UNDP is set to launch a blockchain academy for government officials and international think tanks, with over 300 potential use cases already identified for the public sector.
The United Nations Development Programme is launching two major initiatives to accelerate the use of blockchain technology in public governance and economic development in its member countries. The move marks a new step in its efforts to digitize the public sector and expand access to global financial services.
Robert Pasicko, head of UNDP's AltFinLab fintech team, announced at UN City headquarters in Copenhagen that the organization will officially launch a blockchain training program for government officials in the coming weeks. The program will build on UNDP's existing internal blockchain academy, but will be expanded to serve national governments. The first four countries will be selected to participate, with the expectation of formal approval within one to two weeks.
What is unique about this initiative is that UNDP goes beyond theoretical training. Pasicko stressed that the organization will accompany governments to the actual project implementation phase, with more than 300 potential use cases already researched and identified. These applications cover a wide range of areas from administrative management to economic and social development.
Forming a global blockchain consulting network
In parallel with the academy, the UNDP is forming an international blockchain advisory body coordinated by the United Nations. The idea was discussed at the UN General Assembly in New York with the participation of 25 leading blockchain companies in the world, including the Ethereum Foundation, Stellar Foundation and Polygon Labs. If progress is favorable, the advisory body could officially operate within the next two to three months.
Currently, UNDP has implemented pilot programs in 20 countries, focusing on the goal of promoting financial inclusion through blockchain technology. One of the typical partners is Decaf, a payment system using crypto assets that helps people access financial services without going through traditional banks. Pasicko questions the need for banking intermediaries when technology has enabled direct transactions with just an internet connection and a smartphone.
As for the future of traditional financial infrastructure, Pasicko predicts that ATMs will become obsolete, similar to the fate of public phone booths. He believes that this transformation will come from a combination of cryptocurrencies, private stablecoins and central bank digital currencies, depending on the preferences of each jurisdiction.
However, he also warned about the duality of technology, when blockchain can become a tool to consolidate power or serve the common good, depending on how it is deployed and how it is used.
