The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is scaling up its blockchain training to a global audience. Starting November 19, 2024, the organization’s Blockchain Academy will open to more than 24,000 personnel from UNDP, UN Volunteers (UNV), and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The plan is simple but ambitious: give staff the knowledge to apply blockchain and Web3 tools directly to development work across the world. UNDP has been working with blockchain for years. Back in 2015, the agency began testing how digital ledgers could help monitor projects, strengthen transparency, and track funding in real time. From mapping cocoa supply chains in Ghana to supporting digital tokens that attract sustainable investment, those early experiments proved the technology’s potential. The new academy builds on that foundation by training people who can apply these ideas locally, not just talk about them in theory. The training is delivered with support from the Algorand Foundation, a nonprofit group promoting open and inclusive financial systems. Doro Unger-Lee, who leads Education and Financial Inclusion at Algorand, said blockchain’s transparency makes it a strong fit for sustainable development. She explained that the goal is to help staff understand how the technology can make operations faster and more reliable. As blockchain enters mainstream use, even industries like online casinos are experimenting with decentralized payments and new digital options. Some are learning from platforms such as Bovada, for example, which inspired several alternatives that use blockchain technology today to offer broader access, faster withdrawals, and different bonus models (source: https://www.pokerstrategy.com/online-casinos/bovada-alternatives/ ). Burcu Mavis, who heads UNDP’s Blockchain Academy and Accelerator, said the new program isn’t just about coursework. It’s about people connecting across borders to exchange what works. The academy will create a global learning network where participants can share practical examples from their own countries. That kind of peer collaboration, Mavis said, will help blockchain projects succeed in the field instead of remaining pilot concepts that never scale up. The beta version of the academy gave UNDP useful data to build on. About 30 staff members completed certification during that phase, which included roughly 18 hours of structured lessons. Now, the full version offers more topics, including public finance applications, digital identity, and renewable energy trading. Each section pairs technical content with real use cases from ongoing UNDP initiatives, giving trainees a clear sense of how blockchain can help communities on the ground. Algorand’s involvement goes beyond education. Earlier in 2024, the foundation helped form a council to expand blockchain-based humanitarian cash programs. That group includes WorldPay, Circle, and UNDP itself. The Algorand blockchain is known for its low fees, minimal energy use, and near-instant processing times. Those features make it well-suited for public projects that handle large volumes of small transactions, such as distributing aid or verifying clean-energy credits. UNDP’s Alternative Finance Lab has long been the testing ground for these ideas. The lab brings in technical partners like Algorand to run pilots, train staff, and provide the kind of project support that helps new ideas survive past the prototype stage. It’s also where teams experiment with digital impact coins and peer-to-peer energy systems. The new academy fits naturally into that ecosystem, serving as the educational bridge between exploration and execution. By rolling out blockchain education at this scale, UNDP is preparing its workforce for a digital future that’s already here. Participants won’t just learn how the technology works. Instead, they’ll explore when and why it makes sense to use it. If the initiative succeeds, thousands of UN staff will walk away with the confidence to apply blockchain where it matters most, from improving aid delivery to making resource management more transparent. The technology isn’t a silver bullet, but with the right training, it can become a valuable tool for progress that people around the world can actually feel. Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Times Tabloid, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. The post UNDP Expands Global Blockchain Academy to Train Thousands in Emerging Tech appeared first on Times Tabloid .
