Fairway: Digital ID Wallet Concept Study for The Ethiopian Government (National ID System Using Cardano)

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Henrik Metsämäki

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will study the feasibility of a Cardano integrated National ID wallet for Ethiopia, assessing their requirements, exploring global case studies, and creating POC with their government officials.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

No code outputs

[METADATA] Horizons

Identity & Verification

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Project Overview:

Fairway, having experience with decentralized identity solutions in Ethiopia’s education sector, will study the feasibility of using Cardano integrated Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) technology to create a national ID wallet for Ethiopian citizens. Building on the foundation laid by our current project, "Leveraging National ID system in Ethiopia for scalable adoption of Cardano identity solutions (ID 1200143)," this concept study will engage government entities to propose a framework for future development of an ID wallet that will serve Ethiopia's national identity needs.

During the discussions with the Ethiopian governement as part of the ongoing project, the governement officials were keen to understand the potential benefits of this technology for a wider scale National ID Wallet. The government officials proposed us to come up with detailed explanation how this could work and be achieved. At this moment we were not prepared to deliver additional details and agreed to come with better explanations later. We recognized that proper study should be conducted in order to understand the requirements of the Ethiopian government, competing wallet frameworks in Europe, and different utilizations and hybrid models for SSI that are in development around the world for this kind of use case. We also recognize the need to better understand different commercial models to come up with a solution suitable for a governments who have more limited resources when building such solutions.

Key Objectives:

1. Facilitating Discussions: We will engage government entities like the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, National Bank of Ethiopia, Fayda National ID, and other stakeholders to gather insights into the specific requirements of an Ethiopian National ID wallet.
2. Research on Best Practices: Through collaboration with global organizations like the Hyperledger community, we will explore how SSI is being applied in the EU (EUDI/eIDAS2), and how similar models could be adapted for Ethiopia.
3. Conceptual Framework Development: Based on research and stakeholder feedback, Fairway will develop a detailed framework for an SSI-based ID wallet, tailored to Ethiopian needs.
4. Scalability and Wider Impact: We aim to provide a blueprint that can be replicated in other African countries, offering a scalable solution for implementing SSI-based digital ID wallets continent-wide.

Solution Implementation:

1. Stakeholder Engagement: Approach and engage Ethiopian government ministries and ID institutions (e.g., Fayda National ID, Ministry of Innovation, etc.) to understand the existing system and potential integration points.
2. Global Best Practice Study: Collaborate with global SSI experts, particularly those working on EU digital identity projects (e.g., EUDI/eIDAS2), to learn best practices in deploying governmental ID wallets using SSI technology.
3. Needs Assessment for Ethiopia: Analyze the Ethiopian ecosystem's specific needs and regulatory challenges for deploying a national identity wallet.
4. Conceptual Framework: Develop a detailed proposal that defines technical requirements, a scalable framework, and implementation strategies for an SSI-based national ID wallet.
5. Final Report and Open Sourcing: TBA

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Impact and Outcomes: The study will produce three key outcomes that offer immediate value while setting the stage for future technical implementations:

1. Conceptual Framework for Ethiopia: A clear, non-technical framework that outlines how Ethiopia could implement an SSI-based National ID Wallet. This framework will inform government decision-making and serve as a foundation for future technical explorations.
2. Scalability for Other African Nations: The research and findings from this project can be applied to other African countries looking to adopt digital identity solutions. This study could become a model for other governments to explore SSI-based ID wallets in emerging markets.
3. Open-Source Contributions: The study’s findings will be shared with the Cardano and broader SSI community, allowing for collaborative development and broader adoption. The open-source nature of the project ensures that other entities can use the insights and contribute to future iterations.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Fairway's experience in decentralized identity solutions, combined with our deep understanding of the Ethiopian tech ecosystem, positions us as ideal candidates to lead this project.

Key strengths:

• Decentralized identity expertise: Our team has a proven track record in developing decentralized identity solutions, including our work on the Cardano-based identity project for Ethiopian university graduates.
• Government engagement: We have established relationships with key government entities in Ethiopia, facilitating discussions and collaboration on national identity initiatives.
• Global network: Our collaboration with the Hyperledger community and other global organizations provides access to valuable insights and best practices.
• Technical capabilities: We possess the technical expertise to develop and implement an SSI-based national ID wallet.

Feasibility assessment:

• Government alignment: Our ongoing engagement with Ethiopian government ministries and ID institutions demonstrates their interest in exploring SSI-based solutions.
• Global precedents: The successful deployment of SSI-based digital ID wallets in other regions, such as the EU, validates the feasibility of our approach.
• Technical viability: We have a strong understanding of the technical requirements and challenges associated with implementing an SSI-based national ID wallet.
• Scalability: Our proposed framework can be adapted to meet the needs of different countries, ensuring a scalable solution for wider adoption.

