In a fragile state, the identity system isn’t broken. It was never built.
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
International best practice assumes a functioning civil registration system, a reliable chain of custody for foundational documents, trained personnel, stable institutions, and continuous power supply. In fragile and post-conflict environments, none of these assumptions hold.
The temptation — for donors, for implementing agencies, for governments under pressure — is to import a solution designed for stable contexts and adapt it. Build a modern issuance centre. Install biometric capture equipment. Print secure documents.
The equipment arrives. The building is completed. And within eighteen months, the system is operating at a fraction of its capacity — or not at all. Because the problem was never the technology. It was the institutional infrastructure the technology was supposed to sit on.
Identity programme delivery in fragile states requires a fundamentally different approach. Start with what exists, not with what should exist. Build institutional capacity before deploying technology. Design for degraded conditions — intermittent power, limited connectivity, high staff turnover, low literacy. Accept that the first version will be imperfect and design for iterative improvement rather than launch-day perfection.
SECOIA has delivered advisory mandates across over 20 countries, in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. We design for the context we find — not the context we wish existed.
What assumptions is your programme making about the environment it will operate in?
SECOIA Executive Consultants Ltd is a Swiss boutique consultancy specialising in identity management, border security, biometrics, secure documents, and ePassports. The firm holds active memberships in ICAO ICBWG, ISO/IEC, and CEN standardisation bodies.
We welcome dialogue with professionals navigating these questions. Reach out through our website , arrange for a meeting or connect with us on LinkedIn.
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