Cardano and the “biggest blockchain deal ever” in Ethiopia
There has been a lot of talk about Cardano in Africa, and specifically, their recent partnership with the Ethiopian Government, a partnership which is the first of its kind. In fact, IOHK, Cardano’s founding organization, calls it the “biggest blockchain deal ever”. So, what exactly is it, and how does it tie into larger scale plans for Cardano in the region?
In brief, IOHK is working with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education to implement a digital identity for five million students and teachers based on Cardano’s blockchain and Atala PRISM technology. Atala PRISM, which is built on the Cardano blockchain, is “a decentralized identity solution that enables people to own their personal data and interact with organizations seamlessly, privately, and securely.” Cardano states that “this technology will create a national attainment recording system; to verify grades, monitor school performance, and boost nationwide education.” Wow, pretty cool right?
To simplify it, they are essentially looking to use the Cardano blockchain to create a standardized Student ID system, and a reliable, decentralized “database”, to document student grades and achievements. However, the future use cases for this technology are endless, and go well beyond just helping students in Ethiopia.
Now, before I dive much deeper, there is an important criticism with this deal that I want to address. The criticism is, well, who is on the other side of the deal. It is no secret that there is an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region of Africa with reports of war crimes being committed by Ethiopia’s National Defense Forces. Based on this, one can reasonably question whether Cardano should be entering into a partnership with the Ethiopian Government. What is happening in the Tigray region of Ethiopia is a deeply concerning humanitarian crisis, and I encourage everyone to research this further. For the purpose of this blog, I want to focus on the technology behind this deal, and the potential positive use cases in Ethiopia and beyond.
Simply put, the implications for this project are huge, and it presents countless use cases that could benefit billions of people. In the developed world, we take personal identification for granted. However, billions of people around the world do not have the same level of access to a reliable form of identification. This can make it challenging to advance through education, to obtain employment, and to access financial resources such as loans, credit, or even open bank accounts.
One area where this technology could be of great benefit, is with displaced populations. According to the UNHCR, there are currently 80 million displaced persons around the globe. Many refugees and displaced persons struggle greatly when it comes to documentation, as it can get lost, or they may have to flee dangerous situations without their identification, credentials, or other important documentation. That being said, one can see how an identification and credential system built on a blockchain could be extremely valuable.
The current project in Ethiopia will act as a pilot for much broader use cases in the developing world. If successful, this technology could positively impact millions of students in Ethiopia, with the potential to transform their educational system for the better. However, if this project is successful, the technology could also be scaled and help billions of people gain access to a reliable and immutable system to store important information related to their identities including educational credentials, work history, land ownership documentation, and more. The opportunities are truly endless, and this is just the beginning.
The storing of credentials and documentation is only one potential use case for the Cardano blockchain. If the project is successful, it will legitimize the technology not only to governments, but also to international organizations including NGOs and intergovernmental agencies. Picture the WHO using this technology to help track the spread of an Ebola epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, or the World Food Program utilizing the technology to develop a more efficient supply chain for the distribution of emergency food supplies in a famine. The implications of IOHK’s project are far greater than just a national attainment recording system in Ethiopia; it is about bringing the efficiencies of blockchain to the developing world as a tool to fight inequality.
It will truly be exciting to see how this project plays out, because if it succeeds, it presents a highly scalable solution that could be implemented in communities all over the world. I will certainly be keeping an eye on this project and will make sure to provide updates via this blog in the future.
What are your thoughts on this project and its future implications? Tweet us at @Crypto_Altruism to let us know what you think!
As highlighted above, there is an urgent humanitarian crisis taking place in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. There are many organizations that are providing relief to those effected by this crisis. If you are looking to help, here are some great organizations working in the area that you can donate to:
