Blockchain for humanitarian action and development aid

Zwitter, Andrej; Boisse-Despiaux, Mathilde

doi:10.1186/s41018-018-0044-5

Cited by 81 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Access to health data is granted liberally to qualified persons, but all such access to health data is tracked, so it can be challenged if necessary. Specific research on the role of the public agencies in this sectordoes not yet exist.Furthermore, blockchain platforms have been used to provide refugees with digital identities, to distribute cash-based aid(Zwitter & Boisse-Despiaux 2018),…”

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confidence: 99%

The role of public agencies in blockchain consortia: Learning from the Cardossier

Schwabe¹

2019

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Blockchain technologies enable new forms of data sharing in platforms. This raises questions around how they are jointly developed and managed in blockchain consortia and what role public agencies play in those efforts. Based on an analysis of prior work on data sharing in public-private partnerships and other blockchain projects, we analyze the case of the Cardossier. The Cardossier project and (later) association develops a platform to link the public and private actors in the Swiss car ecosystem. The participating car registration authority has the roles of an actor in interorganizational processes, supplier of data, source of trust, guarantor of data quality, user of data, and incentive for making goods public. We conclude that the public agencies have a very important role in blockchain consortia and propose that they should use this role actively as part of their efforts to create public value.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of public agencies in blockchain consortia: Learning from the Cardossier

Schwabe¹

2019

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“…The technical specifications of DLT systems are becoming increasingly varied in nature. This shows that often-highlighted features of blockchain technologies, such as immutability, transparency, and trustlessness, are in fact design features rather than sine qua non-conditions (Zwitter and Boisse-Despiaux, 2018). However, one can say that blockchain is a technology that lowers the uncertainty regarding transactions between parties that do not otherwise share trust.…”

Section: Datafication and Blockchain Technologymentioning

confidence: 96%

“…An algorithm determines the updates you see on Facebook, press agencies rely on data analysis to assess the newsworthiness of information, and social networking sites and blogs are digitally scraped for information to target advertisements at individuals (Goodman, 2015). Blockchain technology is promising to reform digital currency, in order to improve logistics and help manage digital identity in a decentralized and trustless manner (Zwitter and Boisse-Despiaux, 2018). These algorithms are primarily developed and employed by private actors.…”

Section: Datafication and Blockchain Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Decentralized Network Governance: Blockchain Technology and the Future of Regulation

Zwitter

Hazenberg

2020

Front. Blockchain

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Advancements in the digital domain, for example, in blockchain technology, big data, and machine learning, are increasingly shaping the lives of individuals, groups, organizations, and societies. These developments call for effective governance to protect the basic interests and needs of these actors. Simultaneously, the very nature of governance is also changing. Policy-making is increasingly moving away from top-down governance by the state toward more horizontal modes of governance. This paper reviews the literature on governance theory in order to conceptualize governance as a mode of decentralized, networked regulation. We argue that the current dominant modes of governance are inadequate in understanding governance in the digital domain and are poorly equipped to conceptualize novel forms of governance such as decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Therefore, this study proposes a new mode of governance based on the regulation of new power relationships between the state and actors in the digital domain. This model further explores the role that blockchain technology can play in what we term decentralized network governance.

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“…Blockchain Technology (BT), a family of technologies and solutions based on a distributed ledger technology, is being proposed as having the potential to transform the development aid sector by enhancing transparency, providing cost savings and creating new ways for monitoring and tracking impact (Davies, 2015;Galen et al, 2017;Hernandez, 2017;Pisa and Juden, 2017;Zwitter and Boisse-Despiaux, 2018).…”

Section: Blockchain Technology's Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

Blockchain, a Panacea for Development Accountability? A Study of the Barriers and Enablers for Blockchain's Adoption by Development Aid Organizations

Rugeviciute¹,

Mehrpouya

2019

Front. Blockchain

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In recent years, the term "blockchain" has been sprinkled widely and the hype around it attracts billions in investments. The promises that this technology can be a solution to many of society's present problems have drawn attention from all sectors, including development aid. The historical recognition of potential and actual corruption resulting from development aid sparked a rise in demands for more transparency and accountability in this sector. So far, there have been reflections in different academic disciplines about the potentials of Blockchain in this area. However, little empirical investigation has been conducted to understand the technological and institutional enablers and barriers for its adoption in the development aid sector. This study aims to take initial steps toward such understanding with a focus on the potential role for Blockchain Technology in financial aid flows through an analysis of the donors' perspectives. Our research is based on diverse qualitative material. It relies on reports and discussion papers produced by donor organizations and on case studies of two start-ups focused on introducing Blockchain into development aid management. Besides a body of archival qualitative material, we conducted interviews with different actors in the development financing field. Based on an inductive qualitative methodology, we grouped findings into three categories of barriers and enablers: discursive, technological, and institutional. Our study shows that discourses about Blockchain Technology vary a lot and there is a lack of common framing of its definition, attributes, and insufficient engagement around these concerns between different actors. Overall, the ability to increase the visibility of cash flows and a potential to reduce administration costs were perceived to be the most useful features, combined with the desire/need expressed by some donors to be at the forefront of technological developments. Lack of understanding about this technology and fear of its complexity and related security challenges were the most cited technological obstacles. Lack of institutional structures for rule making and for enabling field-level exchanges and knowledge production around Blockchain-based projects is currently the most prominent challenge to its diffusion and wider adoption.

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Blockchain for humanitarian action and development aid

Cited by 81 publications

References 4 publications

The role of public agencies in blockchain consortia: Learning from the Cardossier

The role of public agencies in blockchain consortia: Learning from the Cardossier

Decentralized Network Governance: Blockchain Technology and the Future of Regulation

Blockchain, a Panacea for Development Accountability? A Study of the Barriers and Enablers for Blockchain's Adoption by Development Aid Organizations

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