The power of mobile for digital identity inclusion with GSMA’s Erdoo Yongo – Podcast Episode 43

In episode 43, Oscar and Erdoo explore the importance of mobile technology to digital identity, and what that means for inclusion in schemes that rely on identification of individuals. From her background in policy and advocacy at GSMA, Erdoo gives specific examples of mobile playing a role in the development of identity – identity enrolment in Nigeria, birth registration in Pakistan, health records in Kenya, and cash value assistance in Zambia. She also explores the challenges preventing mobile from playing a role in the development of digital identity ecosystems. "There are a range of opportunities for mobile technology and mobile operators to play a pivotal role in the development of digital identity ecosystems." Erdoo joined GSMA in 2017. She is a Policy and Advocacy Manager across the Digital Identity (DI) and Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation (M4H) teams. As part of the advocacy and policy team, she is working to create an enabling policy environment for mobile operators to ensure that mobile can be used to support identification of underserved populations and as a platform to deliver humanitarian assistance. Erdoo is thus working with mobile operators, development partners and humanitarian organisations to uncover and resolve policy and regulatory barriers they face in providing mobile services to users. She also leads GSMA’s research on mandatory SIM registration, exploring its relation to other key indicators in order to establish key trends that inform the work of the DI and M4H advocacy and policy streams. Erdoo delivers the ‘Digital identity for the underserved and the role of mobile’ Capacity Building course to regulators and policymakers and represents GSMA at a broad range of events. Find Erdoo on LinkedIn. Find out more about GSMA's Mobile for Development team at www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment. Find the reports that Erdoo refers to at the end of the episode at www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/resources/access-mobile-services-proof-identity-global-policy-trends-dependencies-risks/, www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/resources/digital-identity-accelerating-financial-inclusion-during-a-crisis/ and www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/resources/commercially-sustainable-roles-for-mobile-operators-in-digital-id-ecosystems/. We’ll be continuing this conversation on Twitter using #LTADI – join us @ubisecure!