UNHCR strengthens efforts on digital identity for refugees with Estonian support

The government of Estonia seconded a senior digital ID expert  to assist the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) for its newly established digital identity unit. This follows a pledge by Estonia during the first ever Global Refugee Forum in 2019. The expert, Rico-Christhopher Adigazalov, has worked with the digital ID unit since it was set up in February 2020. He has been sharing technical expertise on use of digital ID for refugee services, ranging from cash transfers to healthcare. 

UNHCR’s digital ID unit aims to make use of digital ID for accessible and user-friendly e-governance services , interoperability with other  UNHCR’s digital systems, and in line with privacy and data protection.