UNDP and Algorand Forge Partnership for Blockchain Education Advancement

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has collaborated with the Algorand Foundation to inaugurate a Blockchain Academy. This partnership aims to equip over 22,000 UNDP employees across 170 countries and territories, along with staff from other UN agencies, with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in blockchain technology.

Scheduled for a 2024 launch, the Algorand Blockchain Academy intends to fortify the expertise of UNDP personnel through an educational program. This curriculum encompasses recorded lectures, interactive workshops, and practical assignments tailored to familiarize participants with blockchain applications for sustainable development.

“The training is instrumental in equipping our team with the tools needed to address complex global challenges using blockchain technology,” said Robert Pasicko, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub’s expert for alternative finance and low carbon development, at the Algorand Impact Summit last week. “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.”

The program will focus on diverse areas, including enhancing financial inclusion, transparency in supply chains, asset tokenization, and secure digital identity solutions. Doro Unger-Lee, Head of education and inclusion at the Algorand Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about this partnership, emphasizing its role in fostering innovation and technology for societal progress. "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,” Doro said.

Notably, the curriculum will feature contributions from key Algorand ecosystem projects like HesabPay, Wholechain, Koibanx, and Quantum Temple. The platform's pilot testing is set to commence in early 2024, with a gradual rollout throughout the year.