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UNCTAD project boosts digital identity capacity in small island states

biometricupdate.com · 18h · first reportShare

An independent evaluation has found that digital identity played a central role in a three-year development project. The UN Development Account Project 2225F used the TrainForTrade blended learning model to reach 39 SIDS across Africa, the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific. Running between March 2022 and December 2025, with a budget of US$600,000, the project focused on three areas — legal aspects of e-commerce, digital identity for trade and development, and statistics on the digital economy. The training combined online modules, webinars and a hybrid conference in Singapore. This approach helped overcome the geographic and resource challenges faced by island states, according to the evaluation. Digital identity was highlighted as critical infrastructure for secure trade, data protection and inclusive access to online services. The project exceeded its initial training goals, according to the 101-page report. From the planned 100 participants from at least 20 small island states per module,