PRESS RELEASE: Econet, The Commons Project, and The Tony Blair Institute Announce Partnership to Support the Reopening of Borders in Africa
Trusted Global Platform Behind CommonPass App Streamlines Health Entry Requirements For International Travel And Events
3 May, 2021 - The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), ECONET through its subsidiary Cassava Fintech International (Cassava Fintech) and The Commons Project Foundation today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to help countries safely reopen borders during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, The Commons Project Foundation announced that Cassava Fintech is the latest member to join the CommonTrust Network, a global network of public and private stakeholders committed to empowering individuals with digital access to their health information in an open, interoperable and verifiable way.
As countries seek to relax border restrictions, quarantines and lock-downs, they need a more reliable, trustworthy and efficient way to validate the health status of incoming travelers. Even with low passenger volumes, airports around the world have been plagued with long lines as airline staff and border guards scrutinize easily forged paper-based test and vaccination certificates. Health pass apps and QR codes can help, but only if the test results or vaccination records they contain are verifiable and come from trusted sources.
The Commons Project Foundation and the World Economic Forum launched the CommonTrust Network in collaboration with a broad, voluntary network of public and private stakeholders to help ensure that only verifiable lab results and vaccination records from trusted sources are presented for the purposes of cross-border travel and commerce. The CommonTrust Network serves as a global registry of trusted laboratory, vaccination and health record data sources. It is operated on a not-for-profit basis as an open, shared service for the common good.
TBI has been working with countries and multilateral organisations globally as they roll out Covid-19 vaccination programmes and seek to restore confidence in international travel and facilitate movement of people in a post-Covid-19 environment. TBI recognises the urgency of developing interoperable digital platforms enabling effective vaccine management for governments and citizens to securely share health information.
Cassava Fintech develops digital platforms and fintech solutions that transform lives and ensure a financially inclusive future “that leaves no African behind”.
In partnership with TCP, TBI and Cassava Fintech will:
Engage and support the relevant testing and vaccination providers and public health registries in Africa to join the CommonTrust Network as Data Sources.
Engage and support the relevant governments, airlines and other destinations in Africa to join the CommonTrust Network and accept CommonPass for incoming travellers.
Support policy making, public awareness and other efforts to support the spread of the CommonTrust Network and CommonPass in Africa.
Darlington Mandivenga, CEO of Cassava Fintech, said: “We are excited to join the CommonTrust Network and to play our part in ensuring a safe return to normal, productive lives for citizens and businesses across the world, following the disruption caused by the pandemic. The objectives of this network very much align with our business model in which we leverage digital technology to offer solutions that address people’s problems.”
Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of TBI, said: “We are delighted to join with Cassava Fintech and The Commons Project Foundation to support and further this important initiative. As vaccination rollout programmes gather momentum, the ability to share vaccine records with the relevant authorities in a secure, accessible, interoperable and digital format will be essential to ensuring that Africa’s people and economies remain connected to the rest of the world.”
The CommonTrust Network:
Empowers people with digital access to their health information so they can demonstrate their health status while protecting their data privacy.
Provides governments a trustworthy model for verification and acceptance of international lab tests and vaccination records, whether digital or paper-based.
Supports airlines, airports, cruises, hotels, employers and venues with a trusted health certificate to streamline entry.
Paul Meyer, CEO of The Commons Project Foundation, said: “The shared mission of CommonTrust Network members is to empower individuals with digital access to their health information so they can improve their health, inform their care and demonstrate their health status when they travel, all while protecting their data privacy. The Commons Project Foundation welcomes Cassava Fintech to the CommonTrust Network, and recognize the Tony Blair Institute for their shared commitment to safely reopening international borders.”
About Cassava Fintech International
Cassava Fintech develops digital platforms and fintech solutions that transform lives and ensure a financially inclusive future that leaves no African behind.
Cassava developed Africa’s first and truly global super App – Sasai – a multi-service technology platform that brings together digital payment solutions, on-demand services, instant messaging and digital content, on a single, easy-to-use mobile application.
In selected markets across Africa, Cassava Fintech has been able to drive financial inclusion from under 10% to as high as 80% through solutions that have created thousands of jobs and business opportunities for African entrepreneurs.
About TBI
TBI’s Government Advisory Practice directly supports leaders in their on-the-ground fight against COVID-19, while our Policy Futures unit delivers analysis and advice to help countries mitigate economic impacts, source essential equipment, harness the power of technology and position themselves for the rebuilding to come.
About The Commons Project Foundation
A non-profit public trust established with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, The Commons Project Foundation builds and operates digital platforms and services for the common good. Our mission-driven structure is designed to attract world-class talent to build and sustain digital public services in a way that serves people's interests above all. Beginning with health information, we are focused on empowering people to access and control their personal data and put it to use for their own benefit.
Learn more about The Commons Project Foundation
Learn more about our initiatives CommonPass | CommonHealth | Vaccine Credential Initiative
Follow us on Twitter via @commons_prjct | @mycommonpass | @mycommonhealth
Follow us on LinkedIn via The Commons Project Foundation
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For non-media information, please contact info@thecommonsproject.org
Media Contacts:
Cassava Fintech International
communications@cassavafintech.com
HMphwanthe@econetwireless.com
Tony Blair Institute
David Mills
Head of Media Relations
d.mills@institute.global
The Commons Project Foundation
Alex Newby
alexn@120over80mktg.com
press@thecommonsproject.org
