Rahat
Rahat provides cash and voucher assistance disbursement services for vulnerable communities impacted by climate catastrophes.
Website: https://rahat.esatya.io/
HQ: Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal
Active Markets: Nepal, Pakistan
Problem Addressed
Humanitarian aid delivery to disaster victims can be impeded by a lack of transparency and distribution frictions. These frictions sometimes prevent delivery of aid by three to six months, and at times even longer. This can create critical lags in the receipt of aid in the wake of disasters, delaying rebuilding and protracting distress experienced by people, communities, and businesses waiting for support.
Countries such as Nepal that are highly susceptible to recurring disaster events such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods require smoother aid distribution vehicles to prepare for and recover from anticipated future disasters.
Project Description
Rahat’s open source platform leverages blockchain to increase transparencies and reduce the time it takes for victims to receive cash transfers. By using digital tokens in the delivery process, Rahat is able to lower transaction costs, transfer funds more quickly, and visibly track the impact of aid to beneficiaries. Rahat offers an online dashboard, digital wallet, and text message functionality. Recipients are able to receive tokens via text message and connect with vendors to purchase goods or cash out into local currency. Rahat also offers insurance products and a smart contract-facilitated automated SMS and voice alert system, further increasing the speed at which funds can be disbursed to victims of adverse events.
Business Data
Status: Active
Constituency Served: Diaster victims
Networks: Ethereum
Known Investors: Village Capital, UNICEF Innovation Fund
Additional References: N/a
Progress to date
As of April 2024, Rahat had launched 22 different humanitarian projects across four countries, engaging 50 vendors, and forming 22 local partnerships. Rahat is a UNICEF Venture Fund Portfolio Startup and a Grantee of GSMA Innovation Fund for Anticipatory Humanitarian Action. They have been recognized as the MIT Solver Team for 2023 and are listed as a digital public good by the Public Goods Alliance.
Business Model
Rahat generates revenue through technology customization fees.
Traction
The project has distributed USD$154,000 in aid, impacting the lives of over 4,200 children, nearly 10,000 women, and over 19,000 total beneficiaries. Rahat is now active in Nepal, Pakistan, and Indonesia.