In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for a robust and secure foundational identity has become more pronounced than ever. The concept of digital identity has taken centre stage in various spheres, from government services to financial transactions.
Enter MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform): a project envisioned to offer countries a solution that addresses challenges they faced while building their digital identity systems. MOSIP as a platform aims to offer innovative solutions to help governments build and own secure identity systems, customisable to diverse and unique requirements.
01 Modular
Designing systems that serve unique needs with mutually-exclusive technology bundles that can be harnessed to build larger DPI.
MOSIP’s modularity unlocks a world of possibilities for customisation and scalability, adapting to the unique needs of diverse nations.
Modularity allows MOSIP to be adaptable and customisable. MOSIP’s existing modules for an identity platform are largely mutually exclusive, allowing countries to pick and choose those they want to utilise. In countries with pre-existing digital ID infrastructure, MOSIP modules for specific needs (such as an authentication module on top of an existing registration process for example), MOSIP modules can be added seamlessly, integrating with existing systems.
To put it simply: MOSIP’s modularity allows countries to design systems that adapt to specific, and often changing, needs without requiring a complete overhaul at every stage of development.
02 Open-Source
Developing trusted and transparent technology, as a part of the effort towards community-driven, interoperable, and owned DPI.
The open-source aspect of MOSIP is more than just a technical detail; it embodies a philosophy that encourages collaboration and the spirit of community-driven development. Being open-source means that the source code of MOSIP is freely available to everyone, inviting developers and experts worldwide to contribute to its improvement.
The open-source nature of MOSIP brings several advantages:
- It fosters innovation through the collective efforts of developers, ensuring continuous enhancements and updates.
- It enables governments and organisations to pick and choose their technology providers, retaining ownership over how their systems are built and developed.
- The transparency of the platform inspires trust, as security vulnerabilities can be identified and addressed promptly, creating more robust and reliable systems.
The open-source nature of MOSIP is a testament to the power of collaboration, where experts from around the world come together to build a stronger, safer, and more equitable digital identity ecosystem.
Identity
Serving the United Nations’ SDG #16, by enabling inclusion and empowerment.
World Bank initiative, ID4D estimates that 850 million people across the world lack legal and verifiable ID. Individuals without proper ID may find it challenging to open bank accounts, secure formal employment, or engage in other activities that require official documentation. This exclusion leads to a lack of representation.
This is where MOSIP comes in; to be a country’s partner in the development, testing, and implementation of a national identity system.
By empowering individuals with a unique digital identity, MOSIP seeks to address the challenges of identity theft, fraud, and exclusion. It fosters social inclusion, as citizens gain access to government benefits, healthcare, education, and financial services.
Platform
Designing the foundation for a nation’s digital public infrastructure; a bedrock on which robust systems may be built for inclusive access to rights and services.
MOSIP is not a standalone software solution, but a comprehensive platform that provides a foundation for building and deploying digital transformation systems. It encompasses a wide range of components, including enrolment, authentication, and verification modules, as well as APIs and tools for integration and customisation.
In addition, the expert team at MOSIP has invested additional effort and resources to the development of solutions for the steps beyond ID enrolment itself, offering countries the ability to leverage digital ID for the equitable delivery of rights and services through additional technology offerings.
By offering a platform rather than a rigid product, MOSIP enables countries to develop and maintain their digital systems with flexibility. The platform approach also promotes collaboration among stakeholders, fostering knowledge-sharing across different implementations.
---
Subscribe to mosip16.9 for upcoming deep-dives on how MOSIP’s Driving Principles are defined, put into practice, and maintained.
