Smart cards to help NSSF tame graft and curb losses

A leading global information technology services provider has relaunched an ambitious national social security fund solution in Africa that will enable the institutions to uniquely identify their members.

Individual countries that will acquire the new technology, known as members’ identification management system and launched by Techno Brain Ltd, will use automated fingerprint identification system to trace its members.

The fingerprints are then used to generate a unique identification number, called NSSF number.

According to the firm’s country manager Alfred Mugo the fingerprints are stored in smart cards, which are issued free by the fund.

“Members’ fingerprints are verified against the fingerprint stored in the smart card before processing their claims. The system provides unique identification and allows capturing of members’ details through electronic forms, photograph using digital camera, fingerprints using live fingerprint scanners and verification of the identity of insured persons against the biometric fingerprint data stored in the identification card,” he said.

Analysts project the new development to restore sanity to East Africa’s national social security funds that have over time been accused of grand corruption and mismanagement of members’ funds, leading to loss of millions of dollars.

The reform is also likely to help control cases of “missing files,” which have become a norm in these institutions.

The new system is operational in Tanzania, where a central system for unique identity card generation has been installed at the NSSF headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

In addition, service points at all the 23 regional offices throughout the country have had the service installed.

Mr Mugo says the solution has also enabled Tanzania’s NSSF to create mobile registration terminals, which saves members the cost of going to the institution’s headquarters for services.

To bolster its presence across the world, Techno Brain has partnered with leading information technology organisations such as Microsoft, Oracle, 3i Infotech and Serenic Corporation.

Software support

According to Mr Mugo, the co-operations have enabled the firm to offer the best solutions available to its clients.

As a Microsoft certified partner, Techno Brain now has access to all resources of Microsoft and gets tremendous support from the software major, paving the way for providing cost-effective solutions to its clients. Currently, the firm has offices in more than 11 countries in the region.

They include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. Outside the continent, the firm has established offices in Australia, India and the US.

The firm is yet to establish an office in Rwanda, but it is operating in the country through its Uganda office.

This year, Techno Brain says, it will be exploring West Africa in a move to spread its business tentacles in the continent.

Apart from bringing changes in the operations of the continent social security fund, Techno Brain is also engaging in modernising passport issuance systems for Tanzania and Malawi.

Kenya is the only country in the region left behind by the wave of updating its systems solution especially on criminal check systems by the police and the integrated financial management information system that manages local authority and central government revenues.

However, all is not lost as the financial management system for non-governmental organisation solution has registered significant growth in Kenya.

Despite stiff competition from within and outside East Africa, the firm’s manager says, it is the quality of service they offer that makes its products stand out.

Business links

“As part of our endeavour to ensure that our products and services remain technologically contemporary to deliver unparalleled value to our customers, Techno Brain has a strong backing of leaders in the business worldwide.

“These alliances have stood the test of time, growing from strength to strength. Its key alliances have enabled it to provide customers with a potent combination of domain expertise, process methodologies, project management, off-shoring capabilities and highly skilled and competent resource pools.” Mr Mugo said in an interview.

He added: “At Techno Brain, we are continuously leveraging these key partnerships in several technologies, solutions and products, helping our customers to strategically align themselves for growth and diversification across various businesses.”