The Bill & Melinda Gates foundation is a strategic partner and funder of the MOSIP technology platform. [2]

The digital ID is required by citizens for access to banking, obtaining a drivers license, obtaining SIM cards, and other essential services citizens rely on. [3]

The government of Ethiopia is now receiving funding from NGOs such as the World Bank to implement their national digital ID program. [4]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayda_ID

[2] https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/articles/mosip-digital...

[3] https://id.et/benefits

[4] https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/12/13/w...

I would prefer not to carry ID at all times, but it seems to me that this is a fact of modern life -- in the US at least, ID is indeed required for banking, to get a drivers license, to board planes, etc. Our ID system is ridiculous. A weird combination of SSN's, Drivers license, and Passport are forced into this role, even though they weren't designed for that, and don't do a great job. If Ethiopia builds a _good_ system, I feel that is better than whatever _bad_ system would naturally arise without planning. Am I totally off base here? What am I missing?