89
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa: A Systematic
Literature Review",
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
A Blockchain-based
Identity Management
Solution for Secure
Personal Data Sharing
in Africa: A Systematic
Literature Review
ARTICLE HISTORY
Received 16 January 2025
Accepted 2 April 2025
Published 7 July 2025
Godwin Mandinyenya
North-West University
School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Vaal Campus
Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
39949613@mynwu.ac.za
ORCID: 0009-0001-7659-4402
Vusimuzi Malele
North-West University
School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Vaal Campus
Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
vusi.malele@nwu.ac.za
ORCID: 0000-0001-6803-9030
ISSN:1390-9266 e-ISSN:1390-9134 LAJC 2025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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DOI:
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https://doi.org/10.33333/lajc.vol12n2.08
LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July – December 2025
A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution
for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa: A
Systematic Literature Review
Godwin Mandinyenya
North-West University
School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Vaal Campus
Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
39949613@mynwu.ac.za
Vusimuzi Malele
North-West University
School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Vaal Campus
Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
vusi.malele@nwu.ac.za
Abstract— Africa’s digital transformation has amplified
systemic vulnerabilities in personal data governance,
particularly due to reliance on centralized identity systems ill-
equipped to evolve cyber threats. For instance, the 2016
Cambridge Analytica scandal exposed not only global data
misuse but also catalyzed African nations like Nigeria and
Kenya to audit their electoral data practices, revealing similar
risks. Centralized databases are frequently the backbone of
conventional identity management systems, which
unfortunately leaves them vulnerable to security violations
and unwanted entry resulting in attackers taking advantage of
these vulnerabilities and causing security incidents like
identity theft or the exposure of confidential information.
Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) empowers individuals to take
control of their personal identity and understand how their
data is utilized. In this context, blockchain technology plays
a pivotal role by supporting decentralized systems for identity
management and access control. This literature review
explores five key dimensions of blockchain-based identity
and access control management, including security / privacy,
scalability, interoperability, regulatory compliance, and user
control through a systematic analysis of 62 African case
studies and a framework synthesized from that review. The
study identifies critical gaps in scalability (40% of studies)
and regulatory alignment (50%), offering actionable insights
for decentralized identity frameworks in emerging
economies. Prior reviews lack Africa-specific insights; this
SLR addresses this gap by synthesizing 62 African case
studies, offering the first comprehensive analysis of
blockchain-based IDMS implementations in the region.
Keywords — Blockchain technology, Identity Management,
Personal Data Sharing, Decentralized Systems, Security
I. INTRODUCTION
In today's digital age, individuals frequently share and
leave behind large volumes of personal information on the
internet. Third party companies such as X, Facebook,
DropBox, Google Drive store people’s personal data and help
with data analytics. As a result, most of the individuals today
have some form of digital identities. Digital identity refers to
an individual’s personal identity in the cyberspace that
distinguishes a person from another individual [1]. An
individual’s identity is the general name given to the profile
information in the user’s account such as username, email
address, date of birth, etc. People’s digital identities are
typically kept in centralized databases. This exposes
individuals to many centralization risks such as Single Point
Of Failure (SPOF), and giving data control to third parties
that may manipulate their data without their consent. More
so, identity owners’ need to repeat registering and
authenticating their identities from one online platform to
another which leads to the fragmentation of their digital
identity information. Individuals’ view and control over how
their personal data is processed has decreased tremendously.
In 2016, in what became known as Cambridge Analytica
scandal, Facebook suspended Strategic Communication
Laboratories (SCL) for violating its policies around data
collection and retention to influence the USA 2016
presidential results. This scandal has raised serious concerns
concerning how users’ personal data is processed by third
party companies.
As a result of the 2016 personal data processing scandal,
the European Union introduced a new Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR covers a variety of
processing possibilities for personal data. It imposes a
number of crucial legal requirements that data processors and
controllers must meet in order to safeguard data subjects.
Legitimate personal data processing necessitates adherence
to specific rules. These rules involve obtaining clear consent
from the person, treating their data with fairness, legality, and
transparency, and offering mechanisms for data correction
and erasure. With GDPR principles, data subjects should
have access to all the information they require, such as when
a data holder accessed their personal data, where it came
from, which processors received it, and more. A primary
impediment to data privacy is the non-existence of
frameworks that ensure responsible and open distributed IT
services, as well as safe data sharing methods that maintain
data secrecy. This review focuses on Africa for three critical
reasons:
1. Infrastructural Constraints: Africa’s uneven
technological infrastructure (e.g., 83.4% node uptime vs.
99.9% globally) amplifies scalability and interoperability
challenges for blockchain systems.
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LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July 2025
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G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa:
A Systematic Literature Review”,
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
2. Regulatory Fragmentation: Divergent national laws
(e.g., Kenya’s Data Protection Act vs. ECOWAS guidelines)
complicate cross-border identity frameworks.
3. Socio-Economic Barriers: High rates of unbanked
populations (45%), low digital literacy (30.6% rural
comprehension), and reliance on informal economies (85%
workforce) demand inclusive identity solutions. Africa’s
mobile-first adoption (73% mobile penetration) and
leapfrogging potential make it a strategic context for studying
decentralized identity systems in resource-constrained
environments.
This review categorizes findings into five dimensions:
security/privacy, scalability, interoperability, regulatory
compliance, and user control, to systematically address how
blockchain architectures balance technical feasibility, legal
requirements, and user empowerment in Africa.
The absence of accountable, transparent frameworks for
distributed IT services and secure data exchange poses
significant barriers to ensuring data privacy, particularly
when third-party intermediaries exacerbate vulnerabilities in
trust, transparency, and accountability. While existing
systematic reviews, such as [12] on enterprise self-sovereign
identity (SSI) requirements, [5] on interdisciplinary
decentralized identity frameworks, and [20] on secure
identity management, focus on developed economies or
theoretical models, Africa’s unique landscape remains
understudied. Characterized by infrastructural constraints
(e.g., 51.6% of analyzed studies report connectivity
challenges), regulatory fragmentation (e.g., tensions between
Kenya’s Data Protection Act and ECOWAS guidelines), and
socio-technical barriers like digital literacy gaps and financial
exclusion (e.g., 55% of African women remain unbanked),
the region demands tailored solutions for decentralized
identity management systems (IDMS). This systematic
literature review (SLR) addresses critical gaps by
synthesizing 62 African case studies, offering the first
comprehensive analysis of Blockchain-based IDMS
implementations in the region. It systematizes emerging
research to resolve knowledge fragmentation, proposing a
framework that balances Blockchain’s security benefits with
scalability and regulatory compliance in low-resource
contexts. By foregrounding Africa-specific challenges, where
infrastructural limitations, evolving data laws, and socio-
economic inequities uniquely shape adoption, this study
advances novel insights into designing inclusive, compliant
decentralized identity systems absent in prior global or
theoretical reviews.
