Empowering the Invisible: How Paycode Champions International Identity Day

Every year on September 16, the world observes International Identity Day. The date, 16.9, is symbolic: it reflects Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which calls for “providing legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030.”

International Identity Day exists to raise awareness of the importance of legal identity as a foundation for exercising basic rights and accessing services. Without an official form of identification, individuals can face insurmountable barriers to education, healthcare, voting, social protection, and financial services. For the over 1 billion people worldwide who lack any form of recognised identity, these barriers perpetuate cycles of poverty and exclusion.

The day also highlights that identity is not just a technical issue, it’s a human rights issue. Recognised identity enables dignity, agency, and opportunity. It empowers people to prove who they are, to participate in society, and to access the resources they need to thrive.

How Paycode Supports the Mission of Identity for All

This is where Paycode steps in with solutions designed to bring identity and inclusion to underserved populations. Paycode provides biometric digital identity technology that allows governments, financial institutions, and development organizations to register individuals, issue secure IDs, and connect them to essential services.

• Biometric enrollment in the field: Paycode’s system captures fingerprints and other biometric data, creating a secure and unique digital identity even for people without prior documentation.

• Instant, secure ID issuance: Identity cards can be generated on the spot, enabling immediate use for services such as social grants, aid distribution, and banking.

• Offline functionality: Unlike many digital systems, Paycode works without constant internet connectivity, allowing people in rural and remote areas to transact in real time.

• Proof of life: The system ensures that benefits and payments reach the right person, reducing fraud and leakage in welfare and financial programs.

By tackling the intertwined challenges of identity, connectivity and cost, Paycode is giving millions of people in Africa and beyond the tools to access financial services, participate in their communities, and step onto the path of economic empowerment.

Why This Matters

International Identity Day is not just a symbolic observance. It’s a call to action - a reminder that achieving universal identity is a global responsibility and a driver of sustainable development. When people are recognised, they can contribute, grow, and prosper.

Paycode’s work embodies this vision. By creating secure, accessible, and inclusive identity solutions, they are helping to turn the promise of SDG 16.9 into reality and ensuring that no one is left behind.