4 5 Create a responsive and interoperable platform. • Responsiveness. Identification and authentication services should be designed to meet people’s real needs and concerns. In addition, they should be flexible, scalable, and useful for the public agencies and private sector entities that rely on them for identification or authentication. This requires broad stakeholder consultation and a people-centric, participatory approach— including civil society, the public at large, service providers, and other relying parties—beginning with the design process and continuing throughout implementation. • Interoperability. Subject to laws and regulations on data sharing and appropriate technical safeguards, including “privacy-by design” principles, the ability of identification systems to communicate with other systems (e.g., civil registration systems and services providers) and exchange queries or information facilitates services such as identity verification or attestations, eKYC, other permissioned data sharing, and mutual recognition of identification systems across borders.16 Use open standards and prevent vendor and technology lock-in. • Open standards. Designs based on open standards enable market-based competition and innovation.17 Open standards are essential for greater efficiency, improved functionality, and adaptability of identification systems, both within countries and across borders. • Preventing vendor and technology lock-in. Good procurement processes facilitate competition, promote innovation, and prevent technology and vendor “lock-in,” which can increase costs and reduce flexibility to accommodate changes over time. Procurement processes should emphasize value for money, economy, integrity, fitness for purpose, efficiency, transparency, and fairness. Effective contract management will ensure that these benefits are sustained throughout implementation. 16 Cross-border interoperability can facilitate migration and trade, but controls should be put in place to protect the security of vulnerable groups, such as refugees, whose personal data must often be shielded from their home country. 17 For example, ISO/IEC has developed standards covering many aspects of identification systems. For more, see World Bank. 2016. “Technical Standards for Digital Identity Systems: Formulating a Strategic Approach.” Principles on Identification for Sustainable Development 15