In the financial sector, blockchain has shown that
transactions may be transparent, safe, and auditable when a
public ledger and a decentralized peer network are used [29].
Supporting, upholding, and facilitating a blockchain is the
responsibility of the participating peers. These players might
be many organizations that supply computer resources to
support a corporate blockchain application through a
permissioned consortium network, or they could be
anonymous individuals working together to give
computational capacity to support a public network [30].
Every participant locally keeps an identical copy of this ledger
in their own setting and consents to any changes made to its
current status. As a result, trust may be dispersed across the
network without the need for a central middleman [1].
II. BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN IDENTITY MANAGEMENT
A. Related Work
Prior reviews have laid foundational insights into
blockchain-based identity management. They systematically
analyzed enterprise self-sovereign identity (SSI)
requirements but overlooked implementations in emerging
economies [12]. They provided an interdisciplinary review of
decentralized identity frameworks but did not address region-
specific regulatory or infrastructural challenges [5]. On the
other hand, they mapped secure identity management
systems globally but lacked granularity on African case
studies [20]. Notably, none of these reviews examine the
interplay between blockchain’s immutability and Africa’s
evolving data protection laws (e.g., GDPR vs. Kenya’s Data
Protection Act) or scalability constraints in low-resource
settings. This SLR addresses these gaps by synthesizing 62
African studies, offering a region-specific analysis of
technical architectures, regulatory tensions, and socio-
economic barriers.
Under this section, we discuss IDM including models
used and Identity Management Systems challenges. A
detailed description on blockchain, types of blockchain and
their applications are discussed.
B. Identity Management
Having a digital identity is essential for people to interact
with service providers. It encompasses a set of identifiers and
credentials associated with entities within a specific context,
such as usernames, email addresses, preferences, and other
attributes [2]. Identity Management Systems (IDMS)
generally refer to the combination of policies and technologies
aimed at guaranteeing that solely authorized individuals are
authorized to use designated resources. They also enable the
administration as well as the protection of digital profiles of
individuals while offering essential services such as
authentication [3].
1) The User: The subject, or owner of specific attributes
or credentials, can utilize various services offered by identity
providers and service providers.
2) Service Provider: Plays a crucial role within the
management system, ensuring the delivery of services to
users who have been successfully authenticated.
3) Identity Provider: The provider of identity information
for users serves as a central component of the management
system, tasked with delivering identity-related services to
users.
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C. Digital Identity Models
Below, we will discuss the main IDMS and highlight their
advantages and disadvantages. The synthesized block-chained
based identity model solution will be explored in section IV.
1) Independent Identity Model
Also referred to as as isolated Identity Management
(IDM), this model does not provide users with a centralized
identity. Instead, users hold separate accounts for each service
provider they interact with. Each service provider incorporates
its own identity provider, as illustrated in Fig. 1, which
generates a unique identifier for every user, such as a
username and password [5]. While this approach is
straightforward, it demands significant storage capacity for
each service provider. Additionally, users must register
separately for each service, often reusing the same password
across platforms. This practice raises security concerns, as a
breach at one provider could lead to account compromises at
others. Furthermore, users face the challenge of managing
multiple fragmented accounts across different service
providers [21].
Fig. 1. Independent Identity Model (Source: Author)
2) Centralized Identity Model
In this model, a single, trusted identity provider handles
both identifying and authenticating users. This allows any
service within the same trusted domain to access verified user
identities. A central authority oversees the validation of user
credentials. To access a service, the user first identifies
themselves to the identity provider. The provider then
authenticates the user's identity. Upon successful
authentication, the user is granted an identifier. This digital
identifier is transmitted towards the service provider, which
then verifies its authenticity by checking with the identity
provider. If the token is valid, the user gains access to the
requested service for a specified time, as defined within the
token. Fig. 2 visually depicts this centralized identity
management process [24].
Fig .2. Centralized Model (Source: Author)
3) Federated Identity Model
This model, often seen in social media logins like Google
or Facebook, involves multiple service providers within a
trusted federation sharing user identity information. This
allows users to register once and seamlessly access services
within the federation using the same credentials. This
eliminates the need for multiple passwords across different
platforms [23], [25].
Fig. 3. Federated Identity Model (Source: Author)
The body of published work pinpoints numerous digital
ledger technology-driven identification oversight systems, a
large number of which center on individual-controlled
identification (ICI), wherein account holders retain complete
authority regarding their identification information. In SSI
frameworks, blockchain technology serves as a decentralized
trust layer, enabling individuals to authenticate themselves
without relying on centralised authorities [42]. Hyperledger
Indy and uPort are popular blockchain platforms that support
SSI by providing mechanisms for decentralized identifiers
(DIDs) and verifiable credentials [6], [35]. Other systems
such as Sovrin and Blockstack leverage blockchain to create
decentralized identity ecosystems, ensuring user’s autonomy
and data privacy. These platforms emphasize the elimination
of intermediaries in identity verification processes, curtailing
the exposures involving unauthorised data access and identity
theft [20].
At its core, a blockchain is a peer-to-peer ledger
maintained by network nodes; each new block
cryptographically links to its predecessor, making tampering
infeasible. Blockchain technology is built upon three core
components: blocks, chains, and transactions. Blocks store
data across a network. These segments are connected together
sequentially, creating a sequence. Transactions involve
reading or writing data within these blocks. Every segment
holds a secure digital summary of the prior segment,
guaranteeing information accuracy and safety. The
decentralized structure allows for secure and tamper-proof
data storage and retrieval. Within the domain of admittance
regulation, the purpose of decentralized record-keeping
innovation serves to institute lucid and unalterable records of
allowed rights, consequently assuring trackability and
confirmability. The bulk of the scrutinized academic
publications investigate Role-Based Admittance Regulation
(RBAC) and Attribute-Based Admittance Regulation
(ABAC) models implemented upon blockchain
infrastructures to enable adaptable rights administration [5].
Blockchain’s tamper-proof nature guarantees that access logs
cannot be altered, which helps detect unauthorised access and
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LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July 2025
https://doi.org/10.33333/lajc.vol12n2.08
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa:
A Systematic Literature Review”,
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
improves security monitoring. Fig. 4. shows the
characteristics of blockchain technology [18].
Fig. 4. Blockchain technology (Source: Author)
D. Characteristics of Blockchain Technology
• No centralization: In African implementations like
Kenya’s blockchain-backed Huduma Namba
system, decentralization mirrors communual trust
models; instead of a single authority, consensus
among distributed nodes (e.g., government
agencies, NGOs) validates identity claims, akin to
traditional village councils certifying land
ownership [55]. This approach not only prevents
monopolistic control but also aligns with Africa’s
historical distrust of centralized post-colonial
institutions.
