In a significant stride towards environmentally conscious insurance settlements, a Nairobi-based tech startup is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative harnessing the power of blockchain technology. The company, under the leadership of Kennedy Ng’ang’a, is poised to transform the landscape of green insurance using Ripple’s CBDC blockchain-based application.

Ng’ang’a, the visionary founder and CEO, recently unveiled the company’s innovative application designed to revolutionize the insurance sector. Through the Shamba network and leveraging geospatial data, their parametric solution aims to streamline climate payments while integrating Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) for increased accessibility and efficiency on a local level.

In an exclusive interview with The Futurum Group’s podcast, Ng’ang’a shed light on the company’s ambitious plans, emphasizing their focus on incorporating crucial environmental data into the blockchain. Their cutting-edge blockchain oracle service, Block Beamer, showcased during the CBDC 2023 Innovator Challenge sponsored by Ripple, marks a significant step towards achieving their objectives.

The core expertise of Ng’ang’a’s company lies in rendering environmental data accessible on the blockchain. This includes pivotal information such as vegetation cover, forest fire incidences, and rainfall levels—integral data for applications like weather insurance.

The strategic approach of the company revolves around utilizing ecological data stored securely on the blockchain to drive parametric insurance. Ng’ang’a stressed the applicability of their solution to institutional users encompassing insurance corporations, banks, microfinance, and microinsurance organizations.

At the heart of this groundbreaking initiative lies the Ripple CBDC Platform, introduced in May and already garnering interest from numerous central banks and private financial institutions globally. Reports suggest potential benefits for up to 30 countries, including nations like Palau, underscoring the platform’s significance in advancing financial technologies.

Ng’ang’a highlighted the pivotal role of CBDCs in supporting humanitarian and environmental endeavors. He emphasized how these digital currencies act as catalysts for web3-based applications, fostering a hybrid solution that benefits both corporate entities and humanitarian agencies in addressing climate-related challenges.

A cornerstone of their solution is the Shamba network, functioning as an ecological data oracle that collates information from satellites operated by renowned entities like NASA and the European Space Agency. Leveraging geospatial science and machine learning, this data is then securely transferred to the blockchain, triggering smart contracts and applications.

Their parametric insurance solution relies on Oracle Shamba’s data insights to make informed insurance decisions. When potential weather risks like droughts are detected, smart contracts are activated to release CBDC funds stored within, enabling swift and efficient payouts to affected populations. Integration with local digital payment services further amplifies accessibility, and Ng’ang’a revealed the incorporation of an outbound function to facilitate payments in local currencies.

Crucially, the application is being developed on the Ripple EVM sidechain environment, enhancing its connection to the Ripple CBDC platform. This integration enables smart contracts to manage CBDCs deployed on the mainnet, driving this innovative and transformative solution forward.

Ripple’s proactive stance extends beyond technological advancements, with ongoing discussions underway with over a dozen governments worldwide. The objective is to collaborate in developing Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) utilizing Ripple’s blockchain-based technology, signaling a potential shift in the landscape of global finance.