Tech companies used to be seen as just a money-driven industry, but creating a social impact is becoming more and more important. The truth is, technology has already become an important part of our daily lives. No initiative is now complete without the integration of AI, machine learning, or any other new innovation. With blockchain, new possibilities have presented itself which could benefit humanity greatly.

Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the UN introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an expansion of the UN Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) success. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) describe the master plan to achieve a sustainable future for humanity. The 17 different goals address global challenges that are related to poverty, climate prosperity, environment, inequality, degradation, and peace and justice.

The United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP) are already aware that blockchain can and should bring prosperity to the underprivileged portion of society, or the bottom of the pyramid. In fact, the technology is already being used to make a difference. A great example is the WFP’s Building Blocks project that is aimed at approaching SDGs #1 “No Poverty” and #2 “Zero Hunger” by adopting blockchain technology to make cash transfers more efficient, transparent, and secure.

HARA is also looking into how blockchain can make the world a better place. As a blockchain for social impact project, one of the main reasons HARA uses blockchain is specifically to benefit the people on the bottom of the pyramid. Starting in the food an agriculture sector, HARA especially looks to help reach the following 3 specific SDGs:

Goal #1 “No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere”

The first goal was made to elaborate on the MDGs and aims to halve extreme poverty as a midpoint towards completely eradicating poverty in all its forms. To achieve this, HARA targets to increase the income of smallholder farmers by providing them with access to finance, markets, digital payments, and valuable information.

Limited access to financial institutions is prevalent in the remote areas of Indonesia. Because of this, the smallholder farmers that live in these areas often have to resort to borrowing money from loan sharks, with interest rates going up to as high as 300 percent. The immediate effect of these loans is that it becomes increasingly difficult for these farmers to provide for their families and loved ones.

HARA has partnered up with several national banks to improve financial inclusion across rural areas in Indonesia by offering them assistance with gathering farmers’ data needed for micro-credit loans applications. With these loans from local banks, farmers will be able to increase their production and therefore their income in a sustainable manner.

Goal #8 “Decent Work & Economic Growth: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all”

With more people getting involved in the HARA ecosystem, this action is equal to the eighth goal of the SDGs that intends to help people attain quality jobs without harming the environment, creating a sustainable ecosystem.

HARA creates jobs for anyone with a mobile phone as a data qualifier or field agent from rural communities by giving fair incentives. Especially field agents play an important role in the proliferation of the HARA Platform as they are the bridge to the farmers in the field: they collect and verify the farmers’ data, examine the yields of their crops, and track the market prices.

By providing access to data and analytics, HARA also creates better economic opportunities for their stakeholders. HARA provides transparent and valuable near-time information that gives farmers useful insights to help increase their productivity and reduce losses. They will get access to actionable data-driven insights that help them benefit from market opportunities to improve their economic decisions. Eventually, HARA will connect farms, markets, consumers, and other stakeholders that will support the effort to secure a solid economic growth for all through data.

Goal #17 “Partnership for the Goals: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development”

The SDGs were adopted to tackle world problems including economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. The last goal intends to get everyone from governments, civil societies, scientists, and private sectors to come together to achieve the SDGs, to ensure no one is left behind.

The HARA project will not work without the support from our partnerships and advisors. Together with our partners, HARA aspires to strengthen the means of implementation of the 17th SDG by mobilizing other resources such as technology development and financial resources.

HARA has already created an international network by establishing partnerships with over 20 different institutions, NGOs, and banks, including leading blockchain tech companies Pundi X and Bluzelle. Furthermore, through our collaboration with the African Business Institute, preparations are being made to expand the deployment of HARA to Uganda, Africa.

HARA believes that blockchain can be a key driver in rallying all the stakeholders involved in the value chains of each sector (contributors, consumers, governments) to come together, strengthen the means of implementation, and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

More blockchain projects focusing on accomplishing the SDGs will simplify the development operations in making a sustainable future a reality. Together with HARA, each of us can co-create the sustainable future we want!