• Secure transactions: Blockchain data is append
only, meaning new records can be added but
existing ones cannot be altered. This transparency
allows all network participants to view the blocks
and their associated transactions. Additionally,
cryptographic techniques enhance the network's
security [16].
• Transparency: Due to the distributed nature of the
blockchain, any transaction updates are
automatically replicated across the entire
blockchain. This guarantees that every member
possesses a uniform and up to the minute
understanding of the blockchain’s condition.
• Immutable: The encoded digital fingerprint
employed within blockchain renders it exceptionally
challenging for malicious actors to alter
information. Any modification to the data would
result in a completely different hash, making the
change easily detectable [17].
E. Blockchain Variants
The available scholarly works categorize distributed
ledger technology into diverse classifications. Distributed
ledger platforms can be generally classified into three
modalities: open, permissioned, and federated. The selection
of blockchain modality is contingent upon its foundational
architecture. Open blockchains, exemplified by Bitcoin and
Ethereum, are accessible to all entities. Participants possess
the autonomy to join and exit the network without restriction.
Private blockchains, like BlockStack and Multi Chain are
controlled by a central entity. Access is restricted to pre-
selected participants. Consortium blockchains, such as
Ripple and R3, are semi-private. They are permissioned but
distributed among a select group of nodes and members.
TABLE I. ANALYSIS OF BLOCKCHAIN VARIANTS
F. Investigating Literature on Distributed Ledger-Based
Case Studies for Africa.
A review of African-specific literature reveals insights
into how blockchain is being applied or tested for identity and
access control:
1) Case Study: South Africa – Regulatory Pragmatism in
Financial IDM
In 2023, SARB’s Project Khokha 2.0 achieved a 30%
reduction in identity fraud by integrating blockchain with
biometric smart cards for low income populations, a hybrid
model tailored to Africa’s uneven banking access. Internal
audits shared with authors revealed that 78% of participants
in rural KwaZulu-Natal reported faster loan approvals due to
tamper-proof credential sharing. [6], [51], [31].
2) Suitability of Blockchain for South Africa
Immutable data: The unchangeable characteristic of
distributed ledger technology guarantees that identification
data cannot be modified or misrepresented, significantly
reducing instances of fraud. Banking institutions can verify
customer identities with confidence, fostering trust across the
South African financial ecosystem [14].
Decentralization: By eliminating reliance on a central
authority, blockchain enhances system resilience and reduces
the risk of corruption or unauthorized access.
Improved efficiency: Process such as Know Your
Customer (KYC) compliance, which traditionally involve
lengthy manual verifications, can be streamlined through
blockchain’s automated systems [39].
Enhanced trust: The clear characteristic of distributed
ledger technology cultivates confidence between interested
parties, encompassing financial institutions, governing
bodies, and clients, through guaranteeing responsibility.
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3) Limitations and Challenges
While blockchain technology shows promise, its
implementation in South Africa’s identity systems comes
with the following challenges.
High Costs: The infrastructure required for blockchain
implementation, including hardware, software, and skilled
personnel, demands significant financial investment. These
costs could be prohibitive, particularly for smaller institutions
or government bodies with limited budgets [59].
Technical Complexity: To set up blockchain systems in
the financial sector in South Africa, expertise is required for
setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting. A lack of technical
know-how can hinder widespread adoption. Training
personnel and ensuring compatibility with existing systems
also pose significant challenges [22], [33].
Regulatory and Legal Barriers: Clear regulations
governing the use of blockchain for identity management are
still under development in South Africa. This regulatory
uncertainty can slow adoption and innovation [44], [47].
Scalability Issues: Current blockchain platforms, such as
Ethereum, face limitations in processing large volumes of
transactions efficiently. For a country like South Africa with
a growing population and diverse banking needs, scalability
is a critical concern [43].
4) Case Study: Kenya Blockchain for Post-Colonial Land
Governance
Kenya stands out as a leading example of blockchain
application in e-government systems. The country has
actively explored the use of blockchain for critical services,
including secure land registry and ID verification [56]. These
initiatives are part of a broader strategy to leverage
technology to improve governance and public service
delivery [7], [32], [38].
5) Suitability of Blockchain Technology in Kenya
Data Transparency: The distributed record-keeping
system of distributed ledger technology guarantees that all
exchanges are documented unchangeably, rendering it
practically infeasible to modify or tamper with data without
agreement. This feature is particularly critical for Kenya’s
land registry system, which has historically been plagued by
fraud and corruption. By ensuring transparency, blockchain
can restore public trust in the system [8].
Reduction of Corruption: Blockchain’s immutability also
acts as a deterrent to corrupt practices. The technology makes
it easier to trace and audit transactions, thus holding
individuals and institutions accountable [9].
Improved Security: For ID verification, blockchain
provides a robust mechanism to store and validate personal
data. Unlike traditional centralized databases, distributed
ledger technology lessens the dangers of information security
incidents and unpermitted entry [10], [37].
6) Case Study: Blockchain for Refugee Identity (East Africa).
A noteworthy employment of distributed ledger
innovation within Africa is its use in providing identity
verification for refugees. The World Food Programme (WFP)
implemented a blockchain-based solution in East African
refugee camps to streamline identity management and ensure
access to aid. This initiative underscores the transformative
potential of blockchain in addressing some of the most
pressing humanitarian challenges [11].
7) Suitability: Enhancing Identity Management in Crisis
Situations
Refugees often face significant barriers in accessing
essential services due to the lack of formal identification
documents. Traditional identity verification methods are not
only cumbersome but also prone to data breaches and
inefficiencies. Distributed ledger innovation, featuring its
spread-out and unchangeable record-keeping system,
presents a strong substitute [53].
The WFP’s blockchain system simplifies identity
management by creating unique digital identifies for
refugees. These digital identities are stored securely on a
blockchain, allowing refugees to verify their identities
without relying on physical documents. This innovation
ensures that aid distribution is both efficient and equitable.
Additionally, the transparency of blockchain helps to
minimize fraud and ensures that resources reach the intended
beneficiaries [12], [46].
8) Limitations: The Need for Robust Governance
Frameworks
Despite its advantages, the implementation of blockchain
in identity management is not without challenges. One of the
primary concerns is the need for robust governance
frameworks to oversee the use of this technology. Without
proper oversight, blockchain systems can be susceptible to
misuse, such as unauthorized access or data manipulation
[13].
Moreover, the success of blockchain-based identity
systems depends on the availability of reliable technological
infrastructure, which can be a significant barrier in under-
resourced areas. Ensuring the inclusivity of such systems
requires addressing issues like digital literacy, connectivity,
and access to blockchain-enabled devices.
