Digital Id systems which allow an entity to prove their identity online are opening new possibilities for cross border trade by eliminating trade barriers and paperwork.
Many forms of Identity exist today which are largely physical that have limitations when it comes to the need to provide required level of trustworthiness for dealing with online transactions.
Digital ID systems that are well implemented
	-	Allow users to establish their identity as part of an online transaction
	-	Enable trusted third parties to verify this identity
	-	Provide confidence to parties to the transaction including individuals and businesses
	-	Ensure safe access and transfer of online information
	-	Facilitate compliance with required regulations
The purpose of this project is to look at Digital ID systems in the context of UN/CEFACT’s mandates and create a whitepaper that focuses on studying existing digital ID systems and presenting best practices for existing systems that can act as a guide for future implementation.

The project scope is to define and create white papers on the best practices in implementing Digital ID systems with a view to examining:
	·	How Digital ID systems could be used to facilitate trade and related processes
	·	How existing UN/CEFACT deliverables could be used by Digital ID systems
All of the above will be examined from the perspective of UN/CEFACT’s mandates in order to provide input to the Bureau, Programme Development Areas and Domains on
	1)	Possible future work and a possible common approach to Digital ID-related projects
	2)	Application developers as a potential new user group for UN/CEFACT standards
	3)	Possible proposed changes to existing UN/CEFACT deliverables, or new deliverables, that could be considered in order to support Digital ID based trade-facilitation related applications

Deliverable 1 - A white paper on case studies of existing Digital ID systems and their implementation methodologies in the context of cross border paperless trade
Deliverable 2 - Guidance material for developing Digital Id systems to facilitate cross border paperless trade

Exit Criteria for Deliv. 1: Draft white paper ready for publication
Exit Criteria for Deliv. 2: Draft white paperguidance ready for publication

Membership is open to experts with broad knowledge in the areas of: Digital ID systems, technology and/or trade facilitation and related business processes

In addition, Heads of Delegations may invite technical experts from their constituency to participate in the work. Experts are expected to contribute to the work based solely on their expertise and to comply with the UN/CEFACT Code of Conduct and Ethics and the policy on Intellectual Property Rights.

The geographical focus of the project is global.

Initial contributions include existing descriptions and technical specifications for the UN/CEFACT: 
·	Core Components Library (CCL); 
·	Business Requirement Specifications (BRSs), 
·	Requirement Specification Mappings (RSMs) and 
·	Reference Data Models (RDMs) as well as 

Participants in the project shall provide resources for their own participation. The existence and functioning of the project shall not require any additional resources from the UNECE secretariat. The project will be prepared in between Forums, in face-to-face meetings, if feasible, and using conference call facilities.