

In this conversation, Burcu discusses the council’s core mission: bringing together leaders from the private sector, multilateral organizations, and technology providers to ensure digital payment initiatives are as efficient and inclusive as possible, so that vulnerable communities are not left behind.

She outlines the real challenges faced in disaster and conflict settings, where access to cash and basic goods can break down entirely. From earthquake response to cross-border remittances, Burcu explains how high fees, slow transfers, and fragmented systems prevent aid from reaching people when they need it most.

The discussion explores how policy reform, unified distribution mechanisms, and initiatives such as the UNDP Blockchain Academy are helping modernize public infrastructure. Burcu also highlights how blockchain-based payments can reduce remittance costs, improve transparency, increase efficiency, and ensure funds reach the intended recipients directly and on time.

The Humanitarian Aid Payments Council convened leaders from across the humanitarian, financial, and technology sectors to examine practical, real-world applications of blockchain and digital payments in global aid efforts.

At the Humanitarian Aid Payments Council, hosted by the Algorand Foundation in Berlin in September 2025, Burcu Mavis, Blockchain Academy and Accelerator Lead at UNDP AltFinLab, shares her perspective on how digital payments and blockchain infrastructure can strengthen humanitarian response.