Blockchain Academy
The Blockchain Academy invites you to embark on a learning journey that demystifies blockchain and equips you with the skills to apply it for social impact.
Transform the future of the SDGs with hands-on blockchain skills
Are you ready to harness the power of blockchain to accelerate innovation and solve development challenges? If you’re part of UNDP, UNCDF, or UNV (within UNDP), this is your opportunity to be at the forefront of digital transformation in development.
The Blockchain Academy, powered by UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab) in partnership with the Algorand Foundation, invites you to embark on a learning journey that demystifies blockchain and equips you with the skills to apply it for social impact.
From advancing financial inclusion and climate action to strengthening transparency and accountability, the Academy explores how blockchain can transform the way we deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Since its launch in 2024, the Academy has trained 1000+ participants from 130+ countries across the UN system. Each cohort brings together diverse participants united by a mission: using technology to create a fairer, greener, and more inclusive world.
What we offer
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Combining self-paced and live sessions on blockchain fundamentals, real-world use cases, and policy frameworks.
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Participants work on the ideation of blockchain-based solutions addressing concrete development challenges.
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Access to leading blockchain professionals, UNDP specialists, and innovation experts.
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Practical deep-dives on areas such as digital identity, climate action, and inclusive finance.
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Join a growing global network of peers advancing blockchain for sustainable development.
Interested in joining the Academy?
Get in touch to learn about upcoming opportunities or discuss partnering with us to bring the Academy to your region.
Our programme
The Academy runs for approximately three to four months, combining hands-on learning, and a strong community network to help participants understand how to apply blockchain for sustainable development. It includes recorded lectures, interactive live discussions, case studies, and workshops. As part of the Blockchain Academy, you will be invited to other events and opportunities in the blockchain space.
Participants complete four mandatory modules followed by optional deep dives on specialized topics. To receive certification, participants must successfully finish all mandatory modules, assignments, and at least two optional modules.
Post-academy opportunities
Top-performing projects from the Blockchain Academy can gain entry to the SDG Blockchain Accelerator – a programme designed to provide hands-on mentorship and access to partners and resources needed to move promising ideas toward real-world deployment.
Participants also join the broader UN Blockchain Community of Practice for ongoing learning opportunities, peer exchange, and collaboration across the UN system.
Participants complete four mandatory modules followed by optional deep dives on specialized topics. To receive certification, participants must successfully finish all mandatory modules, assignments, and at least two optional modules.
What people are saying
“After years in IT and software engineering, I rarely came across learning experiences that truly shift my perspective, but the Blockchain Academy did exactly that. […] This program expanded my understanding of blockchain far beyond theory and inspired me to think creatively about how we can apply it.”
“Blockchain always felt confusing and intimidating to me. […] The Blockchain Academy changed that. Through clear, practical learning, it demystified the technology and showed how blockchain can drive transparency, efficiency, and trust in global systems.”
“The Academy fosters a culture of ideation and curiosity, encouraging learners to reimagine challenges through the lens of blockchain while staying rooted in practicality. For teams seeking to explore how this technology could transform their operational or programmatic work, this is a fantastic first step."
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GrantsFund4Aid, an on-chain grant management platform developed by Innofund, has concluded a pilot testing how blockchain technology can support more transparent, traceable and efficient grant management. It successfully disbursed test grants to ten teams participating…
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Circle Foundation announces support for United Nations Development Programme and World Food Programme to advance digital payments for development and humanitarian action
NEW YORK — [September 25, 2026] — Circle Foundation, a philanthropic initiative supported by Circle Internet Group, Inc.’s (NYSE: CRCL) 1% equity commitment, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP),…
Partners
The Blockchain Academy is an initiative by UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab), implemented in collaboration with Algorand Foundation.
