Digital Footprint for Indonesia: JEJAK ID

Enabling access to unique, usable, and secure digital identification to millions of Indonesians. 

"Jejak" translates to "footprint" in Indonesian.

As the fourth most populated country in the world, Indonesia is a growing economic powerhouse. On paper, demographic and economic results are encouraging: ~90% penetration of eKTP (Indonesia’s current biometric ID); a growing economy; reduction in poverty. However, the country sits at top 5 globally for bestowing population without any form of ID. More than 18 million of Indonesia’s citizens having no form of identification, with 60+ million more having a non-digital ID, hindering their entry to qualify for government benefits, have access to basic services (healthcare, education), and grow from informal economy (access to formal financing and commerce).

Spotting this issue, JEJAK started as a group of individuals with burning passion to find a solution and make an impact for the problem of millions in Indonesia.

First, we ventured to: (1) develop “Jejak ID” -- a digital ID, complete with biometric, physical NFC token, and location geo-tagging -- aimed to record, authenticate, and digitize the footprint of millions of non-digital-literate citizens in Indonesia; (2) deploy a low-cost, secured fingerprint-recording device, “Rekam Jejak” (literal translation of “track record” in Indonesian), to be used by agents to register users into Jejak ID. Learning from experience, we are pushing the registration process to users by leveraging existing agency networks in Indonesia -- from retail to service providers -- to widely reach last-mile population and potentially provide an additional income for individual agent.

JEJAK understands simplicity in user journey is key. We maintain intuitive accessibility of having a physical token and “tap & thumb” process for the less-literate users; yet enforcing security by providing a 2FA combination of the ID number, with either NFC card and fingerprint, or mobile OTP. Meanwhile, Indonesians with existing ID could use our service by registering and authenticating themselves directly on JEJAK’s platform online. Consequently, integration with the government platform is key in minimizing duplication in registered IDs.

In the next development stage, we want to empower users to be able to govern and monitor their use of services, which include enabling them to receive benefits from partner institutions.

We plan to commercialize JEJAK by providing B2B services for user authorization and expanding the business in other emerging countries.

JEJAK leverages biometrics with an innovative operating model to reach remote regions in Indonesia. We plan to partner with existing retail and digital agent networks to push the identification collection process. Agents will gather information using our low-cost device, Rekam Jejak, that collects citizens' data and fingerprints.

Registered users are given an NFC card as a token for offline verification. User data are periodically synchronized to database and matched against existing data, e.g. national IDs, to prevent duplication of ID. Extensive agent network combined with telco coverage ensures that individuals in the most remote areas could be covered and authenticated.

We conducted extensive research into developing a Proof of Concept that demonstrates "privacy by design" using:

1. Custom encrypted digital data collecting device ("Rekam Jejak"), to ensure data privacy since data collection phase, with paperless process.

2. NFC token combined with biometrics (2FA for something that you have and something that you are), to ensure people with low literacy could control their data with no hassle

3. Encrypted data stored in NFC token, to ensure smooth authentication process in low connectivity environment

4. Traceable authentication to provide historical trail of usage by third parties, including but not limited to timestamp and long-lat

5. Direct user prompt to authorize third party to transfer and store user data, to safeguard data privacy and control over digital data

6. Simple tap and thumb authentication process, to accommodate people with low tech and digital literacy

7. Synchronized mobile number data (when applicable) and secure mobile app to ease 2FA process without using token

JEJAK ensures privacy is embedded and automatically implemented by design, and proactively prevents privacy breach before it happens with little or no effort by the user, aiming for practicality and user-friendliness.

JEJAK aims to provide high visibility and transparency to user regarding their data. We have extensively observed & researched common key challenges in countries like Indonesia, such as low literacy and low connectivity, and taking proactive measures to address these challenges within the development not to compromise our digital ID quality.

JEJAK keeps technology dramatically simple for both agents and users. Agent's UI is clearly presented to enable systematic guidance for user registration based on an intuitive user journey -- making it possible even for citizen to register themselves.

