Legal Identity for All (LIA) - Reaching Target 16.9 of the 2030 Agenda


Over a billion people do not have a legal identity. Legal identity is a prerequisite for full citizenship rights, formal employment, access to government services etc. People with no legal identity risk being left behind and stuck in poverty. The project will address the coordination gap between ongoing efforts of the UN and the WB and take advantage of new technologies to accelerate reaching target 16.9. of the 2030 Agenda “legal identity for all”.   

Topic Period Budget
Governance
Public sector policy
Legal and judicial development
Information and communication technology (ICT)
10.12.2018 - 31.12.2021
CHF 2'000'000
Background A legal identity is a prerequisite for access to full citizenship rights and for many transactions taken for granted in the developed world, such as getting a (decent) job, a land title, or just a SIM card. Today, it is estimated that around one billion human beings lack a legal identity, because for example their births were never recorded, and are therefore at risk to be socially excluded and more likely to remain in poverty. The 2030 Agenda has recognised the gap and included Target 16.9 of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16. A range of stakeholders must get together in order to close the identity gap. They need to tackle the lack of coordination, offer new technology, practical solutions, and provide advocacy. 
Objectives The overall goal of the project is significant progress (min. 5%) in achieving SDG Target 16.9 on “By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.”
Target groups 5% of the estimated 1 billion people without legal identity.
Medium-term outcomes
  1. The civil registration and identity management interventions of both the UN and the wider international community are coordinated, complementary, and informed by best practice policy development.
  2. The international development community’s civil registration and identity management strategy and practice is supported and enhanced by leading technology sector identity solutions.
  3. Coordinated financing for legal identity initiatives allows for implementation of holistic identity management solutions at the regional and national level (‘project’s country level window’).
  4. Progress in closing the world’s identity gap will be enhanced by high-level advocacy and engagement.
Results

Expected results:  

  1. Better coordination, exchange and knowledge sharing among identity management stakeholders; gender equality in civil registration and identity management.
  2. Better policy and strategies in place; private sector is engaged to provide appropriate technology better technologies identified;
  3. Pilots and targeted financing are in place and ensure solutions are practical and applicable at country level.
  4. Global advocacy campaign to generate support for achieving SDG Target 16.9; thought leadership in global reporting.


Results from previous phases:   The baseline are the estimated 1 billion people without legal identity


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • United Nations Development Programme


Coordination with other projects and actors Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, Swiss support to UNDP SDG 16 implementation (Crisis Prevention and Recovery); PARIS21, Accountability 2030, P20, SDG Lab; UN Organizations, World Bank, private sector.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF   2'000'000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF   1'900'000
Project phases Phase 1 10.12.2018 - 31.12.2021   (Current phase)