Facial Recognition and Biometric Identification: Secure Identity Solutions

Course overview

Biometric systems now underpin national identity programmes, SIM registration, border control, banking onboarding, voter registration and law enforcement across Africa. They promise accuracy and convenience but raise real concerns about errors, bias, security and privacy. This biometric identification course gives practitioners a balanced, technical and legal understanding of how to deploy biometrics responsibly.

The first week covers the technology: biometric modalities including face, fingerprint, iris and voice; how facial recognition algorithms work; enrolment and data quality; biometric databases and matching; and measuring performance through false match and false non-match rates. The second week turns to deployment and governance: identity verification and access control, forensic use of biometrics, vulnerabilities and presentation attacks, privacy and data protection law, human rights and bias, standards and interoperability, procurement and vendor management, and communicating with the public. Case studies come from identity, financial services and law enforcement programmes.

Participants leave able to evaluate, specify and govern biometric systems that are accurate, secure and respectful of rights.

What you will be able to do

• Explain the main biometric modalities and how they work
• Describe how facial recognition systems match identities
• Measure biometric system performance and accuracy
• Design enrolment processes that ensure data quality
• Identify vulnerabilities, including presentation attacks
• Apply data protection and human rights requirements to biometrics
• Specify and procure biometric systems responsibly
• Communicate transparently about biometric programmes

Who should attend

For officials and professionals who plan, procure, operate or oversee biometric identity systems in government, finance and security.

• National identity and registration officials
• Immigration and border officers
• Law enforcement identification units
• Bank and telecom onboarding managers
• ICT and security managers
• Data protection officers
• Election management body staff

Course outline

Week 1

Week 2

Fees are per participant in US dollars and cover tuition, course materials and your certificate. Travel and accommodation are not included.