Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is the network that supports the functions we rely on in the modern world. Like a grid, it physically connects people to the services they need, with three foundational systems that impact our lives in a positive way – identity, payments, and data exchange.

Identity allows us to prove who we are, and our citizenship. We need it to find somewhere to live, secure a job, and access the services and activities that make us part of society.  

Digital payments simplify and secure payments for individuals in a multitude of contexts. With a secure, interoperable digital payment system, governments can instantly issue vital payments regardless of the bank or mobile service provider used by different recipients. For businesses it widens their customer reach, allowing them to diversify and grow. 

Data usage has advanced, and a robust system can make connections between data held by different companies in ways that benefit us. This could be when we are applying for credit or to optimize decisions when we are receiving health care.  

However, not everyone has access to the things we take for granted: 

• Around 850 million people globally don’t hold an official identity. They can’t get credit, access government services or grow a business to support themselves. 
• 1.4 billion people don’t have a bank account and are denied the freedom and independence granted by the ability to carry out cashless transactions. 

Identity, payments, and data exchange must coexist and communicate with each other. When this happens, our governments, businesses, and individuals are empowered. This is the foundation of a spirited, competitive, and future-focused global economy. 

It all starts with Digital Identity

To improve access, we need to start with digital identity. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9 aims to provide legal identity for all, including free birth registrations, by 2030. This will ensure all citizens can access essential services and are granted basic human rights. One of the key methods of achieving this goal will be the necessary investment in civil registration systems to put all countries on an equal footing, removing outdated or manual systems that provide inaccurate or incomplete data. 

However, since its introduction in 2015, progress on this SDG has been slow, with the birth of one in four children under the age of five still unrecorded. Why is this so critical?  

As they grow up, unregistered children are effectively invisible to their governments, and are denied access to the fundamental support they need to thrive. Leveling up the life chances of children and adults worldwide requires this situation to end. 

How can it be solved? 

HERA is WCC’s answer to improving this problem and can be implemented quickly. This eCRVS solution was developed to provide a fast and easy way for countries to register events such as birth, death, and marriage, directly meeting the conditions set out in SDG 16.9. It has been configured to work in every situation; from modern, city-based infrastructure to low-tech and rural conditions. 

Soon, your government could have data analytics that enables you to plan and make decisions in a way that makes a big impact exactly where you need it. Birth registration can be initiated by the midwife, meaning no one falls through the net. WCC has configured HERA to meet international standards and best practices, and seamlessly integrates with other systems such as health insurance schemes. 

With its comprehensive features and benefits, HERA stands as a powerful solution for nations seeking to streamline and enhance their birth registration processes, ensuring the provision of a legal digital identity and enabling data-driven decision-making for improved economic growth and citizen well being.

Find out more about HERA now. 

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