Anticipatory Humanitarian Action Project 2024
Leveraging Rahat's blockchain platform for enhanced anticipatory action in Nepal's flood-prone districts, funded by GSMA Innovation Fund and UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Project Overview
This project involved Rahat as a grantee of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Anticipatory Humanitarian Action 2024, with funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. The initiative was a collaborative effort among Rahat, GSMA, and Danish Red Cross, focusing on two flood-prone districts in Nepal's Terai region.
Rahat developed and piloted a multi-signature-based anticipatory action (AA) module within an existing Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) platform, designed to facilitate timely Early Warning communications and efficient cash distribution to households in disaster-prone areas.
The project concentrated on Kanchanpur District (Laljhadi Rural Municipality and Punarbas Municipality) and Kailali District (Janaki Rural Municipality and Tikapur Municipality).
Key Objectives
Strengthening Anticipatory Cash Assistance
Enhanced support for vulnerable groups through proactive cash distribution mechanisms.
Enhanced Early Warning Communication
Digital solutions including SMS and IVR for timely disaster alerts.
Improving Transparency & Monitoring
Real-time accountability through blockchain-based tracking systems.
Increasing Financial Inclusion
Building digital literacy and financial access among beneficiaries.
Scaling Anticipatory Action
Institutionalizing anticipatory action mechanisms for broader impact.
Solution & Implementation
Multi-Signature Triggers
Blockchain security requiring multiple party approval, using forecast data from DHM and GLOFAS to activate readiness and release anticipatory action funds.
Enhanced Early Warning Communication
Digital solutions using SMS, IVR, and voice messaging through providers like Prabhu SMS and Voxcrow, with localized multilingual communication in Nepali and Tharu.
Streamlined Cash Distribution
Blockchain-based digital tokens enabling beneficiaries to redeem via SMS or QR codes, supporting both banked and unbanked populations through Namaste Pay and traditional banks.
Digital Financial Literacy
Community education programs on wallet usage, fraud prevention, and cash withdrawal procedures to improve digital financial service understanding.
Impact & Results
The project demonstrated significant positive outcomes across multiple metrics, showcasing the effectiveness of blockchain-based anticipatory action in humanitarian response.
Lives Positively Impacted
EWS Messages Sent
Found EWS Helpful
Direct Platform Users
Key Achievements
- Information sent to beneficiaries within 1-2 hours after trigger activation
- 98% of beneficiaries took proactive flood preparation steps
- 30 community DFL sessions reaching 800+ community members
- 80% of Namaste Pay users reported reduced aid delivery delays
- 95% of bank transfer recipients appreciated process timeliness
Lessons Learned
Early Warning Systems Effectiveness
- IVR proved more effective than SMS for populations with lower literacy levels
- Localized multilingual communication (Nepali and Tharu) vital for inclusivity
- EWS communications highly valued by beneficiaries for proactive decision-making
Cash Assistance Insights
- Mobile money (Namaste Pay) and bank transfers largely effective for cash delivery
- Challenges included low digital literacy and KYC compliance issues
- Mobile network limitations in rural areas affected accessibility
Digital Financial Literacy
- 97% of DFL session participants felt more prepared after training
- Content on wallet usage and fraud prevention particularly valued
- Language barriers and insufficient hands-on practice limited some comprehension