The future of digital identity in the Arab world
The topic of Digital Identity has never been more relevant given the recent massive rise in our reliance on the Internet. More than 4 billion people were already using the digital realm to interact, consume content, trade, communicate, and pay.
The global lockdown seems to be accelerating a full-fledged transformation into a digital society and economy. Digital Identification is the cornerstone of this transformation. When done right it is instrumental for the the proper functioning, sustainability, and security of our evolving way of life, and can have huge implications for financial inclusion.
As different stakeholders respond to the current situation and analyse how effective digital IDs can enable and empower populations, it was a pleasure to host three insightful speakers on Thursday 16th April. Louis de Koker, Ibrahim Eid and Nidal Qanadilo shared their perspectives on the dynamics of digital identity, case studies, and thoughts on why adopting the right innovation framework can accelerate growth in that space.
With huge thanks to our speakers and our supporters CGAP, SANAD, Spectrum Digital Holdings and Tamer Amr.
Reda Maamari
Moderator
A pioneer in the field of micro-finance in the region, as a founding member of Al Majmoua and Sanabel, Reda has focused his attention over the last decade on innovation in the private sector across the fields of insurance and finance. He is the founder of the Arab Financial Inclusion Innovation Prize.
Ibrahim Eid
Speaker
Ibrahim Eid is the co-founder and COO of Valify. Valify is an e-KYC (electronic Know-Your-Customer) software solution which enables service providers to digitally identify their customers, verify official documents remotely and extract valid data without compromising integrity or security. The company from Egypt won first prize at this year’s Arab Financial Inclusion Innovation Prize (AFIIP), receiving a grant of $30,000.
Louis de Koker
Speaker
Louis de Koker is a senior financial crime policy consultant to Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), an independent think tank housed at the World Bank promoting financial inclusion. He holds a chair in law at the La Trobe Law School (Australia) where he is the coordinator and RegTech program leader of the La Trobe LawTech team.
From 2014-2019 he was the national program leader of the Law and Policy research program of the Australian government-funded Data to Decisions Cooperative Research Centre.
This program considered the legal and policy aspects relating to Big Data analysis and Australian national security objectives.
Nidal Qanadilo
Speaker
Nidal is a leader in MENA’s entrepreneurship space, building ecosystems and helping hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs build successful companies. He propels startups growth through actualising multi-layered acceleration programs and access to networks, markets, and capital. Nidal is currently raising a MENA-focused, early-stage tech VC fund.
He’s an expert in developing corporate innovation systems and building organisational Absorptive Capacity - carving entrepreneurial-thinking powered pathways to anticipate and adapt to market disruptions, opportunities, and emerging technologies. Nidal is managing partner at South Point, and an AFIIP judge for two years running. He advises leading local and global private sector and developmental organisations and sits on innovation-focused advisory boards.