Whatever happens to USAID, it will apparently “leverage blockchain technology.”…

AI Summary:

  1. Renaming and Restructuring: The Trump administration plans to rename the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the US International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) and place it under the Secretary of State.

  2. Use of Blockchain: A memo suggests leveraging blockchain technology in USAID’s procurement process, aiming to enhance security, transparency, and traceability in aid distribution.

  3. Criticisms of Blockchain Use:

    • Experts argue blockchain often doesn’t offer significant advantages over existing tools for humanitarian work.
    • Concerns exist about added burdens and costs for small NGOs using new systems.

  4. Examples of Blockchain in Humanitarian Efforts:

    • Past projects, such as UNHCR’s pilot for cash assistance in stablecoins, showed some success.
    • Critics note limited large-scale use in the sector and question its necessity.

  5. Budget and Operational Changes: The proposal emphasizes tying funding to outcomes and results, prompting debates about its feasibility and fairness in dynamic environments like disaster zones.

  6. Broader Context: The plan follows prior workforce cuts and criticisms of inefficiency within USAID, drawing mixed reactions from staff and experts.

    • danc4498@lemmy.worldEnglish
      27·
      6 days ago

      Insider trading. They’ll use coins that they and their billionaire buddies are already heavily invested in.

    • jonne@infosec.pub
      92·
      6 days ago

      They probably think that tracing it will be easier than cash, but obviously there’s a few issues with that:

      • we don’t use stablecoins in our day to day lives in western cities with ubiquitous internet and reliable power, it’s probably easier to work it out here first before exporting it to areas that don’t have those things
      • a big part of USAID’s raison d’être actually is corruption. It supports opposition news outlets in adversary countries, and projects like free trade/enterprise zones in poorer countries. The actual ‘good’ aid it provides is more of a cover for those projects. If you make all transactions traceable on a blockchain, those countries will know exactly what’s being funded and they’ll have an easy time shutting it down, or have a harder time staying in power if people knew what concessions they’re trading their aid for. I still don’t really know if Trump/Musk just don’t know this and think USAID is doing what it does purely out of altruism, or if they just don’t believe in the concept of soft power.
      • naeap@sopuli.xyz
        7·
        6 days ago

        They skipped the bank and directly went for the US treasure department and tax money

    • ms.lane@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      6 days ago

      It probably will be something like that, but a blockchain ledger doesn’t need a coin.

      This is one of the few things that might (if done correctly, ie. no coin) actually be a reasonable idea, a record of aid delivered that is immutable protects it from both ‘misplaced’ funds and malicious governments trying to erase previous governments achievements (like the current US gov is doing)