1st Advice Series on Blockchain Maturity Model Readiness for Solutions in Africa: Blockchain Performance Metrics

Topic: Blockchain performance metrics for a project designed to address issues in Africa.

Dear Leaders, Founders, Blockchain Architects, and Regulators, as a Blockchain Maturity Model Expert and Consultant focused on blockchain projects addressing African issues, I’m sharing some insights that can play a crucial role in guiding blockchain implementation to address local issues effectively. Here are some tailored recommendations you might consider:

1. Localized Throughput Requirements:

? Emphasize the importance of defining throughput based on the specific needs of the application. For instance, a blockchain for small-scale agricultural supply chains may not need as high throughput as one handling mobile money transactions across multiple countries. Encourage projects to benchmark their required transactions per second (TPS) against similar successful implementations and adjust based on local user engagement data.

2. Adapting to Network Latency Realities:

? Acknowledge the variability in internet speeds and network reliability across different parts of Africa. Recommend designing systems that can tolerate higher latencies, perhaps by using more efficient transaction verification processes or fallback mechanisms that can operate offline and sync with the blockchain once connectivity is restored.

3. Scalability with a Phased Approach:

? Suggest a modular and phased scaling strategy where blockchain solutions start with a manageable scope and expand gradually. This approach allows for adjustments based on user feedback and technological constraints, ensuring the system remains sustainable and cost-effective.

4. Security Tailored to Local Threats:

? Given the varying security threats in different African regions, advise on implementing robust security measures that address both common and localized digital threats. Promote the use of decentralized nodes to increase network resilience and encourage regular security audits and updates to the blockchain framework.

5. Cost Efficiency:

? Stress the importance of cost efficiency, especially in regions where users might be sensitive to transaction fees. Recommend the exploration of blockchain platforms that require less energy and computational power, and possibly the use of shared services for smaller entities to reduce overhead costs.

6. Energy and Environmental Considerations:

? Highlight the environmental impact of blockchain technologies, particularly those that require significant energy for mining and transactions. Advocate for the adoption of more energy-efficient consensus mechanisms like Proof of Stake (PoS) or hybrid models that can reduce the carbon footprint.

7. Inclusion and Accessibility:

? Encourage projects to ensure their blockchain solutions are inclusive, offering interfaces in local languages and designs that are usable on the types of mobile devices most commonly used across Africa. This increases adoption and ensures that the benefits of blockchain technology reach a wider population.

8. Regulatory Compliance and Collaboration:

? Advise on the importance of regulatory compliance and the benefits of engaging with local governments early in the project lifecycle. This collaboration can help shape a favorable regulatory framework that supports innovation while protecting users.

9. Data Sovereignty and Localization:

? Emphasize the importance of data sovereignty, ensuring that data generated in Africa is stored and processed within the continent. This not only improves performance but also aligns with legal requirements around data protection and privacy.

10. Community Engagement and Education:

? Recommend continuous community engagement and education programs to raise awareness about the benefits and workings of blockchain technology. Educated users are more likely to adopt and support the sustained use of blockchain-based solutions.

Adopting these recommendations can help align blockchain projects with the specific needs and conditions in Africa, ensuring that they are not only technologically sound but also socially and economically beneficial. This is the best way to get prepared for a Blockchain Maturity Model (BMM) assessment executed by the Government Blockchain Association (GBA) to achieve level 1 to level 5 certification and get your solution approved and published by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Armand Gaetan NGUETI.