MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: World Bank’s ID4D Launches 2nd “Mission Billion Challenge,” Offering $150k in Prizes for Innovation in Identification, Digital Inclusion for Vulnerable Groups

The World Bank’s Identification for Development (ID4D) initiative recently announced the launch of the second Mission Billion Challenge, an initiative offering cash prizes totalling USD 150,000 for ideas that increase vulnerable groups’ access to digital identification systems. The target groups include women and girls as well as informal workers whose income has been reduced by COVID-19. Part of the motivation for the program is that the pandemic has increased the value of online services that rely on identification technology, such as government-to-person (G2P) payments and online systems for determining eligibility for social programs. Boosting these services can increase the rate at which eligible people participate in government programs while minimizing in-person interactions, which can be hazardous during the pandemic. The window for submissions is open until August 14, and finalists will be invited to present their solutions at the World Bank Group’s Annual Meetings in October 2020.

Makhtar Diop, the World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure explains, “Innovation that takes into consideration gender equality and different levels of access to technology among vulnerable groups is critical. The Mission Billion Challenge is a platform for sourcing solutions that address disparities by helping to ensure identification systems are inclusive of all people.”

ID4D mobilizes countries, companies and NGOs to increase access to digital identification for the estimated 1 billion people who do not have official identification. As of 2019, the initiative has USD 1.2 billion in active and “pipeline” projects.

The World Bank Group is a multilateral organization whose two overarching goals are to promote shared prosperity and end extreme poverty by 2030. With 189 member nations as of 2020, the group encompasses: (1) the International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which make up the World Bank; (2) the International Finance Corporation; (3) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; and (4) the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. During the year ending June 2019, the World Bank Group disbursed a total of USD 62.3 billion in loans, grants, equity investments, and guarantees to partner countries and private businesses.

By Madigan Ruch, Research Associate

Sources and Additional Resources

World Bank news release on the second Mission Billion Challenge
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/05/27/world-banks-mission-billion-challenge-calls-for-innovation-to-strengthen-inclusion-and-empower-the-worlds-invisible-billion

Mission Billion Challenge webpage
http://id4d.worldbank.org/missionbillion

ID4D 2019 Annual Report
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/566431581578116247/identification-for-development-id4d-2019-annual-report

Previous MicroCapital post on the World Bank
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-world-bank-to-loan-300m-to-indonesia-for-financial-sector-reform-including-promoting-long-term-savings-disaster-microinsurance/

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