SDG Blockchain
Accelerator
Scaling emerging technologies for sustainable development
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PROGRAMME HOME
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).
Led in partnership with leading technology organizations, the Accelerator pairs UN teams with concrete development challenges – from digital payments and identity to traceability, supply chains, and data systems – with the innovators and solution-makers who can help address them. Together, matched teams move through a structured acceleration process – technical guidance, implementation planning, and post-acceleration support – that turns promising ideas into practical, scalable solutions that 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 unrolled in country contexts. Join our 2026 Cohort and create change that scales!
development challenges
solution makers applied
teams participated across cohorts
implementation-ready solutions graduated
of solutions embedded in existing UN projects
PROGRAMME TIMELINE
From open call to scaled deployment
01/ OPEN CALL
Applications and matchmaking
Jul–Sep 2026
02/ TEAMS ANNOUNCED
Acceleration
Oct 2026 – Feb 2027
03/ DEPLOYMENT
Scaling and deployment
Feb – May 2027
04/ BEYOND THE PROGRAMME
Continued
support
From Jun 2027
COHORT 3
Bring your development challenge to the SDG Blockchain Accelerator
Selected UN teams work with leading innovators to explore, develop, and implement practical solutions for sustainable development.
PROCESS
How the Accelerator works
01
Identifying development challenges
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 readiness, team commitment, and alignment with the programme’s focus areas.
02
Matching challenges with solutions
The Accelerator works with leading technology and ecosystem partners to identify solution providers whose products, prototypes, expertise, and 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.
03
Acceleration programme
Over four months, matched teams receive business-development support, technical mentorship, solution architecture guidance, communications support, and structured feedback – alongside targeted visibility and ecosystem access. The programme turns early-stage pilots into responsible, scalable solutions ready for deployment.
04
Pathways to scale
Following acceleration, matched teams continue with implementation planning, partnership development, procurement pathways, resource mobilization, and other post-acceleration support. The goal is to help turn promising concepts into practical, scalable solutions and support their transition from experimentation to implementation and scaling.
FOCUS AREAS
Where emerging tech can deliver development impact
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 & Supply Chains
Product tracking, waste recovery, energy certificates, food and agricultural value chains, carbon credits, procurement records, and proof of responsible production.
Data 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 rails 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, and cloud or decentralized computing infrastructure that strengthens institutional control over data, models and systems.
SELECTION SIGNALS
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 UNDP programme or portfolio with a 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.
PARTICIPATION
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 innovators contributing products, technical expertise, and implementation support through partner ecosystems.
Partners
Organizations contributing technical expertise, mentorship, infrastructure, ecosystem access, solution sourcing, and implementation support.
SPOTLIGHT
Case studies
ARMENIA
Blockchain is helping create trusted records of plastic recovery, connecting local recycling efforts with global demand for verified environmental action.
Take the next step
GET IN TOUCH
Interested in collaborating?
Connect with the Accelerator team to explore participation, partnerships, or opportunities to support implementation.
FEATURED RESOURCE
New Tech, New Partners
A snapshot of UNDP’s Blockchain practice
Partners
Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA)
BGA is a global nonprofit initiative focused on using blockchain technology to address real-world societal challenges. In the Accelerator, BGA supports the strategic partnership model, ecosystem convening, visibility, and alignment with the broader blockchain-for-impact agenda.
Cardano Foundation
The Cardano Foundation is an independent Swiss-based nonprofit organization advancing Cardano as public digital infrastructure. 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 provides decentralized AI infrastructure for privacy-preserving model training and deployment. In the Accelerator, FLock.io contributes expertise around federated learning, decentralized AI, and AI-enabled approaches for data, governance, and implementation challenges.
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.