Governing Blocks: Building Interagency Consensus to Coordinate Humanitarian Aid

F. Awan, Soheib Nunhuck
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引用次数: 6

Abstract

The conflict in Syria has led to one of the biggest refugee crises in history. An estimated 660,000 Syrian refugees have moved to neighbouring Jordan, many of whom are highly vulnerable to monetary poverty and food shortages. To reduce the daily inequalities faced by Syrian refugees, humanitarian agencies are progressively shifting to programmes that encourage financial inclusion and self-reliance. Operating since 2016, Building Blocks, a cash-based assistance programme created by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), uses blockchain technology rather than traditional financial service providers to supply monetary assistance for food purchases by Syrian refugees in Jordan. Beneficiaries have their identities confirmed though iris scanning when purchasing goods at supermarkets within the camps. Following authentication, monetary assistance is provided to complete the transaction. This system benefits over 100,000 Syrian refugees registered on the UNHCR’s PRIMES database and WFP has plans to scale up the programme to include more beneficiaries. This technology assessment focuses on understanding the governance of blockchain technology in Building Blocks (if any), and on finding opportunities for WFP operating partner agencies consisting of UNHCR, UNICEF, UN Women, Oxfam and Mercy Corps, to coordinate with and join the programme. Scaling up Building Blocks will benefit refugees and displaced people by giving these individuals a semblance of normalcy in a situation of vulnerability and crises. We advise WFP to collaborate with its partners to form a blockchain humanitarian consortia governing Building Blocks to avoid duplicating efforts and to achieve their shared objectives of delivering humanitarian aid in a sustainable manner. Other recommendations include to have UNOCHA and UNHCR as data aggregator and coordinator, respectively, to grant joint access to PRIMES for non-UN operating partners, to coordinate efforts with UNHCR’s Common Cash Facility programme, to consider renewable energy sources and to build local technical capacity for women in refugee camps. The involvement of operating partners in governing technology used in such processes will ensure equity of aid delivery, resulting in a broader governance, thus reducing inequality.
管理模块:建立机构间共识以协调人道主义援助
叙利亚冲突导致了历史上最大的难民危机之一。据估计,已有66万叙利亚难民迁往邻国约旦,其中许多人极易受到货币贫困和粮食短缺的影响。为了减少叙利亚难民每天面临的不平等现象,人道主义机构正逐步转向鼓励普惠金融和自力更生的项目。联合国世界粮食计划署(WFP)创建的现金援助计划Building Blocks自2016年开始运营,该计划使用区块链技术,而不是传统的金融服务提供商,为在约旦的叙利亚难民购买粮食提供货币援助。受惠者在难民营内的超市购物时,可以通过虹膜扫描确认身份。认证后,提供资金援助以完成交易。该系统使在难民署PRIMES数据库中登记的10万多名叙利亚难民受益,世界粮食计划署计划扩大该方案的规模,使更多的受益者受益。这项技术评估的重点是了解构建模块(如果有的话)中区块链技术的治理,并为世界粮食计划署的运营伙伴机构(包括难民署、联合国儿童基金会、联合国妇女署、乐施会和美慈组织)寻找机会,与该计划进行协调并加入该计划。扩大“积木”的规模将使难民和流离失所者受益,使他们在脆弱和危机的情况下有一种正常的表象。我们建议世界粮食计划署与其合作伙伴合作,组建一个管理积木的区块链人道主义联盟,以避免重复工作,并实现以可持续方式提供人道主义援助的共同目标。其他建议包括让UNOCHA和难民专员办事处分别担任数据汇集者和协调员,向非联合国业务伙伴提供共同利用PRIMES的机会,与难民专员办事处共同现金融资方案协调努力,考虑可再生能源,并为难民营妇女建立当地技术能力。业务伙伴参与管理这些过程中使用的技术将确保援助交付的公平性,从而产生更广泛的管理,从而减少不平等。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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