III. METHODS
We adapted Petersen et al.’s (2015) SLR methodology,
structuring the review into three phases: (1) planning
(defining RQs and search strategy), (2) conducting (study
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DOI:
LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July 2025
https://doi.org/10.33333/lajc.vol12n2.08
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa:
A Systematic Literature Review”,
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
selection and data extraction), and (3) analysis/reporting
(thematic synthesis and framework development).
RQ1. What blockchain architectures (interoperability,
user control) are used for identity management in African
contexts?
RQ2: How are security / privacy mechanisms (e.g. ZKPS)
implemented to address Africa’s infrastructural and
regulatory challenges?
RQ3: What key challenges (scalability, regulatory
compliance) arise specifically in African implementations of
blockchain-based identity systems?
Fig. 5. The Systematic Literature Review (Source: Author)
A. Search Strategy
• Databases: IEEE Xplore, ACM DL, SpringerLink,
Scopus
• Search string:
(“blockchain” OR “DLT)
AND (“identity management” OR “access control”)
AND (“Africa” OR “Sub-Saharan” OR country
names)
AND (“implementation” OR “case study” OR
“evaluation”)
AND (‘implementation” OR “case study” OR
“evaluation”)
The search string explicitly targeted African countries to
ensure geographic relevance, reflecting the focus of the study
on region-specific challenges.
B. Study Selection:
• Initial results: 200 papers (after deduplication)
• Title / abstract screening – 120 papers
• Full-text review – 62 included studies
• Inter-rater reliability: Cohen’s k = 0.82
C. Data Extraction
Custom form capturing:
• Blockchain type (public / private / consortium)
• Identity model (SSI, federated)
• Cryptographic techniques
• Implementation challenges
• African context specifics
D. Classification Scheme (Dimensions)
To systematically analyze blockchain-based IDM
approaches, we defined five key dimensions derived from the
research questions and thematic analysis:
1. Security & Privacy: Mechanisms to protect data
(e.g., encryption, zero-knowledge proofs)
2. Scalability: Transaction throughput, latency, and
resource efficiency
3. Interoperability: Cross-system compatibility (e.g.,
DIDs, verifiable credentials)
4. Regulatory Compliance: Alignment with GDPR,
Kenya’s Data Protection Act.
5. User Control: Degree of user autonomy (e.g., SSI,
consent management)
TABLE II. THE FIVE DIMENSIONS
Dimension
Definition
Linked RQ
Security & Privacy
Cryptographic
techniques, data
protection
RQ2
Scalability
Transaction speed, node
uptime, costs
RQ3
Interoperability
Cross-platform
compatibility (DIDs,
VCs)
RQ1
Regulatory
Compliance
GDPR alignment,
national data laws
RQ3
User Control
SSI features, consent
management
RQ1, RQ2
E. Synthesis:
• Thematic analysis using NVivo 12
• Cross-case comparison of implementations
• Quality assessment using Dyba & Dingsoyr (2008)
criteria
Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 12 to
categorize findings into recurring themes (e.g., scalability,
regulatory compliance). Cross-case comparisons identified
patterns in implementation strategies and challenges. The
synthesized framework (Section IV.D) emerged from this
thematic analysis, categorizing common architectural
components (e.g., identity wallets, smart contracts) and
workflows observed across the 62 studies. Quality
assessment was performed using Dybä & Dingsøyr’s (2008)
criteria, focusing on rigor, relevance, and innovation.
F. Included Studies Analysis
The 62 papers represent implementations across 14
countries. A full list of the 62 studies, including
classifications by dimension, is provided in Appendix A (doi:
10.17632/dn43d87sm6.1).
1. By Country:
• South Africa: 18 studies
• Kenya: 12 studies
• Nigeria: 8 studies
• Cross-regional: 14 studies
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2. By Sector:
• Financial: 22 studies (35.5%)
• Government: 18 studies (29.0%)
• Healthcare: 11 studies (17.7%)
• Humanitarian: 8 studies (12.9%)
• Other: 3 studies (4.8%)
3. By Blockchain Type:
• Permissioned: 38 studies (61.3%)
• Public: 14 studies (22.6%)
• Hybrid: 10 studies (16.1%)
G. PRISMA – Compliant Screening Process
We followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for
systematic reviews. Fig.6. shows the four-phase selection
process:
Fig. 6. PRISMA Flow Diagram
H. Data Extraction & Coding Scheme
We developed a structured coding framework to
categorize findings and answer RQs:
TABLE III: CODING SCHEME FOR THEMATIC
ANALYSIS
Category
Variables
Description
Linked
RQ
Blockchain
Architecture
Public,
Private,
Consortium
Classified per
[29], [30].
RQ2
Cryptographic
Methods
ZKPs,
Hashing,
Digital
Signatures
Extracted from
technical
implementation
details.
RQ2
Sectoral
Application
Financial,
Government,
Healthcare
Mapped to UN
Sustainable
Development
Goals.
RQ1
Challenges
Scalability,
Regulation,
Usability.
Coded from
“Limitations”
sections.
RQ3
I. Data Extraction Process
1. Pilot Coding: Two researchers independently coded 10%
of studies (n=6), achieving Cohen’s κ = 0.85.
2. Full Coding: Remaining studies coded using NVivo 12,
with disagreements resolved via consensus.
3. Quality Assessment: Studies scored using Dybå &
Dingsøyr’s (2008) criteria (rigor, relevance, innovation).
J. Quality Assessment
We adapted Kitchenham’s (2009) quality scoring rubric
with inter-rater reliability checks:
TABLE IV. QUALITY ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Dimension
Score 3
(Medium)
Score 1(Low
Rigor
p<0.05
Simulation /
Modeling
Theoretical only
Relevance
blockchain-
Partial
relevance
Off-topic
Innovation
architecture
(e.g., ZKP
Incremental
Improvement
No innovation
Two independent coders achieved k=0.89 agreement.
Final distribution:
• High –quality (5): 12 studies (e.g., Zyskind et
al., 2015)
• Medium-quality (3): 38 studies (e.g., SARB,
2023)
• Excluded (1): 12 studies
IV. RESULTS
A. Why Africa? Regional Contextual Drivers
The reviewed studies highlight Africa’s unique drivers
for blockchain-based identity systems:
• Mobile-First Populations: 73% mobile penetration
enables SSI adoption via SMS/USSD [40].
• Leapfrogging Legacy Systems: Absence of
centralized ID registries (e.g., 45% unregistered
land titles in Kenya) allows direct blockchain
adoption [8].
• Humanitarian Crises: Refugee populations (e.g., 30
million in East Africa) necessitate offline-capable
identity solutions [11].
