The collection of identity information from refugees is essential to accommodating requests to seek asylum. Through biometric modalities including fingerprint scans and facial recognition, the UN refugee agency has been able to facilitate its lifeline refuge to those individuals in the most serious situations and inform the relevant agencies – government, law enforcement and travel – that need to know who they are and their right to stay in a country.
An interesting blog post on 2 July, 2024 reminisced the UNHCR’s inspiring work since 2002. The UNHCR’s Biometric Identity Management System captured several subsets of refugee identity data from 10 fingerprints, 2 irises and a face photo. It enables the data to be available and accessed by all parties through a self-service model for staff, partners, governments and soon refugees themselves managing their own applications.
The update on their biometrics strategy was very insightful in particular to their upcoming project to procure new biometric scanner devices from reputable suppliers. In late 2023, the agency issued a call for Request for Information (RFI) on the landscape of available devices to update the old ones.
As the requirements for BIMS have evolved “significantly”, they are managing the tender process carefully to engage the right providers to deliver light-weight devices. Technologies are being modified as the potential risks during border crossings increase and agencies are intercepting more fraudulent travel documents than ever.
The agency carried out a series of tests to assess the suitability of various scanners and narrowed down several models for procurement. Sample products were collected from hardware vendors ranging from iris and fingerprint scanners to all-in-one devices.
The transition is not only to replace current “bulky scanners” posing logistical challenges, but also because it opens up opportunities to enhance the usability and user experience of BIMS to expand across a “wider range of operations”.
With more mobile and self-service biometric facilities becoming readily available, this will allow the agency and its partners to effectively address the global issues of illegal migration and crime attempting to cross borders.
Looking ahead, the UNHCR plans to establish unattended kiosks for self-service, allowing refugees to verify their biometrics and access services tailored to their needs.
Based on the testing outcomes. UNHCR has now standardised new scanner products and will proceed with a competitive Invitation to Bid (ITB) process to make the final supplier selection(s). In conjunction, the development and testing of a BIMS mobile app on Android devices will continue.
