The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is set to launch two key initiatives to assist governments in adopting blockchain technology, as revealed by Robert Pasicko, leader of UNDP's financial technology team, AltFinLab. The first initiative is a blockchain education program for government officials, building on the existing UNDP blockchain academy for UN staff, and the second is a blockchain advisory body to provide expert guidance.
Pasicko confirmed that the new academy will begin operations "in a few weeks," with formal approval expected within one to two weeks, and it will initially select four governments to collaborate with. "Training is just part of it," he noted, emphasizing that the UNDP will also support project development to move initiatives from concept to implementation. Research conducted by the UNDP identified 300 potential use cases for blockchain in government applications, focusing on areas like digital payments, national identity systems, and financial inclusion.
The advisory group was discussed during a UN general assembly in New York, attended by 25 leading blockchain companies, including the Ethereum Foundation, Stellar Foundation, and Polygon Labs. If all proceeds smoothly, this advisory project could go live in two to three months. UNDP already has pilot programs in 20 countries aimed at enhancing financial inclusion through blockchain, with partners like Decaf, a crypto-powered payment system that enables access to financial services without traditional banks.
Pasicko compared the evolution of banking infrastructure to the decline of public phone booths, questioning the future need for ATMs and suggesting that intermediaries could become obsolete. He expects a combination of cryptocurrencies, private stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) to drive this change, tailored to different jurisdictions. "You need an internet connection, you need your smartphone. There is nothing else you need for these transactions," he stated, while cautioning that blockchain's impact depends on deployment—it could either widen inequalities or serve the masses.
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