By leveraging our expertise, building upon existing relationships, and conducting thorough research, we are confident in our ability to deliver a feasible and impactful solution for a national ID wallet in Ethiopia.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

The study is divided into four Milestones, each with specific non-technical outputs that allow for measurable progress while ensuring the deliverables are valuable for decision-makers and the broader community.

Milestone 1: Research & Benchmarking (Months 1 - 2)

Deliverable: Digital wallets Global Landscape Report

• Objective: Understand how Digital Wallets are developed for governmental ID projects globally and how SSI technology is being utilized in those.
• Activities:
• Investigate existing Wallet projects inside EU and efforts like the EUDI/eIDAS2 framework in Europe.
• Investigate existing SSI projects, and the current efforts of the European Cardano Community to push SSI in EU.
• Explore different approaches around SSI and the differences between Hyperledger Identus (formerly Atala PRISM) and other SSI technologies.

Concrete Output: A report summarizing the landscape of Digital wallets and SSI technology for government ID management, including relevant case studies and key takeaways from discussions with global experts.

Milestone 2: Stakeholder Engagement & Needs Assessment (Month 3)

Deliverable: Ethiopia National ID Stakeholder Report

• Objective: Identify the specific needs and constraints of Ethiopia’s government and its citizens in the context of a digital identity wallet.
• Activities:
• Conduct interviews and workshops with relevant government institutions, ministries, and user groups.
• Collect data to understand local challenges, regulatory considerations, and infrastructural needs for a digital wallet solution.
• Analyze the feedback to identify key requirements for the SSI-based wallet, such as data protection, usability, and legal frameworks.

Concrete Output: A report documenting the findings from stakeholder engagement, outlining Ethiopia’s specific needs, challenges, and considerations for deploying a National ID Wallet.

Phase 3: Conceptual Framework Development (Months 4 - 5)

Deliverable: National ID Wallet Conceptual Framework

• Objective: Develop a conceptual framework that outlines the high-level steps Ethiopia could take to implement an SSI-based National ID Wallet.
• Activities:
• Combine insights from global research (Phase 1) and stakeholder engagement (Phase 2) to draft a tailored plan for Ethiopia.
• Outline a high-level implementation roadmap, including governance, policy recommendations, and infrastructural needs.
• Develop a conceptual framework that balances Ethiopia’s specific requirements with global best practices for SSI.

Concrete Output: A comprehensive framework document that proposes a non-technical roadmap for the Ethiopian government to consider for the development of an SSI-based National ID Wallet.

Phase 4: Community Report & Open Source Sharing (Month 6)

Deliverable: Open Source Community Report

• Objective: Disseminate the study findings and conceptual framework to the broader blockchain, Cardano, and SSI communities.
• Activities:
• Draft a report summarizing the findings and recommendations from the study.
• Publish the report as open-source material to allow other African nations or governments to benefit from the insights.
• Engage with the Cardano Catalyst and broader SSI community to share learnings and gather feedback on the findings.

Concrete Output: A public-facing, open-source report detailing the study's findings and proposed framework, making it available for the global SSI and blockchain community to use as a resource.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

TBA

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The budget of 100,000 ADA will be used to ensure timely and effective execution of the study. The budget allocation is as follows:

Category Cost (ADA)

Research & Benchmarking 20,000

- Staff (research team) 12,000

- Expert consultations (EU/EUDI) 5,000

- Report writing & publication 3,000

Stakeholder Engagement 25,000

- Local workshops & interviews 15,000

- Travel expenses (domestic) 5,000

- Data analysis & reporting 5,000

Conceptual Framework Development 30,000

- Synthesis & framework design 15,000

- Roadmap and governance model 10,000

- Report writing & review 5,000

Community Report & Dissemination 15,000

- Report drafting and publication 10,000 - Community engagement & outreach 5,000

Contingency & Miscellaneous 10,000

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Our proposed project offers exceptional value for money for the Cardano ecosystem by:

• Strengthening the Cardano brand: A successful implementation of a national ID wallet on Cardano will enhance the platform's reputation as a leading solution for real-world applications.
• Driving adoption: The project will increase the adoption of Cardano-based technologies, attracting new users and businesses to the ecosystem.
• Creating a sustainable impact: By providing a foundational solution for digital identity in Ethiopia, our project will have a long-lasting and sustainable impact on the region's economic and social development.
• Demonstrating scalability: The project's success in Ethiopia can serve as a model for implementing similar solutions in other African countries, showcasing Cardano's potential for global impact.
• Contributing to open-source development: By making our project open-source, we will contribute to the growth and development of the Cardano ecosystem.

Overall, our project represents a valuable investment in the future of Cardano by delivering a tangible solution with significant benefits for both the platform and the wider community.