UNHCR\u2019s 50 by 35 vision<\/a><\/span> and its target to halve the number of refugees in protracted displacement globally who remain dependent on humanitarian assistance by 2035. A key pillar in achieving that goal is ensuring that refugees can access national systems and services. SANAD is exactly this kind of initiative: rather than delivering parallel refugee services, it brings displaced people into the national digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Digital inclusion strengthens protection<\/h2>\n
For refugees, trusted digital identities bring important protection benefits. Once enrolled through secure biometric verification, refugees can access their government-issued digital ID cards and UNHCR asylum-seeker certificates, which serve as legal identity documents. Refugees can view and use their digital records, enabling them to demonstrate their legal status and access essential services without depending on paper documents that can be lost, damaged or left behind.<\/p>\n
Refugees are also able to access school certificates, monitor their social security accounts, and book appointments for government services. An initial range of services accessible at launch is set to expand further. By reducing the need for repeated travel and multiple administrative visits, digital services make access more dignified and efficient, particularly for families, older people and those with disabilities.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/10\/Jordan_Sanad_blog_eye.jpg” alt=”A hand holds up a cell phone to a man’s face while the screen scans his eye.” title_text=”Jordan. The Sanad Application Strengthens Refugees\u2019 Access to Official Digital Documents.” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A UNHCR staff member scans the eye of Yahia Khalid, 23, a Syrian refugee, as he activates the SANAD application on his cell phone.
\u00a9UNHCR\/Shawkat Alharfoush<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Enrolment in national digital systems also supports more coordinated government administration of asylum processes, while refugees shift from relying on separate humanitarian channels to inclusion in the state\u2019s own identity and service systems.<\/p>\n
Supporting solutions beyond displacement<\/h2>\n
Digital inclusion also has the potential to support and facilitate long-term solutions for refugees. SANAD will remain accessible to refugees after they leave Jordan, enabling continued access to official digital records and documentation issued during prolonged periods in displacement. This continuity will simplify what are often complex administrative processes associated with return, resettlement or labour mobility schemes.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, strengthening cooperation with the Syrian authorities to recognize documents available through SANAD could further facilitate reintegration for Syrian refugees returning from Jordan and demonstrate how digital public infrastructure can support people across borders as they rebuild their lives.<\/p>\n
Jordan as a model for refugee-inclusive national digital systems<\/h2>\n
Jordan’s experience demonstrates how digital transformation and refugee inclusion can advance in parallel. As enrolment expands and additional services are introduced, SANAD is evolving beyond simply a digital platform into a practical example of how inclusive public systems can deliver tangible benefits today, while contributing to longer-term durable solutions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/10\/Jordan_Sanad_blog_HC-scaled.jpg” alt=”A group of men stand at the end of a long desk where staff members stand opposite three seated refugees. ” title_text=”Jordan_Sanad_blog_HC” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih (arms folded) sees refugees being enrolled in the SANAD platform at Za’atari refugee camp in February 2026.
\u00a9UNHCR\/Shawkat Alharfoush<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
This experience also highlights the broader potential of digital public infrastructure. When systems are designed from the outset to serve everyone, they can deliver more efficient services, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve outcomes for both refugees and host communities. Jordan\u2019s approach offers a valuable model for countries seeking to build digital societies that are more accessible, resilient and inclusive.<\/p>\n
This achievement reflects the Government’s leadership, sustained collaboration between humanitarian and development partners, and the catalytic support of the Global Concessional Financing Facility.<\/p>\n
By Marguerite Duponchel (UNHCR), Erwin Knippenberg (World Bank), Gabriele Olivi (UNHCR), and Samer Qubain (World Bank).<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A collaboration between UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the World Bank and the Government of JordanHamid Al-Nayef, 24, a Syrian refugee living in Jordan’s Za’atari camp, activates the Sanad application on his cell phone.\u00a9UNHCR\/Shawkat AlharfoushJordan is the first country in the Middle East to extend government-recognized digital identities and services to refugees through a national […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":551,"featured_media":12347,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[645],"class_list":["post-12345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-inclusion","tag-inclusion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/551"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12345"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12565,"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12345\/revisions\/12565"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}