issuing verifiable credentials and expanding digital financial services.
Zambia’s journey offers valuable lessons for other countries. It demonstrates that with the right approach, even those starting with fewer resources can achieve significant progress.
From the initial meeting in Nairobi to the upcoming launch, the journey has been challenging but rewarding. Many trips and countless hours later, we’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside our Zambian partners, Smart Zambia Institute.