Resources for Refugees: Ukraine

[IMPACT]

The Ethereum platform has been used to raise funds for refugees, including people recently displaced by the war in Ukraine. Our aim is to conduct the research necessary to formulate a viable approach to using Atala Prism digital IDs for refugees who have been forced to leave their home countries without identification documents. The research will study the steps needed to form partnerships with international aid agencies who are working on the ground with refugees, including UNICEF and the World Food Program. It will also study the various ways that a nonprofit DAO might be used to build communities of advocates to mobilizing fundraising for relief efforts. Given the pressing need at this time, this project hopes to get the ball rolling for concerned individuals in the Cardano community.

The aims of this project are relatively modest in Phase 1. There are four main deliverables:

1. Research for and publication of a white paper on the use of Atala Prism DIDs for refugees lacking identification documents.
2. Creation of educational resources on the use of blockchain tools to support refugees fleeing conflicts and wars.
3. Growth of a Cardano community of advocates to help with fundraising for relief efforts by established agences such as UNICEF and The World Food Program.
4. Creation of a DAO as a Wyoming nonprofit to organize the fundraising efforts.

Our team has the experience and expertise to deliver the white paper, implementation of a community building effort and creation of a DAO in the first phase of the project. The primary challenge we face is drawing additional members to the team necessary to grow a community of advocates and put the DAO to work in support of fundraising efforts and formulate a plan for using DIs for refugees in Phase 2.

[FEASIBILITY]

Phase 1: weeks 1-17

1. Research on the use of DIDs to support refugees lacking identifying documentation.
2. Write and publish white paper based on the research
3. Create educational resources on the use of blockchain resources to support refugees.
4. Incorporate a nonprofit DAO in the state of Wyoming for individuals having disabilities.
5. Create a plan to cultivate a community of advocates to take the project to the next steps.

Phase 2: weeks 18-34

1. Recruit a number advocates to support fundraising for relief efforts.
2. Recruit Atala Prism developers to implement plan for using DIDs for refugees.

Phase 3: weeks 33-52

1. Implement plan to collaborate with established relief agencies, including UNICEF, utilize DIDs for refugees.
2. Ensure funds that are raised are used effectively in relief efforts.

Phase 1: weeks 1-17

1. Research on the use of DIDs to support refugees lacking identifying documentation (60 hours, $4800)
2. Write and publish white paper based on the research (40 hours, $3200)
3. Create educational resources on the use of blockchain resources to support refugees (20 hours, $1000).
4. Incorporate a nonprofit DAO in the state of Wyoming for individuals having disabilities (50 hours, $5000).
5. Create a plan to cultivate a community of advocates to take the project to the next steps (20 hours, volunteer basis).

Project Team:

1. Jeffrey Downard, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Ph.D.. J.D., specialization in Ethics and Law, NAU (26 years)
2. David Watts, MA, Business Systems Consultant, Developer (7 years)
3. Sylvan Magnus, BA, Marketing and Sales (10 years)
4. Sarah Holcomb, J.D., CPA, Licensed Fiduciary (20 years)

Team members have participated in the 2021 Wyoming Blockchain Stampede. One served as a panelist for the Future Forward sessions. Our teams has connected with Wyoming lawmakers at Cardano Summit about creating DAOs.

[AUDITABILITY]

Phase 1: weeks 1-17

1. Publication of a white paper based on the use of DIDs for refugees lacking written documentation of identity.
2. Creation of at least three educational resources on the use of blockchain resources to support refugees.
3. Incorporation of a nonprofit DAO in the state of Wyoming for community building and fundraising efforts.
4. Creation of an effective plan to cultivate a community of advocates to take the project to the next steps.

1. Number of reads and downloads of whitepaper on academic research services including Academia.edu: more than 10 is moderate success; more than 50 is considerable success
2. Number advocates recruited to support fundraising for relief efforts: more than 10 is moderate success; more than 50 is considerable success
3. Nonprofit DAO is used to raise funds to support relief efforts: more than $100K raised is moderate success; more than $1M raised is considerable success.

This is a new proposal. It draws on ideas from a previously submitted Spaceship Earth project for social and environmental sustainability. Members of this team are part of the Kepler SCS network, which has served as an incubator for a number of unfunded Catalyst proposals in Funds 6 and 7, including proposals for binding arbitration of smart contracts and a Cardano Climate DAO.

SDG Rating

Equity

Civil Rights

Rule of Law

Refugees

Safety and security of displaced people

Access to education

Access to work

Access to shelter