BRIDGING THE
DIGITAL IDENTITY
GAP IN AFRICA.
WHEN:
16 - 18 March 2027
WHERE:
STIAS: Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study
REGISTER:
Get Your Tickets Today!
What is DID:UNCONF AFRICA?
DID:UNCONF AFRICA brings together local and international innovators, leaders, policymakers, and advocates to shape the future of digital identity. This event fosters innovation, collaboration, and interoperability, making a significant impact on the inclusive development of digital identity in Africa.
Kick-off: African-Focused Digital Identity Program
The event will commence with an African-Focused Digital Identity Program on 16 March. This session will explore the current state of digital identity in South Africa and across the continent through insightful presentations and engaging panel discussions — from national digital ID and digital public infrastructure to credentials already running in production, and the policy, trust, and interoperability questions that come with them.
A 2-Day IIW Inspired Open Space UnConference
Open Space UnConferences are particularly generative: with a professional facilitator, we will co-create the agenda live each day of the event. There are no keynotes or panels - it’s all about exploring the topic with professional peers from across the identity landscape, from wallets and credential formats to trust registries, authentication, fraud, and identity for AI agents. Click here to learn more.
WHO IS THIS EVENT FOR?
Passionate about digital identity or part of its ecosystem? Whether you're a researcher, technologist, government leader, regulator, startup founder, working with a global NGO, in banking or telecoms, or just curious - join us to mould the future, establish connections, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue in digital identity.
We aim to create a space where every voice can be heard, from startups to industry giants, with public and private sector interaction as one of the primary focal points.
DID:UNCONF AFRICA serves as an efficient platform to meet and discuss, share your knowledge, work on and learn about anything & everything related to digital and decentralised identity in Africa today.
Why DID:UNCONF AFRICA Now?
Meeting the Moment
Digital identity has moved from concept to rollout. South Africa's national Digital ID is being stood up, credentials are going live in markets around the world, and the standards underneath them are being finalised in real time. DID:UNCONF AFRICA is where the people building, regulating, and using these systems on this continent work through what that actually means.
Broadening Participation
Our primary aim is to provide a place and time for local innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to actively engage in discussions and collaborations with international experts.
Facilitating Local and International Exchange
Our vision is to attract a diverse audience from the immediate South African ecosystem, the greater African context, and beyond. Identity infrastructure is being built out in parallel across the world right now, and the choices made in one region increasingly shape what is possible in the others. DID:UNCONF AFRICA puts local and international participants in the same room, enriching the global discourse on digital identity.
Advancing Digital and Decentralised Identity
We intend to raise awareness and accelerate the adoption of verifiable credentials, user-held wallets, and the open standards that make them interoperable. Our goal is to create a thriving ecosystem where these technologies address pressing identity issues and empower individuals across Africa - with privacy, consent, and data minimisation designed in from the start rather than bolted on afterwards.
Fostering Inclusive Innovation
We are dedicated to breaking down barriers that may have limited participation in tech events, particularly by underrepresented groups such as women and marginalised communities — and to keeping the question of who gets left out of new identity systems on the agenda alongside the technical work.
Empowering Digital Identity Startups
DID:UNCONF AFRICA will provide a platform for startups to showcase their solutions, connect with potential investors & partners, and gain valuable insights from industry experts. By fostering a supportive ecosystem for digital identity startups, we aim to accelerate the adoption of groundbreaking technologies in the field.