Once registered, users could authorize actions in partners' platforms using a combination of Jejak ID number, token, biometrics, or OTP. These mechanisms are opted as they only require minimum procedure while offering practicality for non-digital citizens to keep a token and ID number (bank/hospital/etc.). Painstaking activities such as filling registration form, verifying records could be gradually eliminated once B2B partnership is sustained.

JEJAK will ensure interoperability by opening APIs to partner organization & aim to cover use-cases both in online and offline environment.

1. Online authentication requires password and OTP. JEJAK then provides API to connect our partners’ for integrated authentication on their UI. This will enable JEJAK to be easily incorporated by our partners.

2. Offline authentication is performed by matching token with biometrics using Jejak NFC reader, to cover areas in Indonesia with bare minimum connectivity and access

JEJAK equips agents with a device ("Rekam Jejak") to record identification data. Data will be collected by agents through interviews to ensure holistic collection of information across all types of individuals, including those who are illiterate. Individuals will be verbally interviewed and agents tasked to input information into the application. Information are at first locally stored in the agent’s device and synced periodically when agents have access to internet connection, specifically when synchronizing sales data for incentives calculations or tracking.

JEJAK has plans in pipeline to collaborate with multiple institutions in providing unique identification for user registration. Target institutions include financial institutions and government agencies that provide services, such as subsidies, micro-loans.

The impact of the solution will exponentially grow as more partnerships are formed over the years, allowing JEJAK to be self-sustaining and users to have access to plethora of services. JEJAK will become self-sustaining by harvesting revenues from partnership while individuals will have access to multiple benefits through ownership of a unique JEJAK ID. We expect to expand this model in other developing countries over the next decade.

While we are in the early stage development of the prototype, our team is planning to initiate relevant contacts within governmental bodies (e.g. Ministry of Home Affairs, Civil Registration Bodies, and local municipal government to obtain access for pilot), and a number of private players (confidential) later within the next few months to secure partnership and required resources for the platform.

We believe that JEJAK's solution is uniquely positioned to partner with local and international stakeholders to address the Mission Billion Challenge. We have a team with multiple sectoral expertise who bring:

• Deep understanding in Indonesia and SE Asia digital landscape, including digital economy, digital finance, commerce, and accompanying socioeconomic impact

• Understanding of perspectives of a broad spectrum of public sector stakeholders, with a unique access to relevant network who could drive change

• Access to local technical expertise to provide tech and infrastructure support and know-how

• Passion and commitment to drive impact in our country and broader emerging markets context

JEJAK is positioned to champion local digital identification in Indonesia. Our revenue model is linked towards acquired user base who will register and authenticate themselves using Jejak ID.

Early stage revenues will mainly come from two avenues: revenue from registered customers (by verifying customers i.e. partnering for e-government services) and revenue from user authorization in partner institutions, i.e. financial services, e-commerce, healthcare, and retail; on top of other identified category of operating revenues.

By quantum, Indonesia sits at top 5 globally for adults with no ID. A digital, good ID is barely accessible to all.

Our team is committed to scale up JEJAK to serve last mile population. We believe support from the World Bank and Solve can catalyze higher access to resources from both private- and public-sector stakeholders, particularly to:

• Raise awareness on the importance and ease of having a safe, usable, and unique digital identification

• Ramp up our partnership network for test & learn

1. Access to existing national ID database. Scoring governmental support is key to expedite the verification process to ensure unique IDs issued with near zero duplication.

2. Structural, geographical and infrastructure challenges e.g. low connectivity area, observed low literacy level. While we cannot tackle this ourselves, our operating model overcomes these challenges by:

   1. Setting up scheduled synchronization to Jejak DB, enabling agents not to worry about real-time connectivity while in remote areas

   2. Providing offline tokenized key to citizens, ensuring user-friendliness to non-digital population