Can an NFT save a gorilla? Can a smart contract instantly feed a climate-vulnerable farmer? The answer is yes, and you can see it in action in the UNDP’s SDG Blockchain Accelerator.

We are co-leading seven global initiatives in Cohort 2 that are showcasing FLock.io technology to deliver instant financial relief, ensure community benefit-sharing, and build transparent governance in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

They are building powerful use cases of blockchain-powered decentralised AI (deAI) and federated learning (FL) technology to drive meaningful impact across the developing world from climate action and finance to healthcare, wildlife conservation and cultural preservation.

As the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) AI Strategic Partner, we cannot wait to see where these initiatives go. They strive towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by tackling challenges in Liberia, Rwanda, Latin American & Caribbean region, India, Morocco, and Sierra Leone.

Here are the details of the seven cohort 2 projects we are representing.

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Harnessing Africa’s natural wealth: wildlife economy in Rwanda

NFT-based conservation financing platform combining digital collectibles, VR experiences, and gamification to replace tourism-dependent wildlife funding and empower local communities.

This project tackles the critical funding crisis facing gorilla conservation in Rwanda, which was severely impacted by a 70% drop in tourists due to COVID-19. Threatening both vital habitats and community livelihoods, this challenge required an innovative, sustainable solution. 

In collaboration with blockchain researchers from the University of Cambridge, this project develops an NFT-based conservation financing platform designed to replace tourism-dependent funding. By combining digital collectibles, VR experiences, and gamified engagement, the platform generates ongoing conservation revenue, ensures equitable benefit-sharing with local communities, and follows a Pan-African roadmap for scalable replication. 

This solution directly aligns with:

• SDG 4 (Quality Education)
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Blockchain for inclusive climate and gender finance in Latin American & Caribbean region 

Blockchain-enabled parametric micro insurance and gender responsive finance platform protecting smallholder farmers and women-led Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) from climate shocks and financial exclusion.

Addressing persistent financial exclusion and high climate vulnerability across the Latin American and Caribbean region (specifically focusing on the Dominican Republic and Peru), this team, also partnering with the University of Cambridge, is developing a unified blockchain-based financial platform. 

The solution integrates parametric climate insurance, gender-responsive lending, and micro-savings into one accessible system, specifically targeting women, youth, and informal workers. 

Built on transparency and digital identity, the platform is engineered to deliver insurance payouts within a critical 72 hours after climate events, support AI-enhanced financing for women entrepreneurs, and build long-term financial resilience for the unbanked and underbanked. 

The pilot targets 500-1,000 farmers ((≥ 4 0% women, ≥ 20% youth). It aims to reduce income loss by 20%, and it deploys ≥ 30% idle reserves to lower premiums.

This initiative strongly supports: 

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Blockchain for patient-centred governance in Mauritius & Seychelles

A blockchain-enabled system that empowers patients in Mauritius with transparent control over health data, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

This project focuses on the foundational challenge of patient trust in digital healthcare, particularly in Mauritius and Seychelles, where lapses in consent, transparency, and compliance risk undermining the system. Working with researchers from Lingnan University Hong Kong, the project is building patient-controlled data sharing and audit mechanisms. 

The solution leverages blockchain and federated learning to enable real-time consent management, significantly reduce legal risks for healthcare providers, and ensure compliance with the Mauritius Data Protection Act 2017. 

It allows patient notifications, completely prevents unauthorised access and allows 24/7 audit transparency.

By setting new standards for privacy and digital healthcare, this mechanism advances:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being)
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Empowering India’s rice farmers through blockchain carbon credits

For millions of smallholder rice farmers in India, access to global carbon markets remains out of reach due to expensive, time-consuming, and intermediary-controlled verification processes. This exclusion prevents farmers from benefiting directly from the climate value they create through sustainable practices. 

To solve this, FLock.io supported the development of a blockchain-based MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) system with NovaChat for UNDP India. This platform automates the tracking of field practices, quantifies emission reductions, and streamlines proof submission. By automating the MRV process and ensuring transparent data flow, the system enables farmers to directly access carbon credit income, effectively turning climate-smart agriculture into a sustainable livelihood opportunity. 

It engages 3,000 farmers across 2,500 hectares. The methodology is applicable to 44 million hectares of rice paddy in India. It targets 30% emission reduction.

This initiative is key to advancing: 

• SDG 1 (No Poverty)
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
• SDG 13 (Climate Action).

AI+Web3 SDG solution for Moroccan crafts, people and artisans

AI and Web3 platform empowering Moroccan artisans through NFT authentication, digital marketplaces, and global market access to increase income and preserve cultural heritage.

