SDG Blockchain Accelerator

Scaling practical emerging technology solutions for sustainable development. Applications for Cohort 3 close on 30 September.

Apply today

Connecting development challenges with technology solutions

The SDG Blockchain Accelerator is a global initiative led by UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab) that helps develop and scale practical solutions powered by blockchain, AI, and other emerging technologies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Accelerator connects UN teams facing concrete development and implementation challenges within active programmes with leading tech partners and Solution Makers that can help address them. Together, matched teams move through a structured acceleration process that develops practical solutions with a pathway to implementation to strengthen services and deliver greater transparency, efficiency, inclusion, and accountability.

Across two global cohorts, 46 solutions have reached implementation-ready status, 70% are now embedded in ongoing national and regional programmes, and 12 are already being rolled out in country contexts.

Explore the partners ecosystem

The first two cohorts in numbers

  • 304

    development challenges submitted

  • 410+

    Solution Maker applications

  • 50

    teams participated across two cohorts

  • 46

    implementation-ready solutions graduated

  • 70%

    of solutions embedded in existing UN projects

  • 12

    solutions already rolling out in country contexts

How the Accelerator works

The Accelerator follows a collaborative process that connects development challenges with relevant technical expertise. Through structured matchmaking, co-development and implementation planning, teams turn identified needs into practical solutions ready to test, deploy and scale.

  • UNDP and other UN entities are invited to submit challenges rooted in existing programmes, portfolios, and country priorities. These should align with one or more of the Accelerator’s focus areas, such as digital payments, digital identity, traceability and supply chains, or data and privacy, and should represent areas where emerging technologies could help improve delivery, transparency, efficiency, inclusion, or accountability. The Accelerator assesses applications based on their programme readiness, team commitment, senior management support, implementation potential and fit with the programme’s focus areas.

  • The Accelerator works with leading technology and ecosystem partners to identify solution providers whose products or production-ready prototypes, technical expertise and delivery capabilities align with the challenge. Companies are assessed against maturity, service fit, geographic relevance, and readiness to work with UN and public-sector counterparts. Teams are then matched through a structured selection process.

  • During acceleration, matched teams receive technical expertise, implementation support, solution-development guidance and access to relevant partner resources. Support is tailored to each team’s needs across solution fit, knowledge and capacity. The programme helps teams develop viable solutions and practical pathways to implementation.

  • Following acceleration, support can continue around partnership development, procurement pathways, resource mobilization and implementation, depending on each project’s needs and readiness. Suitable projects may also be considered for potential catalytic funding and opportunities available through the wider partner ecosystem.

Who can participate

Challenge owners

UNDP Country Offices, regional bureaux, and other UN entities that bring forward development challenges and work with matched Solution Makers.

Solution makers

Technology companies and solution providers contributing mature products, technical expertise and implementation support through partner ecosystems.

Partners

Organizations contributing technical expertise, mentorship, infrastructure, ecosystem access, solution sourcing, and implementation support.

From open call to scaled deployment

Cohort 3 moves through four stages, from the open call in 2026 to deployment and continued support in 2027.

  1. 01

    Applications and selection

    Jul–Sep 2026

    UN teams submit development challenges, which are assessed and matched with suitable technology partners and solution providers.

  2. 02

    Acceleration

    Oct 2026 – Feb 2027

    Selected teams enter a four-month programme combining technical mentorship, solution development, implementation planning and communications support.

  3. 03

    Implementation and scale

    Feb – May 2027

    Teams prepare solutions for deployment by refining implementation plans, building partnerships and identifying procurement and funding pathways.

  4. 04

    Continued support

    From Jun 2027

    Teams receive post-acceleration guidance to support implementation, resource mobilization and opportunities to scale.

Development challenges the Accelerator can support

The Accelerator focuses on practical implementation challenges where emerging technologies can improve trust, transparency, efficiency, inclusion, and accountability. Projects may span one or more focus areas depending on the development challenge and implementation context.

Digital payments

Payment systems, cash transfers, remittances, purpose-bound transfers, financial inclusion tools, settlement layers, aid disbursement, and last-mile delivery.

Digital identity

Credentials, beneficiary verification, trusted access to services, privacy-preserving identity systems, eligibility records, and fraud reduction.

Traceability and supply chains

Product tracking, waste recovery, energy certificates, food and agricultural value chains, carbon credits, procurement records, and proof of responsible production.

Responsible data use and privacy

Data integrity, consent management, audit trails, monitoring and reporting systems, privacy-preserving data exchange, verification, and accountable use of sensitive records.

Technology layer supporting these focus areas

The Accelerator draws on partner expertise across blockchain and AI infrastructure to help teams identify the right technical approach for their development challenge.

Blockchain infrastructure and digital trust

Smart contracts, tokenization, verifiable records, digital identity, traceability, payments and settlement infrastructure, and transparent financial flows that strengthen trust and accountability.

