Closing the Gender Gap in ID Ownership in Ethiopia : Findings and Recommendations

In Ethiopia, women are 15 percentage points less likely than men to possess a kebele ID, the primary proof of identity document used in the country. This report unveils findings from a study that aims to grasp the reasons behind this gender gap in ID ownership and offers recommendations for overcoming these barriers in Fayda, the new digital ID system launched by the Government of Ethiopia in 2021. Executed by the World Bank in partnership with Ethiopia's National ID Program (NIDP), the study first uses statistical analysis of ID4D-Findex data to illustrate the nature of the ID ownership gap and its ramifications for women. Subsequently, through desk research and original qualitative data obtained from focus group discussions and key informant interviews, the report delves into four categories of potential reasons for the gap: legal and policy barriers, social and community barriers, economic and procedural barriers, and information and knowledge barriers. In the concluding section, the report offers three key recommendations for integrating gender inclusivity into the Fayda program, drawingfrom the research findings and inputs gathered from qualitative research participants