The project, managed by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), utilizes reloadable cards to provide secure and immediate financial support. This deployment serves as a primary example of how blockchain technology can bypass the limitations of traditional financial systems in economically distressed environments. The initiative is currently the focal point of the Humanitarian Payments Council summit in Washington, D.C., where international agencies and fintech providers are evaluating its scalability for global use.
Algorand-Powered Aid Reaches 625,000 Returnees in Afghanistan
More than 625,000 refugee returnees and 17,500 internally displaced people in Afghanistan have received over $35 million in aid via HesabPay. This milestone, achieved through the Algorand blockchain, marks a significant transition from experimental pilot programs to large-scale humanitarian deployments in regions lacking traditional banking infrastructure.
Carmen Hett, Corporate Treasurer at UNHCR, noted that the infrastructure offers a traceable and compliant method for aid delivery that strengthens trust between donors and recipients. Matt Keller, Head of Impact at the Algorand Foundation, emphasized that the shift from novelty to practical application demonstrates the speed and cost-efficiency of tokenized aid. As the Council convenes this week, participants aim to establish frameworks that could standardize these digital financial ecosystems for wider humanitarian adoption.
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