Inkluud

A decentralized mobile identification application that empowers rural population to access private and social services using biometrics and tokens.

In rural Africa and Asia, many community members, because of no identification or appropriate technology to accurately verify data, are excluded from benefiting from social and private services by their central authorities or third parties. The reliance on humans, central authorities and multiple identity cards being assigned to individuals to access various services like, health, voting, cooperatives membership, land sharing titles, etc, often result to errors such as misuse of individual's personal information, gender, status and class biased service delivery. These also make it burdensome and difficult to keep user's personal information secure often leading to marginalization and lack of transparency.

Inkluud is a decentralized mobile digital identification application where rural population are empowered to access private and social services using biometrics and tokens. Inkluud is targeted at rural areas, uses local language and animated logo that help users easily identify services to access to reduce dependency of middle men that translate or teach them how it works. Inkluud provides last mile access via mesh networking, where data transaction is broadcasted to nearby mesh node via paired Inkluud device until internet connection is found. Inkluud gives users full control of their personal information by substituting user's sensitive data with a non-sensitive equivalent, that is, assigning a Token with no exploitable value where users decide data to share across various services while protecting their identity from abuse. Inkluud uses decentralized system that spreads user data out so thin that there is no single point to attack it directly making it immutable and, users, that is, members of community will get an identity, not dependent on any third party or central body, that cannot be altered or used without the owner's consent, automatically mitigating risks caused by third parties and central authorities. This erases risks caused in the centralized system, where no users information is secure. For example, in accessing healthcare, unnecessary data will not be shared, while gender, date of birth, blood type, group and medical history can be shared on a public ledger to enable emergency treatment, easy interoperability, accountability and transparency. However, this user must have agreed to share such data with health agencies.

Inkluud uses Density of Adoption initiative to drive its use in rural and conflict zone communities. Normally, community members who have identity cards usually have multiple identity to access various services such as; health, traders, voter's card birth certificate, etc. Inkluud brings these services under one umbrella making it convenient for users to access these services daily, that is, an Inkluud user can simultaneously access healthcare, land sharing, transportation, justice, government and non-government aids, birth and also death certificate (because Inkluud  technology is blockchain based which uses consensus, when many users agree that an individual has died, a death certificate is updated on their ledger). Having all these services in one platform will reduce the need for carrying many certificates, identities and will eliminate identity clone, offer a public ledger where the public can audit services and increase transparency and accountability of stakeholders.

Inkluud averts problems that usually results from introducing new technology and processes to illiterate rural communities by:

Adopting biometrics that prevents provision of personal login details, using clear logo and content in local languages that eases services understanding.

Creating interoperability by using a single profile of smart identity contracts that can be shared across several platforms for service providers to access via public ledger and eliminating duplicates, copies, loss and renewal of identity.

Providing last mile or remote access to rural communities, user data transaction is broadcasted to nearby mesh node via paired Inkluud device until internet connection is found.

Inkluud uses default data protection architecture where users biometric data are assigned unique identity numbers, that consists of all personally identifiable information in an encrypted format,  this prevents transaction of users information without consent. This shifts control of personally identifiable information to end users and ensures the privacy of identity during data transactions between parties connected to the ecosystem.

Inkluud substitutes user's sensitive data with a non-sensitive equivalent, that is, assigns a Token with no exploitable value where users decide the type of data to share across various services while still protecting their identity from abuse. An example is when they want to engage in tax transactions, data relating to tax payment are shared without giving out other sensitive data that can be exploited, also in accessing government subsidies, data relating to accessing government subsidies are shared between parties and nothing more.

All data transaction occur under Inkluud platform. The need for central authorities to manage users information or data is eliminated and also the possibility of data breach is eliminated because blockchain technology is adopted which means that the users information are encrypted and decentralized, spread out so thin that is no single point where data can be attacked.

