UNDP Establishes Blockchain Advisory Group to Support Digital Public Infrastructure

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has taken a significant step forward in its efforts to harness the potential of blockchain technology for global development. In an effort to explore the full range of possibilities offered by this emerging technology, the UNDP has established a Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG).

Comprising 26 members from various organizations, including the Ethereum Foundation and Kraken, the BAG will focus on collaboration and exchange between development actors and stakeholders within the blockchain ecosystem. The group's objectives are to investigate how blockchain can be used to support digital public infrastructure, digital identity, and public-sector trust systems.

The UNDP has already made significant inroads in implementing blockchain technology in various countries around the world. For instance, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the organization is supporting a program that enables the issuance of verifiable digital university diplomas stored in a digital wallet compliant with eIDAS standards. In Malawi, the UNDP has developed a blockchain-supported digital verification system to register and verify households in need of humanitarian aid.

The establishment of the BAG reflects growing interest among international development organizations in using blockchain-based infrastructure to support verifiable credentials, digital wallets, aid distribution, and trusted public services. With its focus on collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the group is poised to make significant contributions to the advancement of blockchain technology for global development.