By: Dawda M. Jallow
Gambian government Monday signed a contract with Margins ID Systems Ltd for the implementation of a National Identity Management System (NIMS) under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the government by the Ministry of Interior during a ceremony chaired by the Minister of Interior and witnessed by the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Gambia Immigration Department, according to a press release.
The project is aimed at strengthening the country’s national identity infrastructure and improving public service delivery.
Officials said the procurement and negotiation process was conducted by a technical team comprising representatives: from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Digital Economy and the Gambia Information and Communication Technology Agency (GICTA).
The process followed an open competitive bidding procedure and received technical, financial and legal clearance before being approved by the cabinet.
Under the agreement, the parties will enter – build, co-operate and transfer partnership to improve the security, efficiency and reliability of the national identity card system.
The project will deliver a secure, scalable and integrated identity management system, including the issuance of ICAO-compliant electronic identity cards.
Margins ID Systems Ltd will be responsible for the design, construction and production of national identity cards and residential permits for both ECOWAS and non-ECOWAS nationals, in line with international standards.
The company will also collaborate with the Gambia Police Force and the Gambia Immigration Department to develop a new digital identity database, to be hosted in a purpose-built data center.
The agreement will span eight years period during which the private partner will finance and operate the system and related infrastructure. Revenue generated will be shared on a 30–70 percent basis in favour of the private partner, with all assets to be transferred to the government at the end of the contract period.
The first phase of the project will involve the mass enrolment of citizens and residents into the new biometric identity system, with all existing valid identity cards to be replaced free of charge. The new cards will have a validity period of 10 years.
The second phase will focus on integrating security and economic information technology systems into the database to support verification services and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.
The Ministry of Interior says the initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize public service delivery, enhance internal security and provide citizens and residents with secure and reliable identification documents.