NEW YORK - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) expands its blockchain education academy globally, offering its training to 24,000 personnel worldwide from UNDP, UN Volunteers and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The blockchain and web3 training for the academy is provided by UNDP, in partnership with the Algorand Foundation, an organization focused on enabling an inclusive, decentralized, and borderless global economy.
"Harnessing technology helps humankind achieve its ambitious goals. Blockchain is one of these essential technologies, as its transparency and efficiency makes sustainable development programmes even more impactful. Our aim in launching this academy alongside UNDP is to help more personnel understand blockchain. From there, they can evaluate how using this will help them in their efforts to build a more sustainable and equitable future," said Doro Unger-Lee, Head of Education and Financial Inclusion at the Algorand Foundation.
"At UNDP, we recognize that emerging technologies like blockchain have the potential to transform how we deliver development solutions. By launching the Academy, we aim to equip participants with the tools and insights to design blockchain solutions while fostering a dynamic community of practice that enables collaboration and the sharing of best practices to address common challenges. We further aim to bring these solutions to life through our acceleration programmes and extensive blockchain networks," Burcu Mavis, Blockchain Academy and Accelerator Lead at UNDP.
The Blockchain Academy was announced in late 2023, with its curriculum specifically designed to provide staff with training in blockchain technology, including how the technology can be used for sustainable development projects. During its beta phase, the academy certified more than 30 UN personnel and added more than 18 hours of training to its curriculum. Building on this success, today's launch features an expanded curriculum available to all UNDP, UN Volunteers and UNCDF personnel worldwide.
The Algorand Foundation has historically supported the UN and has helped pursue the achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals through various initiatives. In June 2024, the foundation led the creation of a council seeking to increase access to blockchain-based cash assistance during humanitarian crises. Other members of the council include WorldPay, Circle, and UNDP. The Algorand blockchain is also used by several startups and enterprises for SDG-related work, including the expansion of sustainable supply chains, inclusive finance and aid, and other impactful products and initiatives.
UNDP has been exploring blockchain technologies and their application since 2015, supporting the implementation of solutions across numerous countries - from tracking cocoa supply chains and democratizing energy trading to enabling digital impact coins for investment. Through its Alternative Finance Lab, UNDP is working to engage the Algorand Foundation and other blockchain partners for training, project incubation, and technical support to accelerate blockchain adoption in development. The launch of the global Blockchain Academy marks a significant milestone in scaling blockchain knowledge across the UN system, enabling thousands of personnel to understand and apply this technology for sustainable development. By combining practical training with access to ecosystem expertise, this initiative aims to accelerate the implementation of blockchain solutions that enhance transparency, efficiency, and inclusion across development programmes.
Learn more about the Blockchain Academy.
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries and territories, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.
About Algorand Foundation
Algorand's mission is to power a world where information has integrity and innovative ideas can scale. The Algorand Foundation supports Algorand's rapidly growing ecosystem by providing a best-in-class developer environment, supporting key infrastructure and setting technical standards, offering comprehensive support to builders and entrepreneurs, and providing the framework for decentralized governance. The Algorand (ALGO) blockchain has grown into a vibrant ecosystem of developers, entrepreneurs, and enterprise partners that benefit from institutional-grade certainty and resilience. Its low fees, instant finality, and minimal carbon footprint appeal to the protocol's millions of retail users, and developers of all kinds appreciate the ability to use common programming languages like Python. Builders on Algorand are creating protocols and companies that solve important problems at a global scale: instant payments in war and disaster zones, self-sovereign identity for the disenfranchised, supply-chain traceability for global commerce, permissionless protocols addressing financial inclusion, and the creation of entirely new markets through tokenization, to name a few. To learn more and start your journey on Algorand, visit algorand.co
