Managing fraud risks in humanitarian E-voucher systems

In Gwoza, a conflict-affected region in northeast Nigeria, a digital e-voucher system designed to streamline humanitarian food distribution is undermined by identity duplication and unauthorised enrolment practices. This teaching case follows Sa’adatu, a frontline Food and Livelihood Assistant, as she uncovers multiple cards issued to members of the same household, exposing the system’s vulnerability to manipulation. The system was developed as part of the World Food Programme’s digital transformation agenda, supported by Nigerian state authorities and INGOs, aiming to replace bulk food distribution with transparent, biometric-based entitlements. The case explores the technological limits of biometric verification in low-infrastructure contexts, the governance challenges posed by stakeholder influence, and the ethical challenges in enforcing accountability and protecting access to aid. Failure of this system risks not only exclusion of vulnerable households but also reputational harm and donor withdrawal. With no formal audit trails, limited escalation mechanisms, and competing demands for integrity and inclusion, this case allows students to examine digital identity systems, fraud risk management, and ethical discretion in humanitarian information systems, encouraging thoughtful discussion on technology governance in fragile and complex environments.