The United Nations Development Programme is poised to introduce a “Government Blockchain Academy” aimed at educating the public sector about cryptocurrency and other emerging technologies.
On Monday, the agency announced a partnership with the not-for-profit organization Exponential Science Foundation to launch the academy next year.
“The Academy will provide tailored educational programs and implementation strategies that leverage blockchain, AI, and other emerging technologies to facilitate transformative changes in government,” the UNDP stated.
The agency is focused on aiding nations in creating sustainable long-term economic growth to alleviate poverty. According to Chainalysis, developing nations such as India, Pakistan, and Vietnam were among the leading adopters of cryptocurrency technology this year.
Academy to focus on financial services and digital ID
The UNDP indicated that the academy would prioritize education that aims to deploy blockchain technologies to tackle “urgent development challenges.”
Irena Cerovic, a UNDP team leader for Europe and Central Asia, mentioned that the academy will enable countries to “address intricate development issues in innovative ways and transition from experimentation to real-world implementation, thereby enhancing transparency, inclusivity, and resilience.”
Among its focus areas is the development of “trusted, verifiable digital credentials that improve access to services,” as well as enhancing access to financial services and digital payments.
The academy will also provide education on utilizing blockchain for tracking and accounting within public procurement processes, establishing “tamper-resistant recordkeeping” to combat corruption, and employing tokens and smart contracts for climate finance initiatives, such as monitoring carbon credits.
UNDP plans to launch the blockchain academy next year
While the UNDP did not specify exact timelines, it mentioned that the academy would begin launching in certain countries starting in 2026, with curriculum development commencing this year.
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The program is set to offer instruction both in-person and online, along with forums, providing governments with “structured support” to develop “impactful blockchain initiatives that align with national priorities.”
Agency launched a “blockchain academy” last year
The forthcoming government blockchain academy follows the agency’s launch of a similar initiative that went live last year.
In late 2023, the UNDP collaborated with the Algorand Foundation to train its 22,000 staff on blockchain technology to enhance efforts toward sustainable growth in various countries.
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