To end the year 2018 with a bang, the IKIGUIDE team is very happy to bring the spotlight to Arcadier’s recent partnership with the United Nations. This revolutionary partnership seeks to battle non-communicable diseases in developing economies!

Arcadier, a Singapore-headquartered online marketplace builder, is chosen by the United Nations Office for Project Services’ (UNOPS) Defeat-NCD Partnership as the partner for their Defeat-NCD (Non-Communicable Disease) marketplace.

Established in January 2018, the Defeat-NCD Partnership is a Private-Public-People Partnership which was established in January 2018 to tackle the most significant global health problem of the age: Non communicable diseases kill more than 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. In November 2018, Arcadier also announced the launch of Project ArcadierX, their blockchain-enhanced marketplace platform which aims to introduce immutability, transparency and decentralisation to the global B2B and B2C eCommerce markets, while enhancing trust through blockchain.

“We are honoured that UNOPS has chosen us as the partner for this innovative project for social good. An online marketplace can improve trust and connectivity, thereby increasing transparency and access to important and life-saving supplies. We believe that our deep expertise helping businesses build marketplaces can help effect serious change and impact people and communities.”

–Dinuke Ranasinghe, Chief Executive Officer of Arcadier

The online marketplace aims to enable the cost-effective and efficient provision of essential NCD supplies to national NCD programmes in low-resource countries. Blockchain technology will be used to track NCD supplies so that all stakeholders can have peace of mind regarding the origin and path of the NCD supplies. This blockchain use case has a huge potential to impact millions of lives in developing economies around the world.

Set to launch by end Q1 2019, the marketplace will be made available to pre-approved buyers, including government agencies and non-governmental groups, who will be able to source for NCD supplies, including medicines, diagnostics and equipment, from manufacturers.

Having these supplies in a global, private marketplace will allow multiple countries to pool their buying power and demand together; resulting in lower prices from greater efficiencies in planning, manufacturing and the supply chain. This online marketplace will ensure accessibility and affordability of medicines, diagnostics and equipment, with better supply chain processes and transparency. This dramatically frees up unused and underutilised capacity in the economy, delivering huge welfare surpluses to all stakeholders involved.

Arcadier aims to deploy the marketplace in 100 resource-poor countries over the next three to five years. At launch, a pilot with six countries representing Southeast Asia, Africa, Central Europe and the Americas, will be able to purchase pre-approved supplies and undergo training from Arcadier on the use of the system.

“The world is moving towards digitisation and the UN is constantly seeking new technology to solve major world issues. We are excited to partner with Arcadier to create the Defeat-NCD Marketplace, which will reduce barriers and costs in the distribution of quality-assured NCD medicines, diagnostics and associated equipment to where they are needed most, speedily and reliably.”

–Dr Mukesh Kapila, Chief Executive of the Defeat-NCD Partnership

Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore government agency that champions enterprise development, and the national agency for trade promotion that spearheads the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and start-ups, has been an important supporter in enabling this project. With their assistance, Arcadier will be able to connect with private sector partners (in pharmaceutical, financing and supply chain industries) to achieve the long-term goals of this partnership.

“Enterprise Singapore is pleased to support this partnership between Arcadier and the UNOPS. This is a great example of how a Singapore digital marketplace company is on its way to make a difference globally by connecting medical suppliers and buyers to combat NCD. This is made possible through Arcadier’s proprietary technology and it also shows how disruptive technologies and digitalisation can transform the way trade is conducted. Enterprise Singapore will continue to enable local champions like Arcadier, and welcome global collaborative projects like this to be sited in Singapore, where it can benefit from the robust infrastructure, skilled talent pool and excellent connectivity.”

–Mr Satvinder Singh, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Singapore.

Our team at IKIGUIDE is very excited about this use case of blockchain in developing economies and look forward to the development of this project with the United Nations!

Have a Happy 2019, everyone!