UN Launches Bold Plan: Universal ID & $1/Day Income to Tackle Global Poverty & ‘Invisibility’
New York, NY – In a move hailed as both ambitious and potentially transformative, the United Nations is actively exploring a groundbreaking proposal to provide every person on the planet with a legal identity and a daily basic income of $1. This initiative, detailed in a recent report published in Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, aims to address the intertwined crises of legal identity deprivation and extreme poverty affecting hundreds of millions worldwide. This is a developing story, and Archyde is committed to bringing you the latest updates.
The Crisis of ‘Invisibility’: 850 Million Without Legal Identity
For nearly 850 million people, simply *existing* legally is a struggle. Without a birth certificate, passport, or any form of official identification, individuals are effectively invisible to governments and excluded from essential services. This lack of identity prevents access to banking, education, healthcare, and even registering a phone – a critical lifeline in many developing nations. The UN’s proposal directly confronts this issue with the “Humanity Identity Card” (HIC), a globally recognized ID issued and managed by the UN, ensuring individual rights are protected regardless of nationality or migration status.
$1 a Day: A Lifeline for Half the World’s Population
Alongside the HIC, the plan proposes a “Basic Income Supplement” (BIS) of $1 per day for the poorest half of the world’s population – those earning less than $2,500 annually. While seemingly modest, proponents argue this daily income could dramatically improve lives, reduce hunger, and empower individuals. Unlike traditional aid programs, the BIS would be paid directly to individuals, not households, addressing gender inequalities and ensuring aid reaches those who need it most, particularly women and children. The distribution would leverage existing mobile payment systems, already proving effective in many low-income countries.
How Would It Work? A Global Tax to Fund the Initiative
The scale of this undertaking is immense, estimated at $1.5 trillion annually. However, the proposal outlines a funding mechanism based on a global tax levied across three sources: a small percentage (0.66%) of each sovereign state’s GDP, the market capitalization of companies exceeding $1 billion, and the wealth of billionaire households. This system, inspired by existing international commitments like the 0.7% development aid target, aims for a shared responsibility among nations and the world’s wealthiest individuals and corporations. Non-compliance would face sanctions, ranging from public denunciation to commercial consequences.
Beyond Aid: A New Vision of Global Citizenship
This isn’t simply about providing aid; it’s about redefining global social protection. The HIC and BIS represent a shift from viewing identity and income as privileges of citizenship to recognizing them as inherent human rights. This approach challenges nationalist perspectives and fosters a sense of international solidarity. The plan draws inspiration from the work of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and sociologist Göran Therborn, focusing on both “existential inequality” (lack of recognition) and “vital inequality” (lack of resources for survival).
The Tech Behind the Card: Secure, Accessible, and UN-Controlled
The HIC would utilize biometric data – fingerprints or iris scans – alongside basic personal information, stored in a secure, UN-managed system. Crucially, governments would require explicit authorization from the cardholder to access this data, safeguarding privacy and preventing misuse. This differs significantly from initiatives like the World Bank’s ID4D, which operates within national identification systems potentially vulnerable to political changes. The card’s design also aims to facilitate access to services like mobile banking and healthcare, even for migrants and those without traditional documentation.
Is This Realistic? Lessons from Past Programs & the Pandemic Response
While the proposal may seem utopian, proponents point to the rapid global mobilization of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic – trillions of dollars injected into the global economy in a matter of weeks – as evidence that large-scale international cooperation is possible. Furthermore, studies of existing cash transfer programs demonstrate positive outcomes, including reduced hunger, improved health, increased school attendance, and even entrepreneurial activity. People living in extreme poverty, the research shows, consistently make wise decisions about how to allocate additional income.
The UN’s proposal isn’t just a policy suggestion; it’s a call to action. It challenges us to reconsider our responsibilities to one another in an increasingly interconnected world. As the UN celebrates its 80th anniversary amidst a period of existential crisis, this initiative could redefine its role and usher in a new era of global cooperation. The question now isn’t whether we can afford to do this, but whether we can afford *not* to.
Stay tuned to Archyde for continuing coverage of this developing story and in-depth analysis of its potential impact.
For a detailed version of this article, read Recchi, E., Grohmann, T., « Tackling “scandalous inequalities”: a global policy proposal for a Humanity Identity Card and Basic Income Supplement », Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, 12, art. no : 880 (2025).
