Case studies to showcase PING

Tanzania

A man demonstrating a registration device to capture fingerprints

©UNHCR/Maimuna Mtengela

In Tanzania, UNHCR and WFP, the World Food Programme, collaborate to deliver targeted aid and food in refugee camps. PING is used to share up-to-date information stored in UNHCR's PRIMES with WFP, who use this data to provide food baskets based on age profiles and family composition. The transferred data includes information such as names, age, and address. Biometric data can also be included in the transfer to support identity checks and ensure assistance reaches the right people. In turn, WFP shares back information about who picked up a food basket with UNHCR, which helps the UN Refugee Agency to validate the protection needs of the camps’ population. The bi-directional data transfers are automated and make a previously labor-intensive and manual process much more efficient.

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Ethiopia

Together with the Government of Ethiopia, UNHCR has created legal opportunities for refugees and asylum-seekers to access services through inclusion in the Ethiopian National Digital ID system. PING is used to exchange data between national authorities and UNHCR to issue identity cards to refugees and asylum-seekers, which now include a unique government identification number called “Fayda” and a QR code. This has put the refugee ID card on par with national Ethiopian ID and those issued to foreigners legally residing in Ethiopia. The new refugee and asylum-seeker ID cards are recognized across the country and can be used to access services provided by the government, public institutions, and private companies – facilitating inclusion. Refugees and asylum-seekers no longer need a letter of support from the government for every service they want to access – and can now open a bank account, register a SIM card, or start their own business using the new digital IDs instead.

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