SDG Blockchain Accelerator
Scaling emerging technologies for sustainable development
COHORT 3
PROGRAMME HOME
Connecting development challenges with technology solutions
The Accelerator is a global initiative led by UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab) that helps develop and scale solutions powered by blockchain, AI, and other emerging technologies for sustainable development.
Led in partnership with leading technology organizations, the Accelerator connects development challenges with technology solutions. Through the Accelerator, UN teams work directly with responsible technology companies and innovators to develop, test, and implement solutions that address concrete development challenges in areas such as payments, digital identity, supply chains, data systems, transparency, and accountability. UNDP Country Offices and other UN entities identify opportunities where blockchain, AI and other emerging technologies could help improve transparency, efficiency, inclusion, accountability, or service delivery, while technology partners contribute products, technical expertise, and implementation support.
Together, matched teams move through a structured acceleration process that includes technical guidance, implementation planning, and post-acceleration support to turn promising ideas into practical, scalable solutions.
304
development challenges
410+
solution makers applied
50
teams participated across cohorts
46
implementation-ready solutions graduated
70%
of solutions embedded in existing UN projects
Bring your development challenge to the SDG Blockchain Accelerator
We are now open for applications. If you’re part of a UNDP Country Office, regional bureau, global team, or other UN entity and are exploring how blockchain, AI, or other emerging technologies could help address a development challenge, apply to join the Accelerator. Selected teams will work with leading innovators to explore, develop, and implement solutions for sustainable development.
Apply by September 10
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.
CROSS-CUTTING CAPABILITY
Sovereign AI
A cross-cutting focus across the Accelerator, supporting AI approaches that enable organizations to retain control over their data, models, and infrastructure while promoting privacy, transparency, security, 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, from public blockchain rails and verifiable records to decentralized AI training, sovereign cloud infrastructure, and AI agent systems.
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.
Sovereign cloud and secure compute
Decentralized cloud infrastructure for hosting applications, data systems, credentials, and AI-enabled services.
SELECTION SIGNALS
What we’re looking for
We are 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
Challenge owners are UNDP Country Offices, regional bureaux, and other UN entities that bring forward development challenges. Selected challenge owners are matched with solution makers and work together throughout the acceleration process to explore potential solutions.
Solution makers
Technology companies and innovators that contribute products, technical expertise, and implementation support. Solution Makers are identified through our Accelerator partners and partner ecosystems and matched to selected challenges through a structured process.
Partners
Organizations that support the Accelerator through technical expertise, mentorship, infrastructure, funding, ecosystem access, solution sourcing, and implementation support, helping teams move from exploration to implementation.
SPOTLIGHT
Case studies
Tokenizing plastic recovery in Armenia
What happens when every kilogram of recovered plastic can be independently verified? In Armenia, blockchain is helping create trusted records of plastic recovery, connecting local recycling efforts with global demand for verified environmental action.
Predictive, transparent humanitarian aid in Malawi
Getting aid to the right people at the right time requires better information. In Malawi, AI and blockchain are being explored to improve aid verification, strengthen transparency, and support faster responses during crises.
Building trust in Tanzania’s carbon markets
As carbon markets grow, trust becomes essential. Tanzania is piloting a blockchain-enabled registry and marketplace to improve transparency, traceability, and confidence in climate finance transactions.