An estimated 7.5 million Cameroonians, about one in three people in the country, do not have an official proof of identity such as a birth certificate or national ID card. More than one in three children have not had their birth registered and more than half do not have a birth certificate. An estimated 2.5 million adults do not have a national ID. In addition to being the objective of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Target 16.9, to provide legal identity for all, including birth registration by 2030, identification is a key enabler for individuals to exercise their rights and for progress towards many other SDG targets, such as financial and economic inclusion, social protection, gender equality, and safe and orderly migration. This diagnostic demonstrates the need to further invest in the CR and ID ecosystem of Cameroon to achieve multiple benefits for individuals, public and private service providers, and government. By reducing the identification gap, more people will be able to access essential services such as social protection, financial inclusion, education, and health. Digitizing the CR and ID system will improve the efficiency and reliability of identification processes, and CR archives currently at risk of loss or destruction will be secured. Improving the ID system so that public and private service providers can use it will enable key identity verification and authentication services, such as verification of uniqueness, authenticity of credentials, and validation of identity information. These functions are particularly important considering the demand analysis conducted for key sectors that need better identification services, including social protection, financial, education, and the health sector. Investing in the CR and ID ecosystem is not only a matter of fulfilling a basic right, but also a strategic opportunity to foster inclusive and sustainable development in Cameroon.
