Hacking for Trust

Hackathon Format

Hybrid hackathon event with online teams composed of members from different countries

Latest technology will be used to facilitate collaboration and innovative solutions

Rooms provided in each country for teams to meet, network, and enjoy a meal together

Unique blend of online and in-person collaboration fosters a dynamic and creative environment for idea generation and efficient solution development

Team Constitutions

Impact Plus is partnering local and international participants from Georgetown University and organizations in Brazil, Kenya, and Nigeria

Team have a mixture of coders/ web development backgrounds, social impact, and international development backgrounds

Teams will be connected with each other next week to facilitate group bonding and enable project creation

Is there food and beverages at the event?

Food and drinks will be provided free for all attendees. We'll be providing lunch  daily with coffee and snacks in the morning and afternoon.

Is there Wi-Fi at the event?

Yes!

DEFINITIONS

MEAL

MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) is a framework used in development programs to track progress, assess effectiveness, ensure accountability, and promote continuous learning. Implementing MEAL leads to better outcomes, increased transparency, and the ability to make data-driven decisions to optimize impact. Ultimately, MEAL helps organizations achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively while building trust with stakeholders

Agile Methodologies 

A set of flexible and iterative software development approaches that prioritize collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

Best Practices 

Methods, techniques, or processes that are considered the most effective and efficient way to achieve a particular objective, based on experience and research.

Blockchain for Social Impact 

The use of blockchain technology to address social, environmental, and economic challenges, with the goal of creating positive and sustainable outcomes for individuals and communities.

Capacity Building 

Strengthening the skills, knowledge, and capacities of local stakeholders to effectively participate in and benefit from blockchain projects.

Centralization of Power or Wealth

The concentration of authority, resources, or decision-making power in a single individual, organization, or group, often leading to unequal distribution of benefits and reduced resilience.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement 

Fostering partnerships with governments, NGOs, and private sector organizations to address shared challenges, promote innovation, and create synergies.

Conflict Sensitivity 

The awareness and understanding of the local context and potential impact of a project on existing tensions or conflicts, ensuring that the project does not inadvertently contribute to violence or instability.

Consensus Algorithms 

A set of rules and processes used by blockchain networks to achieve agreement on the validity and order of transactions, ensuring the security and integrity of the blockchain.

Contextually Appropriate Solutions

Solutions that are tailored to the specific needs, culture, and circumstances of the target population, ensuring that they are relevant, effective, and sustainable.

Continuous Improvement 

An ongoing effort to refine and enhance processes, systems, and outcomes, based on feedback, data, and lessons learned.

Cross-Border Activities 

Transactions, interactions, or initiatives that involve multiple countries or jurisdictions, often subject to specific legal and regulatory requirements.

DAC Criteria 

A set of criteria established by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to evaluate the effectiveness of development projects and programs.

Data-Driven Decision-Making 

Using data and evidence to inform and guide decisions, ensuring that actions are based on objective information and insights.

Digital Literacy 

The ability to use digital technology, communication tools, and networks effectively and safely to access, create, and share information.

Encryption

The process of converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access, ensuring the privacy and security of information.

Energy-Efficient Consensus Algorithms

Blockchain consensus mechanisms that require less energy and computational resources, reducing the environmental impact of blockchain networks.

Environmental Footprint

The impact of human activities on the environment, including factors such as resource consumption, waste production, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental Impact

Considering the ecological footprint of blockchain initiatives, opting for energy-efficient consensus algorithms, and minimizing resource consumption.

Ethical Considerations in Technology Development

Addressing broader ethical implications, such as potential risks, unintended consequences, and the potential for misuse, and taking steps to mitigate these concerns.

Fair Distribution of Benefits

Aiming for equitable distribution of benefits among participants, avoiding practices that may lead to centralization of power or wealth within the project.

Feedback Mechanisms

Processes and tools that enable stakeholders, including beneficiaries, partners, and donors, to share their opinions, experiences, and suggestions, informing continuous improvement and adaptation of the project.