Inkluud uses public ledger system which can be incorporated into digital identification systems where requesting organizations can have access to verify the users identity, this offers more secure means than widely used and expensive method of verifying physical copies of Identity or asking security questions over insecure channels. Through this system, individuals go through a know your customer (KYC) process once, then any subsequent organization requesting their identity can use the trusted data on the public ledger. The

Inkluud system is designed to enable users have easy inclusion to services that will improve their lives, this means making it feasible for law enforcement, health, immigration, taxation agents to be able to access information needed on time to render their respective services without violating the users privacy rights. An example is a case where an Inkluud user is involved in an accident and needs immediate medical attention, the hospital will be able to access the users medical history and as well as contact their next of kin to be able to render health services or issue death certificate or birth certificate. Another example is customs service having access to users immigration details without needing to repeat vigorous and costly KYC process.

Inkluud aims to de-emphasis roles of middle men interpreting users rights and how to access social and private services. Firstly, use of biometrics verification eliminates usernames and passwords and other documents that most who can't read and write find difficult in using. Secondly, the use of voice prompt in their local language and cartoon like logo and animations representing the services they want to access reduces the learning curve for those in rural areas. Thirdly, where monetary transaction is involved, snapshot of their local currency will be displayed as image on screen to consider those with low numeracy skills.

Inkluud uses an open application programming interface (API) designed to simplify interactivity and access with other stakeholders like government, healthcare etc, to enable them improve the life and welfare of Inkluud users.

Inkluud API facilitates communication by pointing accepted identity transactions to the public API which has segmented the content where results can be verified and trusted across the networks, and allows for decentralized and authoritative ways of securing transaction histories, including the ability to prove that a previous legitimate data transaction occurred.

Inkluud provides last mile access via mesh networking, data transaction is broadcasted to nearby mesh node via paired Inkluud devices until internet connection is found. Identity transactions on devices don't need instant internet connection provided there is a nearby device that can receive request, this communication continues until it reaches an internet enabled device.

Using snapshot of the local currency displayed as image on screen in monetary transactions will facilitate use by those with low numeracy skills and voice prompt in their local language, cartoon like logos and animations representing services and products reduces learning curve.

Our vision is to develop the rural economy using the power of identity ownership. Based on indication that many rural dwellers don't have the efficient identity system that can be globalized. 

To makes it possible for people in rural areas to access private, community and social services that will make their lives better.

To engender the "inclusion" of rural population to financial, health, agriculture, transportation, labour, education, land services etc.

To eliminate double spending and make organizations more accountable and transparent.

To leverage the use of our system to get the most out of the users lives.

I have bachelors degree in guidance and counseling and a diploma in local government administration as well as software engineering skills, my career goal is to use information technology to empower and improve the lives of people in local communities. My team is made up of experienced local community development officer, accountant, economist, social entrepreneur, mobile application developer, computer network expert and gender studies and conflict zone researcher. I believe I can guide my team to create a sustainable solution through Identity management to empower rural dwellers.

Subscription or membership functionality to identity contracts will not be charged to individual users, however companies, organizations will be charged if they want to upgrade to premium. This means that there will be two kinds of accounts, single user and organizational user.

Inkluud will take 4% percentage of transaction fees for each successful paid transaction while use of major aspects of the program will be free.

For example if A rents a piece of land or purchases seeds from B using on Inkluud platform

A pays 2% for buying and B pays 2$ for selling 

 4% of transaction amount goes to Inkluud.

There will be option available for donations.

My primary objective is to develop rural communities using the power of identity ownership that will lead to increase of social, economic and political privilege irrespective of their gender and status in the community. I believe the Mission Billion Challenge will offer a platform to scale my project to the point that individuals in remote areas will be empowered through their identity and included in several services. This can be successfully achieved through the organizers extensive global footprint.

Wide Adoption problems in illiterate communities resulting from new technology will be averted using biometrics eliminating need for personal login details. Snapshot of their local currency will be displayed on screen to consider those with low numeracy in monetary transaction, voice prompt in their local language, cartoon like logo and animations representing services and ability to bring many services under one umbrella will increase adoption and convenience.

The problem of last mile access will be mitigated via mesh networking, where data transaction is broadcasted to nearby mesh node via paired Inkluud device until internet connection is found.