The systematic review synthesized evidence from 62
African blockchain-based IDM implementations, revealing
critical insights into architectural trends, sectoral adoption,
and unresolved challenges. Three dominant themes emerged:
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https://doi.org/10.33333/lajc.vol12n2.08
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa:
A Systematic Literature Review”,
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
(1) the ascendency of self-sovereign identity (SSI) models
(60% of studies, [26], [35]) which empower users but face
scalability trade-offs; (2) the regulatory paradox, where
blockchain’s immutability clashes with data privacy laws
(50% of studies, e.g., [47], [ 52]); and (3) Africa’s unique
opportunity to leapfrog legacy systems through mobile-fist
decentralized solutions (e.g., [40], [48]). Below, we present
these findings structured by technical approaches, sectoral
applications, and socio-technical barriers, with each claim
rigorously traced to its source study (see Appendix A for full
references).
B. Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI)
• Finding: 60% of studies (37/72) emphasized SSI
frameworks where users control their identities
without centralized authorities (Appendix A, Table
A.1), directly addressing RQ2’s focus on security /
mechanisms in Africa’s infrastructural context.
• Key Studies:
• Technical Foundations: [26], [35], [17]
(Appendix A, Table A.1)
• African Implementations: [42], [33].
(Appendix A, Table A.1)
• Supporting Data: SSI adoption was highest in
financial (22/37) and government (15/37) sectors
(see Appendix A, Table A.1 for full
classifications), reflecting regulatory alignment
[6] which implements SSI in South Africa’s
financial ecosystem. (Appendix A, Table A.1).
C. Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable
Credentials (VCs).
• Finding: 45% of studies (28/62) highlighted
DIDs/VCs as critical for interoperability (Appendix
A, Table A.1).
• Key Studies:
o Standards: [25], [28]. (Appendix A, Table
A.1)
o Case Studies: [8], [31]. (South Africa’s
banking pilot using verifiable credentials;
Appendix A, Table A.1)
o Gaps: Only 12% (7/62) addressed cross-
border DID interoperability e.g., [54],
which proposed an ECOWAS-wide
framework; Appendix, Table A.1).
D. Smart Contract for Access Control
• Finding: 35% of studies (22/62) implemented smart
contracts for dynamic policy enforcement.
• Key Studies:
o Financial Sector: [39] (South Africa’s
KYC automation)
o Healthcare: [24]: (patient data sharing)
• Limitations: Scalability issues noted in 18/22
studies [36].
E. Challenges in African Implementations
1. Dimension 1: Scalability (RQ3) (40% of Studies, 25/62)
directly respond to RQ3’s investigation of Africa-specific
challenges.
• Technical Bottlenecks:
o Transaction throughput limits in public
blockchains ([36, [50]; Appendix A, Table
A.1)
o Node uptime averaged 83.4% in African
deployments vs. 99.9% globally ([31], a
consortium blockchain with 23 nodes;
Appendix A, Table A.1)
o Node uptime averaged 83.4% in African
deployments vs. 99.9% globally [6]
• Proposed Solutions:
o Layer-2 solutions [43]
2. Dimension 2: Regulatory Compliance (RQ3) (50% of
Studies, 31/62)
• Conflict with GDPR: Immutability vs. “right to be
forgotten” ([47], a South African legal analysis;
Appendix A, Table A.1).
• National Fragmentation:
o Kenya’s Data Protection Act vs. ECOWAS
guidelines ([60], which proposes
harmonized regulations; Appendix A,
Table A.1).
o Only 5/54 African countries have explicit
blockchain regulations [44].
3. Dimension 3: User Control (RQ1) (25% of Studies, 16/62)
• Usability Barriers:
o On boarding time averaged 14.3 minutes
vs. 2.1 minutes for SMS-based systems
([48], a rural Uganda case study; Appendix
A, Table A.1).
o Low digital literacy in rural areas ([55], a
qualitative study in Kenya; Appendix A,
Table A.1).
4. Dimension 4: Interoperability (RQ1) (45% of Studies,
28/62)
• Finding: 45% of studies (28/62) prioritized
decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and verifiable
credentials (VCs), but only 12% (7/62) addressed
cross-border compatibility.
• Key studies:
o [25] adopted W3C DID standards in
Kenya’s Huduma Namba [8].
o [54] proposed an ECOWAS-wide
framework.
• Challenges:
o Fragmented national standards (e.g.,
Kenya vs. ECOWAS guidelines).
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5. Dimension 5: Security & Privacy (RQ2): 60% of studies
(37/62)
• Finding: 60% of studies (37/62) emphasized
blockchain’s cryptographic mechanisms (e.g., zero-
knowledge proofs, hashing) to enhance security and
privacy (Appendix A, Table A.1).
• Key studies:
o [45] implemented ZKPs to resolve GDPR
conflicts in Nigeria (Appendix A, Table
A.1)
o [35] demonstrated selective disclosure for
privacy preservation (Appendix A, Table
A.1).
Challenges:
o Immutability conflicts with GDPR’s
"right to be forgotten" ([47:]; a legal
analysis of South African
implementations; Appendix A, Table
A.1).
o Only 12% of studies (7/62) formally
verified security protocols (e.g., [43], a
Zimbabwean healthcare study; Appendix
A, Table A.1).
C. Sectoral Opportunities
(Linked to UN Sustainable Development Goals)
TABLE V. SECTORAL OPPORTUNITIES
Sector
Key
Studies
(Appendix
A, Table
A.1)
Impact
Financial
[6], [33].
40% reduction in KYC costs (SDG 8;
Appendix A, Table A.1).
Healthcare
[14], [43].
Secure patient IDs (SDG 3 ; Appendix
A, Table A.1).
Humanitarian
[11], [53].
78% faster aid distribution (Appendix A,
Table A.1
D. Security and Privacy Findings
Blockchain’s effectiveness in enhancing security and privacy
was a dominant theme across 60% of studies (37/62), with
three key patterns:
1. Decentralization Mitigates Single Points of Failure
• 28 studies (e.g., [5], [31]) reported reduced breach
risks due to eliminated central repositories.
• Pilot implementations showed 45% fewer identity
fraud incidents in blockchain vs. centralized systems
[8].
2. Cryptographic Techniques for Privacy Preservation
• 22 studies (e.g, [45], [35]) implemented zero-
knowledge proofs (ZKPs) or selective disclosure.
• Kenya’s land registry [8] used ZKPs to hide
sensitive owner details while verifying transactions,
reducing corruption complaints by 30%.
2. Immutable Auditing Enhances Accountability
• 19 studies (e.g., [6], [46]) highlighted tamper-proof
audit logs as critical for compliance.
• GDPR Conflict: 15 studies (e.g., [47]) noted
immutability challenges with "right to be forgotten"
requests.
• Limitations: Only 12% of studies (7/62, e.g., [43])
formally verified security protocols, indicating a
need for more rigorous evaluations.
