The randomized 11-digit unique Identification number issued to all registered residents shall be used in all types of authentications, verifications, and proof of identity. This UID will never expire nor will it be changed by the authority. Provision of services by various relying parties should be based on the usage of UID credential to verify the validity and identity of their customers.

National Identity data should be stored and processed in data centers owned or managed by the authority within the country in accordance with Data sovereignty principle. This is also in accordance with the country’s laws and regulations to ensure the security and privacy of identity data and to improve the service delivery.

The ‘digital Identity for all” principle is based on one of the three billers for endorsed ID4D principles – Inclusion. It is also in accordance with a main provision of the National Identification and Registration law which describes that all residents (both citizens and legal residents) have the right of registration and issuance of an identity card. This principle also emphasizes that any barriers to access the Somali National ID should be removed, allowing individuals to register with minimum requirements.

Somali National ID System (SNIDS) is planned, designed, and built with security and privacy in mind. All privacy considerations and security features that deemed necessary were built into the system’s architecture to ensure the protection of personal data and the foundational system. NIRA treats SNIDS as a platform holding personal and sensitive data of registrants and thus all communications from and to the system remain fully encrypted at all times. This ensures a high level of trust from residents and other parties interacting with SNIDS.

A national digital ID provided to all residents in the Federal Republic of Somalia is a common interest for all stakeholders involved. NIRA is mandated to implement a foundational identification system to provide proof of legal identity for citizens and non-citizens in the country. This requires collaboration from all public institutions to work towards the implementation of the national ID. The authority also works with the private sector in setting measures to facilitate a quick take up of ID registrations and verifications in order to enhance financial inclusion..

NIRA prioritizes interoperability of systems and applications without compromising data and information security. SNIDS is at the center of Somalia’s identity management ecosystem. It is designed to integrate with other public and private systems to serve as the source of individual’s identification data and provide basis for other functional systems around the country. The authority also develops systems that can be adopted by other government institutions in their effort to digitize the service delivery.