There are five moments in the life of a national identity programme when independent advisory pays for itself ten times over. Most governments miss all five.
- May 28
- 2 min read
Not every phase of an identity programme requires external expertise. But there are five windows where the absence of independent advisory consistently leads to decisions that cost years and millions to reverse.
Before writing procurement specifications. This is where the architecture of the entire programme is determined. Specifications written without independent review tend to reflect either the last vendor presentation or the incumbent’s installed base. Neither serves the national interest.
During tender evaluation. When bids arrive, governments need evaluators who understand the technology, the standards, and the market — and who have no commercial relationship with any bidder. This independence is not a preference. It is a procurement integrity requirement.
When a programme is in trouble. Delayed timelines, vendor disputes, interoperability failures, political pressure. An independent assessment at this stage can distinguish between a programme that needs adjustment and one that needs restructuring.
When international standards evolve. A system specified against the 2015 edition of a standard may not meet the requirements of the 2021 edition (or even the unpublished, work-in-progress 2027 edition). Standards alignment is not a one-time event — it is a lifecycle requirement.
When building institutional capacity for long-term independence. The goal of every advisory engagement should be to make itself unnecessary. Technology transfer, knowledge documentation, and training design are how advisory creates lasting value rather than lasting dependency.
Which of these five windows is open in your programme right now?
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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