TABLE VI: DIMENSIONS SUMMARY
Dimension
% of
Studies
Key
Challenges
Example Solutions
Security &
Privacy
60%
(37/62)
GDPR vs.
immutability
ZKPs, off-chain storage
[45]
Scalability
40%
(25/62)
Low node
uptime
(83.4%)
Layer-2 solutions [43]
Interoperability
45%
(28/62)
Cross-
border DID
gaps
Layer-2 solutions [43]
Regulatory
Compliance
50%
(31/62)
Conflicting
national
Laws
AUDA-NEPAD
harmonisation [51]
User Control
60%
(37/62)
Low digital
literacy
(30.6%)
Mobile-first SSI [48]
III. SYNTHESIZED DECENTRALIZED IDENTITY
FRAMEWORK FROM LITERATURE
The reviewed studies collectively suggest a decentralized
identity management framework using blockchain
technology. This synthesized framework, derived from the
SLR findings, illustrates how existing implementations
address privacy and data protection concerns by shifting
access control to users rather than third parties. It serves as an
analytical lens to organize the literature’s technical and
regulatory themes.
The SLR synthesizes a decentralized identity framework
from existing implementations, demonstrating how
blockchain architectures in Africa prioritize user control,
regulatory alignment, and scalability [26].
Fig. 7. Proposed Blockchain Model (Source: Author)
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LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July 2025
https://doi.org/10.33333/lajc.vol12n2.08
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa:
A Systematic Literature Review”,
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
A. Architecture Overview
1) Identity Wallet (User Side):
• Stores decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and
verifiable credentials (VCs).
• Implements cryptographic key management
(Ed25519 for signatures, X25519 for
encryption) [27].
• Provides user interface for consent management.
• Uses hierarchical deterministic (HD) wallets
(BIP-32) for key derivation.
2) Blockchain Layer:
• Permissioned blockchain using Hyperledger
Fabric 2.3.
• Implements three smart contracts:
o IdentityRegistry.sol: Manages DID
creation / updates (CRUD operations).
o CredentialRegistry.sol: Handles VC
issuance / verification.
o AccessControl.sol: Enforces ABAC
policies.
• Stores only hashes of identity attributes
(personal data remains off-chain).
3) Verification Protocol:
• Implements BBS+ signatures for selective
disclosure.
• Uses zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs) via
ZoKrates.
• Supports presentation exchange protocol (W3C
VC-DATA-MODEL).
4) Service Provider Integration:
• Light client SDK for SPs to verify credentials.
• REST API gateway for legacy system
integration.
• Policy engine for attribute-based access control.
B. Workflow Phases
1) Identity Registration
Algorithm
function registerIdentity(
bytes32 userIdHash,
bytes memory signature,
bytes32[] memory attributeHashes
) public returns (bool) {
require(!identityExists[userIdHash], "Identity already
registered");
require(verifySignature(userIdHash, signature,
msg.sender), "Invalid signature");
identities[userIdHash] = Identity({
provider: msg.sender,
attributes: attributeHashes,
timestamp: block.timestamp
});
emit IdentityRegistered(userIdHash, msg.sender);
return true;
}
2) Identity Verification
• User requests service from SP.
• SP requests identity reference.
• User shares identity hash and consent token.
• SP queries blockchain for verification.
Algorithm
function verifyIdentity(
bytes32 userIdHash,
bytes32 serviceId,
bytes memory proof
) public view returns (bool) {
Identity memory id = identities[userIdHash];
Policy memory policy = accessPolicies[serviceId];
return (
id.provider != address(0) &&
policy.enabled &&
verifyZKProof(userIdHash, serviceId, proof)
);
}
3) Data Access Flow
• SP requests personal data with access token.
• Smart agent validates token against policy.
• Encrypted data is shared with SP.
• User maintains decryption keys.
C. Cryptographic Protocols
1) Identity Hashing
Uses modified BLAKE2b with personalisation string:
Algorithm
H_id = BLAKE2b(
key = user_secret,
message = (master_secret || attributes),
personal = "DIDv1.0"
)
2) Zero-Knowledge Proof
Implements Groth16 zk-SNARKs for selective
disclosure:
Algorithm
Circuit C {
private input x: identity_secret
public input y: service_id
output z: proof
// Verify identity belongs to registered set
assert MerkleTree.verify(root, x, path)
// Verify service access rights
assert PolicyDB.check_access(x, y)
}
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V. DISCUSSION
The systematic review demonstrates blockchain’s
transformative potential for secure personal data sharing,
particularly in addressing systemic flaws of traditional
identity management systems. Decentralized architectures
eliminate reliance on centralized authorities (reported in 60%
of studies, 37/62; Appendix A, Table A.1), mitigate data
breach risks (45–50% reduction in identity fraud per [8] [31]),
and empower users through self-sovereign identity
frameworks (e.g., [42]; Appendix A, Table A.1).
Nevertheless, scalability constraints (40% of studies,
25/62), fragmented regulatory compliance (50% of studies,
31/62), and usability barriers (25% of studies, 16/62) persist
as critical adoption hurdles (Appendix A, Table A.1). For
instance, node uptime discrepancies (83.4% in Africa vs.
99.9% globally) and onboarding complexities (14.3 minutes
vs. 2.1 minutes for SMS systems) underscore infrastructural
and design gaps. Future implementations must prioritize
layer-2 scaling solutions, harmonized legal frameworks (e.g.,
[60]), and inclusive interfaces tailored to Africa’s mobile-
first populations (73% penetration; [40]) to unlock
blockchain’s full potential.
A. Effectiveness of distributed ledger technology in security
and privacy
Our review confirms that blockchain significantly enhances
security and privacy (supported by 60% of studies, 37/62;
Appendix A, Table A.1), but with critical caveats:
• The impact of Decentralization: Studies such as [31],
which explores a consortium blockchain for South
African banking and [8], which examines Kenya’s
land registry, demonstrated 45–50% reductions in
identity fraud through distributed ledgers (Appendix
A, Table A.1). However, 18/37 studies noted
that private blockchains [33] reintroduce
centralization risks.
• Privacy-Enhancing Technologies: Zero-knowledge
proofs (ZKPs) and off-chain storage resolved 78% of
GDPR conflicts in pilot projects like [45], in Nigeria;
Appendix A, Table A.1.
• Regulatory Gaps: While immutability improves
auditability ([6]), African regulators lack frameworks
to reconcile blockchain with data laws, as evidenced
by 31/62 studies reporting compliance tensions (see
Appendix A, Table A.1).
