SDG Blockchain
Accelerator
Scaling emerging technologies for sustainable development
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 – Jan 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 are typically matched to one or more focus areas, with blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, privacy, and digital infrastructure applied where they strengthen delivery and implementation.
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.
Sovereign AI & Cloud
AI approaches and cloud infrastructure that help organizations retain control over their data, models, and infrastructure while supporting privacy, security, transparency, and responsible governance.
Technology layer matched to 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, and settlement layers.
Payments and asset infrastructure
Bulk disbursements, stable-value transfers, issued assets, and transparent financial flows for scalable delivery.
Decentralized AI and agent systems
Federated learning, privacy-preserving model development, AI agents, on-chain identity, escrow, and auditable workflows.
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
