The Civil Registration & Residency Service Agency (CRRSA) will lead the registration of the FAYDA digital ID system across Addis Ababa, covering 119 woredas, 11 districts, and the Agency's two branch offices. FAYDA is a 12-digit identification number issued by the National ID Program (NIDP), designed to provide access to digital services nationwide, collecting essential demographic data and biometric information. It is part of the Digital Strategy 2025, which aims to establish a full set of biometric databases and provide a unique identifier for individuals that is integrated across institutions. Officials believe it will help access quick and efficient public services. They are hoping the civil registration system, which records essential life events from birth to death, will serve as a crucial source of information for legal, administrative, and statistical purposes, helping the government accurately base its policies and strategies on reliable data. CRRSA has undergone a major overhaul recently, upgrading its network and digital systems to resolve longstanding service delays, which have frequently frustrated residents. These improvements are expected to reduce wait times for essential operations, including the issuance of vital certificates and residency verification. Ethiopia's rank on e-government has improved 10 steps from 179th from 193 countries, in the latest United Nations E-Government Development Index. Officials attribute this in part to the ongoing National ID Ethiopia Program (FAYDA), despite covering just 10pc of the population so far.

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