B. Comparative Analysis of African Implementations
We identified three dominant architectural patterns:
Government-Led Models [8:], Financial Sector Models ([6]
SARB 2023), and Humanitarian Models ([11], WFP Building
Blocks, East African refugee aid) (see Appendix A, Table
A.1). Strengths included high adoption in government models
(18/62 studies), (see Appendix A, Table A.1) and mobile
accessibility in humanitarian systems (e.g., [48] in rural
Uganda). Weaknesses included scalability limits (25/62
studies; Appendix A, Table A.1) and exclusion of unbanked
populations (e.g., [33] in Nigeria, see Appendix A, Table
A.1).
C. Key Technical Challenges
Infrastructure Limitations: 32 studies (51.6%) reported
connectivity issues, including intermittent node uptime (e.g.,
[31] at 83.4%; Appendix A, Table A.1). Regulatory
Fragmentation: 28% of studies (17/62) cited conflicting
national laws (e.g., [60] vs. Kenya’s Data Protection Act;
Appendix A, Table A.1). Usability Barriers: 19 studies
(30.6%) reported <60% user comprehension, particularly in
rural deployments like [48] (Appendix A, Table A.1).
Africa’s infrastructural gaps exacerbate scalability
challenges: low node uptime (83.4%) correlates with
intermittent electricity and internet access ([48]). Regulatory
fragmentation mirrors colonial-era legal systems, where
national laws (e.g., Kenya’s Data Protection Act) clash with
pan-African frameworks (e.g., ECOWAS [60]).
D. Visual Synthesis of Blockchain – IDM Trends in Africa
To holistically assess blockchain-based identity
management (IDM) trends in Africa, we developed five
statistical visualizations synthesizing geographical, sectoral,
and technical patterns across the 62 reviewed studies. Fig. 8
(geographical disparities) illustrates the geographical
distribution of studies, with South Africa (18 studies) and
Kenya (12 studies), representing the majority.
Fig.8. Disparities (Source: Author)
Sectorial Imbalances: The underrepresentation of
healthcare (17.7%) contrasts with Africa’s urgent need for
patient ID systems. Future work should prioritize healthcare,
aligning with SDG 3 (health equity) and Africa CDC’s digital
health framework.
Fig. 9. Sectorial imbalances (Source: Author)
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LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July 2025
https://doi.org/10.33333/lajc.vol12n2.08
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa:
A Systematic Literature Review”,
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
Permissioned Blockchain Surge: The shift toward
permissioned systems reflect regulatory pragmatism.
However, over-reliance on centralized governance (e.g.,
SARB’s Project Khokha) risks contradicting blockchain’s
decentralization ethos. Hybrid models (e.g., Kenya’s
Huduma Namba) may balance compliance and autonomy.
Fig. 10. Permissioned blockchain surge (Source: Author)
Challenges: include regulatory compliance (50%),
scalability (40%), interoperability (35%), and usability
(25%). Regulatory fragmentation (e.g., Kenya’s Data
Protection Act vs. ECOWAS guidelines) and infrastructure
gaps (e.g., 51.6% studies reporting connectivity issues)
emerge as critical barriers as shown in Fig. 11.
Fig. 11. Regulatory challenges (Source: Author)
Quality Assessment Distribution: Only 19.4% of studies
met high-quality criteria (e.g., empirical trials), signaling a
need for longitudinal evaluations (Fig.12).
Fig. 12 Quality assessment distribution (Source: Author)
E. Emerging Themes: Decolonising Digital Identity in
Africa
Beyond technical and regulatory challenges, our analysis
uncovered socio-political themes shaping blockchain-IDM
adoption in Africa:
1) Decolonizing Digital Identity in Africa
Postcolonial legacy influences trust in centralized systems
(e.g., colonial-era land registries). Blockchain’s
decentralization resonates with grassroots movements
advocating for data sovereignty, as seen in Kenya’s Huduma
Namba critiques [8] and South Africa’s #MyDataMyChoice
campaigns. However, 45% of studies overlooked cultural
nuances (e.g., communal vs. individual identity), risking
"techno-solutionist" pitfalls.
2) Gender Inclusivity
Only 3 studies addressed gender disparities in ID access.
Women constitute 55% of Africa’s unbanked population
[34], yet blockchain-IDM frameworks rarely integrate
gender-sensitive design (e.g., privacy for survivors of
domestic violence). Projects like Uganda’s rural mobile-ID
[48] demonstrate potential but require intentional equity
frameworks.
3) Informal Economy Integration
Africa’s informal sector employs 85% of the workforce
but remains excluded from formal ID systems. Blockchain
solutions targeting street vendors (e.g., Zambia’s farmer-ID
[59]) or refugee economies (e.g., WFP’s Building Blocks
[11]) could bridge this gap, although scalability and literacy
barriers persist.
4) Pan-African Collaboration
Despite cross-border initiatives (e.g., ECOWAS [60]),
78% of studies focused on single nations. A continental
framework, as proposed by AUDA-NEPAD [51], could
harmonize standards while respecting local contexts.
These themes urge researchers to contextualize
blockchain-IDM within Africa’s unique socio-technical
landscape, moving beyond replication of Global North
models.
F. Limitations of Reviewed Works
Our analysis revealed several common limitations across
the 62 studies:
Our analysis revealed common limitations: Technical
Limitations: 45 studies (72.6%) lacked long-term
performance data (e.g., [43] in Zimbabwe; Appendix A,
Table A.1). Methodological Issues: 23 studies (37.1%) had
<6-month evaluation periods (e.g., [55] in Kenya; Appendix
A, Table A.1). Contextual Challenges: 39 studies (62.9%)
overlooked rural connectivity constraints, despite Africa’s
infrastructural gaps (e.g., [59] Zambia; Appendix A, Table
A.1).
Africa’s infrastructural gaps exacerbate scalability
challenges: low node uptime (83.4%) correlates with
intermittent electricity and internet access ([48]). Regulatory
fragmentation mirrors colonial-era legal systems, where
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national laws (e.g., Kenya’s Data Protection Act) clash with
pan-African frameworks (e.g., ECOWAS) ([60]).
G. Recommendations
Public-Private Collaboration: Encourage partnerships
like [6:] (South Africa’s banking consortium; Appendix A,
Table A.1). Capacity Building: Train local developers using
frameworks from [42] (Pan-African SSI; Appendix A, Table
A.1). Policy Support: Advocate for harmonized standards, as
proposed in [60] (Appendix A, Table A.1).
H: Privacy Concerns
While blockchain enhances security, 35% of the studies
(22/62) raised concerns about privacy in public blockchains
(Appendix A, Table A.1). Ensuring privacy-preserving
techniques, such as zero-knowledge proofs (e.g., [45] in
Nigeria) and off-chain storage (e.g., [11] in refugee camps),
is critical for safeguarding sensitive data (Appendix A, Table
A.1).
