The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) this week announced a partnership with Algorand Foundation to launch a blockchain academy to provide UNDP staff with knowledge and insights into the applications of blockchain technology. The announcement was made onstage today at the Algorand Impact Summit in New Delhi by Robert Pasicko, UNDP’s expert for alternative finance and low-carbon development.
The Algorand Blockchain Academy will launch in 2024 and is designed to bolster UNDP staff capacity through education and training in blockchain technology and its practical applications for sustainable development. The curriculum will consist of recorded lectures, interactive workshops and hands-on assignments and will be made available to all 22,000-plus UNDP employees in more than 170 countries and territories, in addition to staff members at other UN agencies.
“The Algorand Blockchain Academy will be instrumental in equipping our team with the tools needed to address complex global challenges using blockchain technology,” said Pasicko. “We are thrilled to be in a position to leverage the credibility and expertise of the Algorand Foundation and key members of their ecosystem in order to upskill, empower, and inspire UN practitioners around the world.”
One program focus is financial inclusion. The parties will explore the use of blockchain to extend financial services to marginalized communities. Another is supply chain transparency. Enhancing transparency in supply chains, combatting issues like child labor, and promoting sustainable sourcing.
Real-world asset tokenization will also be considered. They will look at fractional ownership’s potential to increase accessibility for a wider variety of investors. Finally the groups will look at developing secure and universal digital identity solutions to support social and financial inclusion
“We are excited to partner with the UNDP to promote innovation and technology for the betterment of society,” says Doro Unger-Lee, head of education and inclusion at Algorand Foundation. “We see this education and tooling initiative as a critical first step toward identifying and delivering actionable, on-the-ground use-cases of blockchain to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in a number of areas.”
In addition to the team at the Algorand Foundation, the curriculum will also include speakers from Algorand ecosystem projects including HesabPay, Wholechain, Koibanx, and Quantum Temple.
The beta iteration will commence in Q1 2024 and will continue to roll out throughout the year to reach the global staff.
