Sahara - Decentralized Disaster Relief Platform

Transparent, instant, and trustless disaster relief on Solana blockchain

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Problem Statement
• Solution
• Demo
• Key Features
• Architecture
• Tech Stack
• Getting Started
• Contributing
• Code of Conduct
• License
• Contact
• FAQ

Overview

Sahara is a global, blockchain-based disaster relief platform built on Solana that enables direct, transparent, and instant aid distribution to verified disaster victims worldwide. By leveraging blockchain technology, we eliminate middlemen, reduce overhead costs, and ensure every dollar reaches those who need it most through a decentralized and auditable process.

Why Sahara?

• Global Scale: Generic location support for any country or region
• Instant: Sub-second transaction finality on Solana
• Low Cost: ~$0.00025 per transaction (vs traditional 30-40% overhead)
• Flexible Economy: Support for multiple tokens (USDC, SOL) and configurable platform fees
• Transparent: All transactions and configuration changes visible on-chain
• Role-Based Integrity: Verified NGOs and vetted Field Workers ensure on-ground legitimacy
• Direct: Wallet-to-wallet transfers, no intermediaries
• Accountable: Complete audit trail for all activities including admin actions

Problem Statement

Traditional disaster relief systems face critical challenges:

• Slow Distribution: Aid takes weeks to reach victims due to bureaucratic red tape
• High Overhead: 30-40% lost to administrative costs and intermediary fees
• Lack of Transparency: Donors often cannot track how their specific contributions are utilized
• Corruption & Fraud: Funds diverted or mismanaged; fake beneficiary claims
• Coordination Issues: Multiple NGOs working in silos leading to duplicated efforts or gaps
• Verification Delays: Lengthy manual beneficiary verification processes

Solution

Sahara solves these problems through a decentralized, transparent architecture:

Blockchain-Native Efficiency

• Direct Transfers: Wallet-to-wallet aid distribution cuts out intermediaries
• Instant Finality: Solana's high throughput ensures aid reaches victims in seconds
• Cost Efficiency: Near-zero transaction fees maximize the impact of every donation
• Complete Transparency: Immutable on-chain records for every donation, transfer, and verification

Robust Verification & Governance

• Configurable Verification: Flexible approval thresholds (e.g., 3-of-5 reviews) tailored to disaster severity
• Field Worker Network: On-ground verification by trusted, registered field workers
• Digital Identity: Blockchain-based identity prevents duplicate claims and fraud
• DAO-like Controls: Admin and Manager roles for platform governance and parameter updates

Flexible & Transparent Fund Management

• Smart Fund Pools: Disaster-specific pools with programmable distribution rules (Equal, Weighted, Time-locked)
• Multi-Asset Support: accept donations in SOL, USDC, and other SPL tokens
• Real-Time Auditing: Live tracking of fund flow from donor to beneficiary
• Automated Compliance: Smart contracts enforce distribution criteria automatically

Deployment

Program ID (Devnet): BJsug7cSxRHtTJWp8v247j4Co3ijKNVJXapH1CGTDFFn

Demo

Tip: Click on the image above to watch the demo video on YouTube.

Test Accounts

Test Accounts (Click to expand)

⚠️ Test Account Only: These are test wallets for demonstration purposes on Devnet. Do not use on Mainnet or send real funds.

Manager Account:

Private Key: 5hPRGL4DiBMQXKcehWou8C6LJMwhiWHQdgZZ6wd9mrkSxSNvMmvF69DMeoM1U1y8zS6Yk6t5ZsbVh7zGYtcQyjvb

Verified NGO Account:

Private Key: 31MWAnffDK68afoYPgctCqZzd4JFfmPnhxnibtPKbz5CAvUCXeo5nK4TDFKYVja6i5hWFL3uJvq5KgzHUgzLh5qf

This account is already registered and verified as an NGO on the platform. You can import it into your Solana wallet (Phantom, Solflare, etc.) to test NGO features such as:

• Creating disaster events
• Registering field workers
• Creating fund pools
• Distributing funds to beneficiaries

Key Features

Multi-Signature Verification System

• Configurable Verification: Flexible N-of-M approval thresholds (default 3-of-5) set per platform config
• Fraud Prevention: Prevents single-point manipulation through multi-signature requirements
• Decentralized Trust: No single entity controls the final verification decision
• Immutable Records: All identity checks and approvals are permanently recorded on-chain

Flexible Fund Distribution

• Multiple Distribution Types:
  • Equal Distribution: Split funds equally among beneficiaries
  • Family Size Weighted: Allocate based on family size
  • Damage Severity Weighted: Prioritize by damage assessment
• Time-Locked Distributions: Split immediate and locked funds (e.g., 70% immediate, 30% locked for 30 days)
• Eligibility Criteria: Set minimum family size or damage severity requirements
• Transparent Allocation: All distribution rules visible on-chain