VI. CONCLUSIONS
This systematic literature review underscores
blockchain’s transformative potential for identity
management in Africa, offering decentralized solutions to
systemic flaws in traditional systems. Key findings reveal
that blockchain architectures mitigate centralized
vulnerabilities (e.g., 60% of studies, 37/62, reporting reduced
identity fraud via SSI frameworks; Appendix A, Table A.1)
and enhance user control through self-sovereign models (e.g.,
[42] and [35]; Appendix A, Table A.1). However, Africa’s
unique socio-technical landscape, marked by infrastructural
constraints (51.6% of studies reporting connectivity issues),
regulatory fragmentation (e.g., Kenya’s Data Protection Act
vs. ECOWAS guidelines in [60]), and socio-economic
barriers (55% unbanked women), demands context-specific
innovations.
Three critical challenges persist:
1. Scalability: Transaction throughput limitations (40%
of studies, 25/62; Appendix A, Table A.1) and low
node uptime (83.4% vs. 99.9% globally) hinder large-
scale adoption.
2. Regulatory Compliance: Immutability conflicts with
GDPR’s ‘right to be forgotten’ (15 studies, e.g., [47];
Appendix A, Table A.1), while only 5 African nations
have explicit blockchain regulations.
3. Usability: Rural populations face onboarding
complexities (14.3-minute average vs. 2.1 minutes for
SMS systems; [48]) and digital literacy gaps (30.6%
comprehension rates; Appendix A, Table A.1).
To advance adoption, we propose:
• Technical Innovations: Layer-2 scaling solutions
(e.g., [43]) and hybrid blockchain models balancing
decentralization with compliance.
• Policy Harmonization: Cross-border frameworks
(e.g., [54]) aligning with AUDA-NEPAD’s
continental strategy [51].
• Inclusive Design: Mobile-first SSI interfaces (73%
penetration; [40]) and offline-capable systems for
humanitarian crises, e.g., [11].
VI. FUTURE RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS
Building on the findings of this systematic review, we
propose the following research priorities and actionable
recommendations, anchored in Africa’s socio-technical
context and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs):
1. Scalability Innovations for Low-Resource Settings
• Priority: Develop lightweight, energy-efficient
consensus mechanisms (e.g., proof-of-stake
variants) and layer-2 protocols (e.g., state
channels) to address transaction throughput
limitations (reported in 40% of studies, 25/62;
Appendix A, Table A.1).
• Case-Based Example: Pilot hybrid architectures
combining permissioned blockchains (e.g., [31])
with off-chain storage, as tested in Zimbabwe’s
healthcare sector ([43]; Appendix A, Table A.1).
2. Regulatory Harmonization and Legal-Technical
Interfaces
• Priority: Establish pan-African regulatory
sandboxes to reconcile blockchain’s mmutability
with GDPR-style “right to be forgotten” mandates
(e.g., [47]; Appendix A, Table A.1).
• Case-Based Example: Extend ECOWAS’s cross-
border identity framework [60] to align Kenya’s
Data Protection Act with AUDA-NEPAD’s
continental strategy ([51]; Appendix A, Table A.1).
3. Formal Security Verification and Longitudinal Studies
• Priority: Conduct formal verification of smart
contracts (e.g., using tools like ZoKrates) and
cryptographic protocols, absent in 88% of studies
(55/62; Appendix A, Table A.1).
• Case-Based Example: Apply model-checking
frameworks, as demonstrated in Rwanda’s
blockchain-based voting system [46], to healthcare
and financial IDM systems.
4. Inclusive, Mobile-First Identity Solutions
• Priority: Design SMS/USSD-compatible SSI
wallets to serve Africa’s 73% mobile-first
populations [40] and 55% unbanked women.
• Case-Based Example: Adapt Uganda’s rural
mobile-ID system ([48]) with zero-knowledge
proofs (ZKPs) for offline credential verification in
refugee camps ([11]; Appendix A, Table A.1).
5. Participatory Design for Marginalized Populations
• Priority: Co-create identity systems with informal
sector workers (85% of Africa’s workforce) and
gender-sensitive frameworks for survivors of
domestic violence (unaddressed in 95% of studies).
ISSN:1390-9266 e-ISSN:1390-9134 LAJC 2025 103
DOI:
LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July 2025
https://doi.org/10.33333/lajc.vol12n2.08
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa:
A Systematic Literature Review”,
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
• Case-Based Example: Expand Zambia’s farmer-ID
initiative [59] to include women-led cooperatives
and street vendors.
These priorities align with Africa’s leapfrogging
potential, where mobile ubiquity and regulatory agility can
accelerate decentralized identity adoption. Future work must
bridge the gap between technical proofs-of-concept (e.g., [8])
and sustainable, equitable implementations.
ACKNOLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest
gratitude to my PhD supervisor, Professor Vusumuzi Malele,
for his invaluable guidance, encouragement, and insightful
feedback throughout this research journey. His expertise and
unwavering support have been instrumental in shaping this
study and pushing the boundaries of my academic growth. I
am also profoundly thankful to the academic and technical
staff at North-West University in South Africa, whose
resources and facilities made this research possible.
APPENDIX A TABLE A. 1: INCLUDED STUDIES (62
PAPERS)
Mandinyenya, Godwin (2025), “Table A.1: Classification of
62 Reviewed Studies by Dimension”, Mendeley Data, V1,
doi: 10.17632/dn43d87sm6.1
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LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July – December 2025
[20] Rathee, T., & Singh, P. (2022). A systematic literature
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ISSN:1390-9266 e-ISSN:1390-9134 LAJC 2025 105
DOI:
LATIN-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPUTING (LAJC), Vol XII, Issue 2, July 2025
https://doi.org/10.33333/lajc.vol12n2.08
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa:
A Systematic Literature Review”,
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
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77–92.
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AUTHORS
Godwin Mandinyenya is a seasoned Computer Security Lecturer
and IT Director with over a decade of experience in ICT governance,
leadership, and emerging technologies. Bridging academia and
industry, he specializes in integrating Blockchain and Artificial
Intelligence to design secure, adaptive, and ethical information
systems. Currently pursuing his PhD at North-West University, his
research pioneers innovative methods to enhance blockchain privacy
through InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) and Zero-Knowledge
Proofs (ZKPs), while optimizing blockchain architectures using AI-
driven solutions. His work aims to advance the synergy of Blockchain
and AI, ensuring these technologies evolve as transparent, ecient,
and socially responsible tools.
A senior researcher and Postgraduate supervisor at North-West
University. An experienced engineer, teacher, research professional
and manager with more than 25 years of experience in the ICT industry.
Godwin Mandinyenya
Vusimuzi Malele
G. Mandinyenya, and Vusimuzi Malele,
“A Blockchain-based Identity Management Solution for Secure Personal Data Sharing in Africa: A Systematic
Literature Review",
Latin-American Journal of Computing (LAJC), vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.