The document introduces a questionnaire to determine how viable a blockchain project is. It contains technical suggestions on how to design transparent and reliable projects.
The Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Colombia (MinTIC) published, on Thursday, February 19, the Reference Guide for adopting and launching blockchain projects through public entities of the State.
The new document includes a set of changes compared to the draft version after the agency asked citizens to send feedback about the matter and other related observations. This action intends to ensure citizen’s participation in building the instrument that is part of the government’s strategy to promote innovation and the digital transformation process of public institutions.
On its official site, the MinTIC reflects that the guide presents the procedures and rules that public entities must obey and consider leading the development of projects related to blockchain.
Technical Recommendations on How These Projects Should be and what do the Entities Require to Operate them
It contains technical recommendations on how these projects should be and what do the entities require operating them and improving the effectiveness of public management and make the services that citizens receive more transparent.
The biggest obstacle is the citizens’ lack of trust regarding institutions of the State. “This level of mistrust is below 5% in our country,” said Mauricio Tovar, Colombia’s representative to the Ibero-American Blockchain Alliance, recently.
To face the mistrust crisis in the country, the Colombian government is turning to the implementation of projects based on blockchains. “Because the blockchain allows data’s record and publication without the need for intermediaries that could own or centralize such data. Citizens feel confident in the transparency of these processes,” says the statement from the MinTIC.
Tovar also added that several pilot projects consolidate how effective the blockchains are regarding the control of procedure and corruption. An example of this matter is the case of the School Feeding Program that is working since 2019.
Blockchain, a Useful and Versatile Technology
The Reference Guide for adopting blockchain projects in Colombia now introduces a questionnaire that public servants must answer to determine whether a particular project requires implementation through blockchains.
This questionnaire is one of the most significant changes that the instrument introduced. It was one of Mauricio Tovar’s points in August last year when the guide appeared.
Among the recommendations, the guide suggests “preferably, choose open source technologies that allow the public entity to quickly scale the solution, in a cost-efficient way, avoiding closed solutions or lock-in.”
There are also some warnings, such as the need to offer protection of users’ rights, especially their data. On this, Tovar points out:
“The properties of blockchain as a fundamental technology make these considerations particularly important, given the potential damage and subsequent effects that they can prevent in the verification of possible risks in the implementation of the project.”
By: Jenson Nuñez
