Estonia supports UNHCR’s digital identity for refugees

In 2020, UNHCR created a Digital Identity Unit to enable refugees to access online digital services (UNHCR portal, e-government and e-banking, job search…), and thus facilitate their daily lives. Its objective is to provide « access to robust, trusted and secure digital identity among forcibly displaced and stateless persons. »

During the first Global Refugee Forum in 2019, Estonia pledged to support UNHCR in its digital transformation. Over the past 30 years, Estonia has become a global leader in e-governance and digital identity, including secure access to essential public services and digital services.

This 6 December 2021, in a press release, UNHCR announces that, in accordance with this promise, Rico-Christhopher Adigazalov was seconded in February 2020 by Estonia to UNHCR’s Digital Identity Unit as a Senior Digital Identity Expert.

« In Estonia, once refugees and asylum-seekers are enrolled in the national identification system, they have the option to apply for a digital ID which allows them to access different e-services. Refugees have equal access to e-services as citizens. This can really improve the quality of life, » says Rico-Christhopher Adigazalov.

This partnership has helped to optimise four critical issues for UNHCR:

• the management of digital identifiers, so that refugees can access e-services in a secure and reliable manner;
• the development of accessible and user-friendly e-governance services to ensure the inclusion of refugees, regardless of their situation;
• the interoperability of UNHCR’s digital systems with those of other humanitarian actors and local administrations; and
• guaranteeing the right to privacy and online data protection.