The UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab), in partnership with the Algorand Foundation, has launched the second global cohort of the Blockchain Academy, drawing unprecedented interest from across the UN system. Designed to strengthen practical understanding of responsible blockchain use for sustainable development, the call attracted strong engagement from colleagues across UNDP, UNCDF, and UNV (within UNDP), signalling growing interest in applied learning on emerging technologies.
The second global cohort attracted 533 applications from 111 countries. Following the eligibility screening process, 497 participants were selected, including 416 colleagues from UNDP, 69 from UNCDF, and 12 from UNV (within UNDP), spanning diverse functions, regions, and levels of seniority.
The composition of the cohort underscores the Academy’s role as an entry point for learning as well as a space for deeper exploration. More than 80 percent of participants self-identified as newcomers or beginners in blockchain, while a smaller share reported intermediate or advanced familiarity. This mix reinforces the Academy’s design philosophy: meeting colleagues where they are, while building a shared baseline for responsible use.
Participants’ stated interests point to concrete delivery challenges rather than abstract technology. The most common areas of interest include decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain for donors, supply-chain traceability, decentralized digital identity, payments, and carbon credit markets, alongside growing curiosity around tokenization and NFTs for impact. Together, these priorities reflect where blockchain is increasingly intersecting with development practice – from financial flows and trust in aid delivery to climate-linked systems and accountability.
Building on the experiences of Cohort 1, the learning journey is structured and designed to adapt to the participants’ schedules. Running from January to May 2026, the Academy incorporates self-paced modules with live expert sessions, case studies, and workshops. Four core modules cover blockchain fundamentals, responsible use, governance, and sustainability, followed by optional deep dives into areas such as digital identity, digital payments, carbon markets, tokenization, and supply-chain traceability. Live sessions and office hours create a collaborative environment where participants can test assumptions, ask foundational questions, and receive practical guidance.
Delivered in English and Spanish, the Academy is intentionally accessible to colleagues at different starting points – particularly those seeking to explore how blockchain might apply to real development challenges. Participants engage directly with practitioners and experts from a growing network of blockchain-for-good organizations, while peer exchange remains central to the learning experience. Beyond the formal programme, participants stay connected through the Academy forum, the UNIN Blockchain Community of Practice, and post-Academy pathways designed to support further exploration and implementation.
The Blockchain Academy is designed to build practical, long-term capacity for engaging with emerging technologies such as blockchain across the UN system. Learning is anchored in real delivery contexts, with attention to governance, safeguards, and public-interest considerations. The Academy helps connect colleagues working across payments, identity, traceability, and climate-linked systems – supporting a shared understanding of what responsible experimentation requires and how early ideas can progress toward well-governed pilots and implementation.
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