Smart Fund Pools

• Disaster-Specific Pools: Create dedicated pools for each disaster event
• Target Amount Goals: Set fundraising targets
• Real-Time Balance Tracking: Monitor deposits, distributions, and claims
• Multiple Token Support: USDC and SOL (extensible to other SPL tokens)
• Pool Management: Activate, pause, or close pools as needed

Role-Based Access Control

• Platform Admin: Global oversight, parameter configuration, NGO verification
• Manager: Assist admin with platform operations (max 10 managers)
• Verified NGOs: Create disasters, manage fund pools, deploy field workers
• Field Workers: On-ground identity verification and beneficiary registration
• Beneficiaries: Verified recipients of direct aid distribution

Architecture

System Overview

graph TB
    subgraph "Frontend Layer"
        UI[Next.js Web App]
        Donor[Donors]
        NGO[NGOs]
        FW[Field Workers]
        Ben[Beneficiaries]
        Admin[Platform Admin]
    end

    subgraph "Blockchain Layer"
        Wallet[Solana Wallet Adapter]
        RPC[Solana RPC Node]
        Program[Anchor Program<br/>Smart Contract]
    end

    subgraph "On-Chain Storage"
        Config[Platform Config]
        Disasters[Disaster Events]
        NGOs[NGO Accounts]
        Workers[Field Workers]
        Beneficiaries[Beneficiary Profiles]
        Pools[Fund Pools]
        Dist[Distributions]
        Donations[Donation Records]
    end

    Donor --> UI
    NGO --> UI
    FW --> UI
    Ben --> UI
    Admin --> UI

    UI --> Wallet
    Wallet --> RPC
    RPC --> Program

    Program --> Config
    Program --> Disasters
    Program --> NGOs
    Program --> Workers
    Program --> Beneficiaries
    Program --> Pools
    Program --> Dist
    Program --> Donations

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Data Storage

All data stored on-chain in Solana accounts (no traditional database):

• Platform Config: Settings, admin, statistics
• Disasters: Event details, location, severity
• NGOs: Organization info, verification status
• Field Workers: Credentials, assigned districts
• Beneficiaries: Personal info, verification, approvals
• Fund Pools: Balances, distribution rules
• Distributions: Allocations, claim status
• Donation Records: Transaction history

Tech Stack

• Blockchain: Solana + Anchor 0.31.1 (Rust)
• Frontend: Next.js 16 + TypeScript 5.9
• UI: Tailwind CSS 4 + shadcn/ui
• Wallet: Solana Wallet Adapter
• State Management: TanStack Query (React Query)

Getting Started

For detailed setup and deployment instructions, please refer to the Complete Setup Guide.

Quick Start

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/exyreams/sahara_source.git
cd sahara_source

2. Follow the setup guide

See SETUP.md for:

• Prerequisites and installation
• Local development (Localnet) setup
• Devnet deployment
• Testing instructions
• Troubleshooting tips

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see our Contributing Guidelines for details on how to get started.

Code of Conduct

This project adheres to a Code of Conduct. By participating, you are expected to uphold this code.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Contact

• GitHub: @exyreams
• Project: github.com/exyreams/sahara_source

FAQ

Why Solana instead of Ethereum? : Solana offers sub-second finality and extremely low transaction costs (~$0.00025), making it ideal for high-frequency, low-value transactions common in disaster relief.

How do beneficiaries without crypto wallets receive funds? : Field workers can help create wallets on-site. Future phases will include SMS/USSD interfaces for feature phones.

What prevents fake beneficiary registrations? : A robust multi-signature verification system (with configurable thresholds) and on-ground validation by authorized Field Workers ensure only legitimate victims are registered.

Can donors see where their money goes? : Yes! All transactions are on-chain and fully transparent. Donors can track their donations in real-time.

What happens if an NGO becomes malicious? : Admins can blacklist or revoke verification for NGOs, immediately preventing them from accessing funds or creating new distributions.

How are exchange rates handled? : The platform primarily supports stablecoins (like USDC) to mitigate volatility. However, it supports multiple allowed tokens including SOL.

Are there platform fees? : Yes, the platform supports configurable fees (e.g., for platform maintenance or verified NGO sustainability), which are fully transparent on-chain.

Who governs the platform? : The platform uses a DAO-like structure where a Platform Admin, supported by up to 10 Managers, handles configuration, disputes, and critical updates.

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Built with ❤️ for disaster relief transparency by @exyreams

Making every donation count, one block at a time