IrisGuard are delighted to have won a GLOMO Award, Best Mobile Innovation Supporting Emergency or Humanitarian Situations for “Covid-safe mobile iris payment solution, enabling uninterrupted access to aid for millions”. The Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards celebrate the companies and individuals driving innovation in the rapidly evolving mobile industry.

Under the Tech4Good category the award was presented live by Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA. As IrisGuard are a long-term supporter and practitioner of five of the main UN SDGs, this was particularly meaningful as it was he who led the mobile industry in becoming the first sector to broadly commit to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2016 and is now spearheading initiatives to accelerate the mobile industry’s impact in all 17 of the SDGs.

Making the final 5 shortlist, IrisGuard was judged against strong contenders including Asiacell in Iraq, and, SK Telecom and the Korean Red Cross. The Judges had this to say about our win “An effective technology and good solution, particularly for a refugee community, but with many other potential humanitarian applications.”

The GSMA’s CEO, John Hoffman commented, “Congratulations to all the winners and nominees of the GSMA’s GLOMO Awards 2021. You truly embody the theme of this year’s event, Connected Impact. Given the particularly challenging circumstances we’ve all faced over the last 15 months, it’s more important than ever to come together to recognise the incredible innovation and ingenuity shaping our industry, as well as the positive impact this is making on the world around us.”

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For IrisGuard, the deployment of usage this award recognises started in 2019. Building upon our EyeCloud® back-end services the EyePay® Phone allowed humanitarian support to be delivered daily direct to the point of need whilst still maintaining safe contactless practices and providing iris biometric proof-of-life. Donor accountability and personal entitlement was protected and there was no requirement to use any other form of ID documents or cards, which can often be lost or fraudulently used. Currently utilized by nearly 40 UN agencies and NGOs in partnership with banks, post offices, mobile wallets and national ID schemes, our systems provide a targeted financial platform for regular distribution of aid, pensions, social welfare and ever more increasingly, cash assistance.

Our latest innovations have allowed not just un-interrupted supply during Covid lockdown but expansion of the service into homes and greater local support. Over 2.7 million people, who had no other means of receiving access to aid in cash and food continue to receive support during this current pandemic.

Simon Reed, Deputy Director of IrisGuard commented on the win, “The strategic introduction of the unique iris EyePay® Phone in 2019 dramatically increased the ability to serve more refugees and people in need quickly and efficiently. Winning this award as a true Tech4Good deployment makes me extremely proud personally and for the whole team at IrisGuard.”