The United Nations announced today in a press release that it will expand its Blockchain Academy and provide blockchain training to more than 24,000 staff members. The initiative, developed in partnership with the Algorand Foundation, aims to equip United Nations staff with the skills needed to leverage blockchain technology to support the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN Blockchain Academy, launching in late 2023, has already seen some success, with more than 30 UN staff expected to obtain their certificate this month. As the program expands to new sectors to collaborate with, including a broader curriculum, it will now provide specialized blockchain training to United Nations Development Program (UNDP) staff, United Nations Volunteers and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
Blockchain training to promote sustainable development at the United Nations
Doro Unger-Lee, Head of Education and Financial Inclusion at the Algorand Foundation, explained why blockchain is important in tackling today’s global challenges. “Blockchain is one of these key technologies as its transparency and efficiency allow sustainability programs to become even more powerful,” she said.
The training provided by the academy helps UN staff understand how blockchain can help build a more sustainable and equal future. The effort is part of the UN’s ongoing exploration of blockchain applications, which include supply chain tracking and digital impact investing projects.
In recent years, UNDP has experimented with blockchain to track cocoa supply chains and conduct carbon market transactions. These initiatives represent the latest expansion of the United Nations’ broader push to integrate innovative technologies into development programs.
Blockchain is becoming increasingly central to the fight for a more sustainable world, and the United Nations Development Program continues to advocate for new, cutting-edge solutions to achieve this goal. The organization hopes that the enlargement Blockchain Academy will enable its staff to further use these technologies to create positive change for good, now and in the future.
