Earning Bounties on Gitcoin — Team Citizen| UNODC Hackathon
1. What did you build for the East African Blockchain Hackathon?
The challenge focused on these three major thematic areas: 1) Whistleblower protection, 2) Public Procurement, and 3) Financial Investigations.
Our Build focused on Public procurement for most public and private funds get lost without a trace when third party organizations/individuals are involved during the transfer of these funds. With the theme, “the Role of Digitization in Fighting Corruption” the ideation stage was not that hard since I have always had this idea for a long time.
The solution that we came up with Citizen, which is a decentralized application, built on top of the Celo Blockchain to track procurement funds transfer to its right and correct destination. With the aim to tract funds, projects and tenders in both private and public sectors. Our app will give citizens a chance to participate in the process of verifying project development and completion in line with the SDGs Goals that is Peace and Justice Strong Institutions, and promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national polices and priorities.
2. How did you find the time experience?
For a long time, I have always had a misconception about hackathons. I have always thought that it involves coding all day long. Having participated in the first Celo Camp Boot camp and Build for SDG, I have come to realize that not all hackathons are about coding. The East African Blockchain hackathon was more interesting since the main aim of this hackathon was all about solving problems and challenges that we face as citizens in the mentioned thematic areas. In addition, being a part of the hackathon to solve something that affects everyone globally and more so here in Africa was amazing and mind-blowing. Without a doubt, the East African Blockchain Hackathon will be an unforgettable experience for me.
3. Can you guide us on how you went about using Gitcoin to register for the bounty?
First, if you are a developer you must have a Github account since Gitcoin tracks your repository to validate your works. If you already have a Github account login/connect your Github Account. That is the first step linking your Github profile to your Gitcoin account.
The final step is to tell the Gitcoin community what you can do. By selecting from a list of coding languages and other skills about you. This will help you when it comes to meeting new Developers and it will send you to completing your first bounty. Once you have verified your Gitcoin account. To get started head over to Town Square and find a Tribe in this particular Hackathon I followed the Celo Tribe.
Select the hackathon/bounties available on your Tribe and start working. Enter your project Name and Github link for your project, Team members if any (Note: that members must also have a Github and a Gitcoin account).
This will differ depending with the Hackathon submission requirements. Once you have completed coding and testing your application submit your work, Stop working and set an Address that will receive the payout cash. Since you will receive payment in Celo as per the Tribe that has setup the bounty/Hackathon program.
4. Where was most helpful to you and how did you find the experience?
For every work done, there is always a reward. Moreover, every reward makes a happily ever after. Well Kotani Pay was there to make it possible for us. After Our project won the best implementation on the Celo platform category. This was my first win in a hackathon with a payout of 1000 Celo dollar.
The payout address that I had set on Gitcoin was my Valora wallet address and since Kotani pay is included on the wallet, the process to cash out was seamless. I was able to cash out to our local currency by just dialing a USSD code (*483*354#) and transfer the cash directly to my Mpesa account.
Being able to cash out within a few steps was amazing. The process have made easier considering most user in Kenya and in Africa in general use USSD to receive funds. Having bridged this gap between blockchain and the users is something groundbreaking especially to workers on gig platforms like Gitcoin.
5. What are the future plans for your start up next 3 months?
Currently we are still in the development phase of the Citizen Dapp. However, once have completed it we intend to do Alpha testing of the app before we rollout the application for Beta testing after the three months.
Our startup is also on the process of registration and we are still seeking out professional help and guidance, partnership.
I believe once we launch this Dapp it will help citizens not only here in Kenya but also the rest of the world in fighting corruption
Conclusion
Blockchain is a technology that will save Africa in many ways and I see it as a God-given tool for us. As many people and startup here in the continent continue to use and create better solution on Blockchain, Wealth will be distributed to all.
