Rick from Decaf and Ali from UNDP's Alternative Finance Lab discuss real-world applications of blockchain for humanitarian aid, including scholarship disbursement in Rwanda and cash transfer programs in Colombia, emphasizing transparency and efficiency in global payments.
At a panel on purposeful technology, Rick (Decaf co-founder) and Ali (UNDP Alternative Finance Lab) shared case studies of blockchain-based payment solutions. Decaf helped International Aid Society distribute scholarships to 250 recipients across 50 countries using USDC and MoneyGram integration, achieving 100% success. They're also working on programs in Colombia to pay 210,000 families with on-chain visibility for spending tracking. Ali highlighted UNDP's expansion from 2 pilots to 24 country initiatives, framing them as blueprints rather than pilots. Both emphasized that funding cuts and government mandates for transparency and efficiency are making blockchain adoption essential, not optional. Key themes included the need for better storytelling around impact, digital literacy for government partners, and building innovation teams within bureaucratic organizations.