The United Nations has introduced a blockchain academy to enhance the skills of its staff globally.

The United Nations is taking a significant step towards integrating blockchain technology into its operations by launching an expanded blockchain academy aimed at upskilling over 24,000 staff members worldwide. This initiative, which was unveiled on November 19, is a collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Algorand Foundation.

The academy, initially launched in late 2023, is designed to educate UN personnel on the fundamentals of blockchain technology, enabling them to understand how this innovative tool can contribute to sustainable development and address global challenges. The UN has recognized blockchain’s potential, particularly its transparency and efficiency, as a means to improve the impact of its development projects. As Doro Unger-Lee, the head of education and financial inclusion at the Algorand Foundation, pointed out, “Blockchain is one of these essential technologies, as its transparency and efficiency makes sustainable development programmes even more impactful.”

The expanded academy now offers a more comprehensive curriculum, available to employees at the United Nations Development Programme, UN Volunteers, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund. During its beta phase, the academy already certified over 30 UN personnel and provided more than 18 hours of blockchain-related training. This expansion reflects the increasing importance of blockchain in global development work, especially as the UN seeks to modernize and optimize its operations.

Blockchain is not new to the UN; since 2015, the UNDP has been exploring its potential in a variety of applications, from tracking supply chains in industries like cocoa to facilitating digital impact investments. In addition to the academy, the UN is integrating blockchain into other initiatives, such as the launch of the Guardian and Managed Guardian Service platform in December 2023. This platform, powered by Hedera’s blockchain, is designed to support carbon markets by providing digital measurement, reporting, and verification, further demonstrating the UN’s commitment to leveraging blockchain for sustainability and transparency.

This upskilling initiative represents a significant effort by the UN to embrace blockchain technology, not only to improve its own operations but also to help its personnel understand and harness this technology for a more sustainable and equitable global future.