Gender and Social Equity

Addressing gender and social inequalities by designing solutions and dissagregated data that consider the specific needs and challenges faced by diverse groups, including women, minorities, and marginalized communities.

Inclusivity and Accessibility

Creating solutions that cater to individuals with varying abilities, languages, and digital literacy levels.

Iterative Development

An approach to software development that emphasizes the regular and ongoing release of new features and improvements, allowing for continuous feedback and adaptation.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Ensuring that blockchain solutions adhere to applicable laws and regulations, including those related to financial transactions, data protection, and cross-border activities.

Lessons Learned

Knowledge, insights, and experiences gained from the implementation and evaluation of a project, used to inform future decision-making and enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of the project.

Logical Framework Approach (LFA)

A project management tool that helps to plan, design, implement, and evaluate projects by defining key objectives, indicators, assumptions, and risks.

MEAL Standards

Researching and customizing monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning frameworks that align with project objectives and context, ensuring effectiveness, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL)

Continuously assessing and refining blockchain initiatives using data and feedback to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and impact.

Multidisciplinary Team

A group of individuals with diverse expertise, backgrounds, and perspectives, working together to design, develop, and implement solutions that address complex problems and challenges.

Privacy and Data Protection

Ensuring the confidentiality and security of personal and sensitive information by adhering to data protection regulations and industry best practices.

Protection

Prioritizing the safety and well-being of affected populations, particularly vulnerable groups, by incorporating protection considerations into project design and implementation.

Pump-and-Dump Schemes

A form of market manipulation in which the price of an asset is artificially inflated, often through misleading information, to attract buyers and then sold at a higher price, leading to a subsequent price collapse.

Responsible Tokenomics

Designing digital tokens or cryptocurrencies with responsible tokenomics in mind, including avoiding pump-and-dump schemes, ensuring fair initial distribution, and being transparent about the token's purpose and utility.

Responsible Tokenomics

The design and management of digital tokens or cryptocurrencies in a way that promotes fairness, transparency, and sustainability, avoiding practices that may lead to market manipulation or concentration of wealth.

Scalability and Sustainability

Designing adaptable solutions that can grow and evolve, ensuring long-term sustainability and maximizing impact on the target population.

SMART Goals 

Setting Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound goals that align with the needs of the target population and desired outcomes.

Specific Outcomes

Establishing the particular results the blockchain project aims to accomplish, such as improved access to healthcare, enhanced educational opportunities, or poverty alleviation.

Sphere Standards

A set of humanitarian principles and minimum standards for humanitarian response, developed by a global network of NGOs and humanitarian organizations.

Stakeholder Collaboration

Working with stakeholders, including target population representatives, partners, and donors, to ensure chosen MEAL standards are relevant, inclusive, and practical for all parties involved.

Stakeholder Engagement

The active involvement and participation of all relevant parties, including target populations, partners, donors, and policymakers, in the design, implementation, and evaluation of a project, ensuring that their perspectives and needs are considered and addressed.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations to promote prosperity while protecting the planet, addressing issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation.

Target Population 

The specific group of individuals or communities that the blockchain project aims to benefit, taking into account their unique needs, challenges, and context.

Theory of Change

A comprehensive description and illustration of how and why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context, used as a framework for planning, implementation, and evaluation of projects and programs.

Transparency and Accountability

Developing transparent systems that allow stakeholders to track resources, verify transaction authenticity, and ensure data accuracy.

Transparency and Accountability

The openness and accessibility of information about a project's goals, activities, results, and decision-making processes, allowing stakeholders to hold the project accountable for its performance and impact.

User-Centric Design

An approach to solution development that prioritizes the needs, preferences, and perspectives of the end-users, ensuring that the solution is usable, accessible, and relevant to their context.

Vulnerable Groups 

Individuals or communities that may be at greater risk of harm or exclusion due to factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability, or socio-economic status.