Blockchain and eGovernment Convergence for the Optimization of ODA Activities in Developing Countries: A Scoping Review

The blockchain technology, which is the underlying technology of bitcoin, has revolutionized different sectors like fintech, education, healthcare and even the public sector of many countries, further attesting to the potency of ICT in spearheading the paradigm shift brought about by its adoption and use in organizations and economies. The decentralized nature of the blockchain makes its convergence with eGovernment suitable for enhancing transparent and trust-worthy public processes and can be used to facilitate the efficient management of activities of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), accessible through the intervention programs of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as well as the Official Development Assistance (ODA) given to developing countries. This scoping review paper presents insights to enable Donor Aid providers and International Cooperation Agencies that are preparing to carry out new intervention projects to optimize their activities, by increasing the transparency and trustworthiness of their transactions. This study will also serve as a guide for researchers who wish to embark on evidence synthesis on the impact of blockchain technology and eGovernment convergence on the optimization of ODA activities in developing countries. Results from this study reveal that even though the blockchain technology has great prospects and can be applied as proposed: 1. There have been a very limited number of studies conducted on it so far; Certain factors like lack of political will, wrong implementation choices, and a lack of concrete guidelines can thwart the whole effort of the implementing organization. The authors also recommend steps for overcoming such hurdles and achieving optimal outcomes.