AI and decentralized computing

Federated learning, privacy-preserving AI, customized models and agents, auditable workflows, AI-enabled public services, and cloud or decentralized computing infrastructure that strengthens institutional control over data, models and systems.

What we’re looking for

Projects where blockchain, AI, or related emerging technologies could help address a clearly defined development or implementation challenge. Strong projects:

  • Are connected to an active programme or portfolio within UNDP or another UN entity, with a credible pathway to implementation.
  • Address practical challenges related to the key focus areas.
  • Have a committed project team and support from senior leadership.
  • Are ready to collaborate with technology partners and solution providers.
  • Show potential to generate measurable development impact and learning.

Projects do not need to have a predefined technology solution. The Accelerator is designed to help teams explore, assess, and develop implementation pathways together with matched technology partners.

Bring your development challenge to the SDG Blockchain Accelerator

Selected teams will be connected with relevant technology partners and receive technical expertise, implementation support and access to wider ecosystem resources, with potential catalytic funding for suitable projects. Applications close on 30 September 2026.

Submit a project

Considering applying? Join a regional briefing

Join a regional online briefing to understand what Cohort 3 is looking for, explore relevant examples, walk through the application process, and discuss whether an existing project or implementation challenge could be a fit.

  1. Arab States

    Completed

  2. Africa

    Completed

  3. Asia-Pacific

    Completed

  4. Europe and Central Asia

    Completed

  5. Latin America and the Caribbean (English)

    Completed

  6. Latin America and the Caribbean (Spanish)

    16:00–17:00 CEST

    Open

    Register — Latin America and the Caribbean (Spanish)

  7. Asia-Pacific, second session

    08:00–09:00 CEST

    Open

    Register — Asia-Pacific, second session

Unable to attend your regional session? You are welcome to join another briefing that better suits your schedule.

New tech, new partners: Transforming development in the digital era

A snapshot of UNDP’s blockchain practice, exploring how emerging technologies can strengthen public systems and unlock new approaches to financing sustainable development.

Explore 40+ cases

Spotlight stories

How blockchain is being applied to development challenges on the ground.

Armenia

Tokenizing plastic recovery

Blockchain is helping create trusted records of plastic recovery, connecting local recycling efforts with global demand for verified environmental action.

Explore the story

Malawi

Predictive, transparent humanitarian aid

Featured in New Tech, New Partners, UNDP’s snapshot of its blockchain practice.

Read the case study

Tanzania

Building trust in carbon markets

Featured in New Tech, New Partners, UNDP’s snapshot of its blockchain practice.

Read the case study

Partners ecosystem

The Accelerator draws on UNDP’s growing engagement with the blockchain and emerging technology ecosystem. Strategic and technology partners contribute expertise, infrastructure and access to solution builders across every stage of the Accelerator. Current partners are also part of UNDP's Blockchain Advisory Group. If you're interested in partnering, write to us at ben.thompsoncoon@undp.org.

  • Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA)
    BGA is a global nonprofit initiative focused on using blockchain technology to address real-world societal challenges. BGA is the Accelerator’s strategic partner, supporting ecosystem engagement, programme visibility and connections across the broader blockchain-for-impact community.

  • Cardano Foundation
    The Cardano Foundation is an independent, Swiss-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing Cardano as a public digital infrastructure across industries. In the Accelerator, it contributes blockchain ecosystem expertise, digital trust infrastructure perspectives, and access to solution builders working on scalable, verifiable systems.

    Stellar Development Foundation (SDF)
    SDF is a nonprofit organization working to create more equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology and the Stellar network. In the Accelerator, SDF contributes expertise around blockchain-based payments, asset issuance, and transparent financial flows for delivery use cases.

    FLock Technology Holdings (FLock.io)
    FLock.io is a privacy-preserving AI research and infrastructure company headquartered in London. In the Accelerator, FLock.io leads projects building solutions that leverage federated learning and decentralised AI to solve data, governance, and implementation challenges across the developing world.

    DFINITY Foundation
    The DFINITY Foundation develops the Internet Computer, a decentralized cloud infrastructure for applications and AI agents. In the Accelerator, DFINITY contributes expertise around sovereign cloud, secure compute, decentralized hosting, and AI-enabled application infrastructure.

    Partisia Foundation
    The Partisia Foundation is an independent Swiss foundation stewarding the Partisia network and supporting the development and adoption of privacy-preserving digital infrastructure. In the Accelerator, Partisia contributes expertise around multiparty computation (MPC), confidential data processing, digital identity, and privacy-preserving approaches for data and AI applications.

  • Project Catalyst
    Project Catalyst is Cardano’s decentralized innovation engine and funding programme, supporting community-approved ideas and projects building on Cardano.

    EMURGO Labs
    EMURGO Labs develops blockchain products and infrastructure that support adoption across the Cardano ecosystem and EVM-compatible chains.

    Sui Foundation
    The Sui Foundation supports the growth and adoption of the Sui ecosystem by educating, activating, funding, and promoting builders and creators.

Get in touch

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