# Disbursing humanitarian aid to women via blockchain

> CARE International (CARE) launched pilot programs in Ecuador and Kenya to deliver direct aid to women and women's groups using blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure. The initiative aims to make humanitarian transfers more transparent, efficient, and traceable. Furthermore, it explores pathways for expanding digital financial inclusion among underserved communities.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Care and social services · **Organisation:** CARE International (CARE) · **Maturity level:** Pilot

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/care-international-hilfsgelder-frauengruppen-blockchain-auszahlen

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Pilot
- **Evidence:** Evidence medium
- **Editorial review:** pending

## Description

The aid organisation CARE International (CARE) is testing the use of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies for direct aid payments in Ecuador and Kenya. The approach allows funds to be paid directly to eligible women and groups on site without lengthy intermediaries. In this way, donors and humanitarian organisations gain maximum transparency over fund flows while administrative costs are reduced.

In the humanitarian sector, aid organisations often face the challenge of quickly, safely, and transparently providing financial resources to needy target groups in remote areas. CARE International (CARE) therefore initiated pilot projects in Ecuador and Kenya to test payments using blockchain and cryptocurrencies under real conditions. The project specifically targets women and women’s groups to promote their financial self-determination. Through decentralized ledger technology, transactions can be tamper-proof and fully traceable, simplifying accountability to donors. At the same time, the pilot aims to demonstrate how barriers to financial services for people without traditional bank accounts can be overcome.

## Benefits

- Audit-proof fund tracking for institutional donors
- More efficient billing processes without traditional correspondent banks
- Direct and self-determined access to aid funds
- Learning digital skills in handling financial instruments
- Increased traceability and transparency of aid payments
- Reduction of friction losses and fees in payment transactions
- Improved financial inclusion of women in developing markets
- Relief from risky cash payments
- Focus on project support instead of payment logistics

## Challenges

- Regulatory uncertainties regarding cryptocurrencies in various target countries
- Possible hurdles in local conversion of digital values into goods
- Uneven mobile phone and internet coverage in rural areas
- Need for intensive user training for digital applications
- Increased initial training effort when introducing new systems

## Technology foundation

Distributed ledger technology and cryptocurrency infrastructure enable direct peer-to-peer payments of funds without traditional banking intermediaries. Transactions are audit-proof and traceably documented in the network, reducing administrative costs of humanitarian payment flows.

## Sources

- [Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Projects at CARE](https://www.care.org/our-work/economic-growth/blockchain-and-crypto-at-care/)