What becomes possible (through blockchain technology) when problems are solved together
3 years ago, I traveled to Southern Serbia for a research trip funded by the University of Toronto. We conducted independent field research into the devastating consequences the "refugee crisis" had on Southeastern Europe, specifically non-EU countries that relied on domestic governmental institutions, NGOs, and grassroots organizations to coordinate identity processing and aid distribution while simultaneously keeping refugees and migrants safe, and offering psychological support to those victims of war and conflict. While our research relied heavily on witness testimonies and interviews conducted with aid workers operating on the ground in makeshift migrant processing centers, we supplemented our experiences with academic research and general theories within the social sciences.
3 years later, being somewhat fully immersed in the "blockchain space", it is even more evident that emerging technologies, like DLT, will only be as effective in practice as they are in theory if they are managed by accountable and honest stakeholders. Incentive structures and game theoretic models are only useful if implemented correctly in practice.
This story by UNDP on using blockchain technology to solve for problems associated with remittances (which 800, 000 people in Serbia depend on to live), exemplifies what is possible when problems are solved in conjunction with firstly, experts on the ground, and secondly, experts in offices far away from those grounds.
TLDR: benefits of this technology could include: 1) Ensure traceability and transparency of the inflows of diaspora remittances into Serbia; 2) Channel diaspora remittances towards socially responsible purchases; 3) Enable easier and cheaper money transfer for the remittance senders, by avoiding the intermediaries; 4) Secure the privacy of individuals, since personally identifiable information is held off-chain in accordance with GDPR; 5) Enable creation of digital IDs that can be used for other money transfers (such as, for example, social welfare) and other purposes.
These pilot projects, while not always successful in the wild, are equally important for what they teach us about working in cooperation with the citizens who most depend on 'trustless technology'. While developers of this technology consider trust in an abstract intangible manner, pilots like these demonstrate that trust is a value to covet and protect, especially in times of war and conflict. As the technology becomes more mature, I hope to see more partnerships (such as the one between the city of Niš and UNDP) working together to solve for the common good.