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Research

We do regular monitoring and evaluation on the impact of our programs and collaborate with researchers from around the world. Data is collected through digital (blockchain-based) transaction data, journals and surveys of people using and not using Community Currencies.

Data definitions can be found here and datasets can be downloaded below.

2018-2019 POA Blockchain Data 2020-July 13 2021 DAI Blockchain Data
Published Research Papers Demo CIC Creation CIC Data Dashboard White paper&docs&code
  • Design
    • What do communities need to unlock and direct their collective capacity?
      • What does a post scarcity society look like?
      • How can variations on currency design support community abundance and harmony with their environment and other communities?
      • Ideology and ethics - Why develop a community currency? (For each part of the infrastructure and various implementers.)
  • Development
    • How can community currencies and their infrastructure be developed and managed?
    • How are communities fully empowered and sovereign in their choices?
    • What regulatory frameworks can be used?
    • How to achieve institutional integration - Humanitarian orgs, chamas (community groups), schools, shops, govt. Financial Institution, Faith based organizations, etc
    • Network visualization and analytics that help understand, react to and manage CIC systems
      • Predictive and Agent based modelling
    • How can people and institutions outside of a community interact with the local community? Aid distribution - redistribute taxes? (voting, algo, etc) ... Also in what medium: Capacity building, in-kind, cash, stable tokens, etc
  • Understanding:
    • What are the impacts from pilots and trials? - short and long term effects of such programs like Sarafu Network.
    • What characteristics cause community currencies of different designs and communities to have different impacts?

We love to get feedback and link to studies!

Community Currencies as Crisis Response

Results from a Randomized Control Trial in Kenya

2021 Rebecca Mqamelo

(download pdf)

Abstract:

In 2020, Grassroots Economics’ Community Inclusion Currency (CIC) model was adopted by the Kenya Red Cross as a humanitarian response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper presents the results of what may be the world’s first randomized control trial in this area. Unlike most cash transfer programs, recipients are sent cryptocurrencies rather than cash or mobile money, enabling an unprecedented level of impact evaluation. Results show that CIC transfers of $30 are associated with $93.51 increase in beneficiaries’ wallet balance, a $23.17 increase in monthly income, a $16.30 increase in monthly spending, a $6.31 increase in average trade size and a $28.43 increase in expenditure on food and water. However, the difference in treatment effects for males versus females suggests gender imbalances persist. This study serves as an important prototype for cash transfer models that keep money flowing locally and support bottom-up economic resilience.

Red Cross Mukuru Kayaba Rapid Survey Analysis May 2020

CIC: Mukuru Kayaba Rapid Survey Analysis - brief.

Date of analysis:25th to 30th May 2020
Area of survey: Mukuru Kayaba (Pop. 83,000) (Pop of Sarafu users 4000)
Number of respondent: Female 391, Male 228 Total: 619
Goal: To understand the impact of Sarafu and give qualitative understanding of the statistics for users.

Click here
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