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Blockchain technology can drastically improve international aid delivery, particularly in crisis situations, according to Scott Onder from Mercy Corps. Speaking on The Agenda podcast, Onder outlined how using data analytics and blockchain to act preemptively before a disaster can greatly reduce costs and boost humanitarian impact. An example involved partnering with Diva Donate to create a system that automatically allocated funds at the first signs of a potential drought, resulting in a 70% reduction in costs. Despite technical complexities, many in underdeveloped areas comfortably use digital money, making blockchain a promising tool for aid delivery.

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You’ve probably heard plenty of people saying, “blockchain fixes this” in recent years. While this might seem a bit overhyped, it’s actually true when it comes to improving how international aid is delivered.

It’s all about acting quickly when a crisis hits, and that’s where blockchain can really shine. Scott Onder from Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian team tackling suffering, poverty, and oppression, believes using data analytics and blockchain to act before a disaster occurs can be more effective in terms of humanitarian impact and cost.

This was discussed in Episode 47 of The Agenda podcast where hosts Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung talked about how Mercy Corps has tapped into Web3 and blockchain to boost its charitable activities and aid delivery.

Just think about recent hurricanes in Florida and how hard it was to reach people affected and deliver aid because of infrastructure damage. That’s where something called “anticipatory action,” which means acting before a crisis, can work wonders. Often, Mercy Corps partners up with fintech companies in crisis-hit countries to make things work smoothly.

Onder gave an example of how they partnered with a company called Diva Donate to set up a system where funds would automatically be sent out as soon as satellites picked up signs of a potential drought. This approach led to a massive 70% reduction in costs meaning more resources could be given to those who needed it.

Sure, complicated technical talk and complex user interfaces have been barriers to getting more people using blockchain. But this isn’t the case everywhere. In many places where Mercy Corps works, people are already comfortable using digital money, particularly in areas where the banking systems are underdeveloped or non-existent.

In these areas, mobile wallets have been in use for around 15 years as a means to deal with inflation. Crypto wallets connected to the Web3 internet-of-value have become an everyday thing and a crucial way to get by for many.

Now you know what Scott Onder from Mercy Corps had to say. If you want to hear more, check out the full episode of The Agenda on COintelegraph’s Podcasts page, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And don’t forget to check out Cointelegraph’s other shows!

Source: Cointelegraph