IOV Foundation’s AGUA Initiative Enhances Transparency

The IOV Foundation is advancing sustainability with the implementation of AGUA, a groundbreaking tool developed in collaboration with global blockchain experts. This initiative enhances transparency and strengthens trust in environmental and social projects, utilizing decentralized technology to ensure data integrity and accountability. Currently, AGUA's second use case is being tested in a participatory carbon project, further demonstrating its effectiveness in meeting commitments to community-led sustainability efforts.

The IOV Foundation is achieving a sustainability milestone by launching AGUA, an innovative tool that enhances transparency and traceability. Developed with global blockchain experts, including our team, AGUA is now operational and playing a key role in boosting trust across social and environmental initiatives.

Projects and Collaborations

In 2023, the IOV Foundation funded AGUA’s first pilot (https://www.unicefventurefund.org/story/agua-revolutionizing-global-collaboration-funding-transparency-growth-graduate-atix-labs). We are now collaborating with Globant to progress to the second use case and are completing the testing phase in a participatory carbon project. Our goal is to fulfill commitments to local communities, ensuring full participation in our action registration process for maximum transparency.

Agustin Pandolfini, Head of Community Relationships, emphasizes, “Taking a proactive role in AGUA’s new case is crucial for us. We actively manage the loading and verification processes, enhancing traceability and transparency. This proximity to project implementers helps us understand the significant value AGUA adds to their daily operations, aiming to improve life quality comprehensively.”

Blockchain and Transparency

AGUA offers organizations a transparent and verifiable system to demonstrate proper fund usage. It helps define projects with specific milestones and activities, each associated with a budget, acceptance criteria, and a designated auditor. After we define a project and its stakeholders, we publish it on a public blockchain, ensuring an audited record is available.

Blockchain’s decentralized nature ensures data distribution across the network, making retroactive data alteration or manipulation nearly impossible. This level of transparency allows stakeholders, auditors, and the community to independently verify project progress and financial dealings without relying on the original platform. Moreover, decentralized data storage not only secures information but also enhances access and long-term accountability.

A Commitment to Sustainable Innovation

“Aligning with Earth Day, our commitment to pioneering agnostic, decentralized, and open-source solutions makes us proud to partner with organizations that echo our vision and dedication to a reliable, sustainable digital future,” says Sabrina Diaz Rato, Director of the IOV Foundation.

For more information about AGUA and the work of the IOV Foundation, please contact us at [email protected].

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IOV Foundation and CAF: Allies in the Digital Transformation of Latin America and the Caribbean

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Digital Transformation in Colombia: Conversation on Decentralized Technologies and Bitcoin with President Gustavo Petro

Colombia stands on the brink of a revolutionary technological era, driven by the transformative potential of blockchain and Bitcoin. In an enriching talk, featuring Diego Gutiérrez Zaldívar, president of the IOV Foundation, along with other experts, the ways in which these technologies can catalyze the country’s economic, social, and environmental development were addressed. This meeting, highlighting Colombia’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, opens promising perspectives for a future where inclusion and technology go hand in hand.

Yunus & Youth, IOV Foundation, and Globant unite to contribute to global sustainable development

Thanks to the use of blockchain technology, Yunus & Youth and the IOV Foundation strengthened the work of social entrepreneurs committed to helping in their communities. Through AGUA, the transparency platform developed by Globant and partially funded by IOV Labs and Unicef Innovation, the beneficiaries of this project received financial support to achieve their impact objectives.