• Multi-modal AI creates marketing content (text/image/video) for artisans lacking digital skills.
• Direct market access eliminates intermediaries, increasing artisan compensation.
• Omnichannel integration connects artisans to global eCommerce, social media, and Web3 platforms.

This project supports Morocco’s artisans, who, despite preserving centuries of heritage, often suffer from low incomes, fragile value chains, and limited access to global markets. Teaming up with MesuAI, this initiative is building an on-chain platform that empowers artisans to authenticate their work, share their unique stories, and sell directly to a global audience.

There is an $8.3 billion global TAM (total addressable market), $680 million global SOM (serviceable obtainable market) and $8.3 billion domestic SOM.

This initiative aligns strongly with: 

• SDG 1 (No Poverty)
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

Sierra Leone carbon ledger initiative

Addressing critical gaps in data, access, and oversight that have marginalised communities from benefiting from global climate finance in Sierra Leone, this project partners with NovaChat to build a custom national carbon registry. 

Developed during the accelerator, the system is built on Avalanche and is designed to enable national emissions tracking, implement robust MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) systems, and ensure equitable benefit-sharing across Voluntary Carbon Market projects. 

By strengthening transparency and ensuring fair distribution of climate finance, this initiative aligns with the Paris Agreement and positions Sierra Leone as a regional leader in climate action. 

• Smart contract automation enables instant DSA disbursement in USD-pegged stablecoins.
• Immutable blockchain records prevent ghost beneficiaries and enable real-time fraud detection.
• Triple-access system supports mobile apps, USSD for basic phones, and paper vouchers for non-phone users.
• One-time KYC with face-photo authentication streamlines participant verification.
• Offline-first architecture designed for nationwide and West Africa scalability.

It distributes 20% of verified project proceeds to communities and there is $6-15m addressable historical profit through private VCM projects.

This solution is crucial for advancing: 

• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
• SDG 13 (Climate Action)
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Solving Liberia’s DSA payment challenge with blockchain wallet

The project establishes a blockchain-based payment architecture—supporting smartphones, feature phones, and paper vouchers—to instantly and transparently deliver Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) to workshop and training participants in Liberia, radically reducing payouts from up to a week to near-real-time.

It addresses a persistent issue for UN event participants in Liberia: the slow, manual process of receiving Daily Subsistence Allowances (DSA), which often takes days and relies on paper-based verification. 

In collaboration with Korea University, this team is co-designing a blockchain-based system for instant, transparent DSA disbursement across the country. 

The solution uses smart contracts to automatically release USD-pegged stablecoin payments. Participants can check in via QR code, biometrics, or USSD, including crucial offline options for areas lacking reliable connectivity. 

By cutting payout times from days to near-real-time and utilising immutable blockchain records to prevent fraud and ensure accountability, this project establishes a foundation for scalable, inclusive digital finance in West Africa. 

• Smart contract automation enables instant DSA (Daily Subsistence Allowance) disbursement in USD-pegged stablecoins.
• Immutable blockchain records prevent ghost beneficiaries and enable real-time fraud detection.
• Triple-access system supports mobile apps, USSD for basic phones, and paper vouchers for non-phone users.
• One-time KYC (Know Your Customer) with face-photo authentication streamlines participant verification.
• Offline-first architecture designed for nationwide and West Africa scalability.

It offers a near-instant payout, reducing the delay from up to 1 week. There is a 12-week development roadmap for MVP pilot. 

This initiative directly supports: 

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

About the SDG Blockchain Accelerator at the UNDP

The SDG Blockchain Accelerator is a global initiative that helps scale blockchain and AI solutions to advance the SDGs. Strategically led by UNDP’s Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab), in partnership with the Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), EMURGO Labs, FLock.io, Stellar Development Foundation and Sui Foundation. 

The Accelerator connects innovators with real-world challenges to turn ideas into impact. It is made possible through catalytic funding from the Cardano treasury, through Project Catalyst, alongside contributions from other partners.

More about FLock.io

FLock.io’s ecosystem consists of three key components: AI Arena, a platform for competitive model training; FL Alliance, a privacy-focused collaboration framework that enhances models while preserving data sovereignty; and Moonbase, our new rewards layer and AI model marketplace. We also just launched our API Platform.

Find out more about FLock.io by reading our docs and blogs. See a sneak peak of new launches coming in Q4 2025.

Read our recent blog to find out why blockchain isn’t a cliché at FLock.io, it’s essential for scaling FL.

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