In collaboration with the Dutch government’s “Blockchain Pilots” program, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is exploring the potential integration of distributed ledger technology on legal applications, both within the UN System, as well as with external entities.

The joint initiative will gather thirteen authors to provide individual research findings to be published in summer, after which an event will be launched in New York, slated to be held in September.

According to UNOPS special advisor Yoshiyuki Yamamoto:

“The aim of this publication is to act as a catalyst to discuss the legal implications that blockchain has, not only in humanitarian and development work, which is our prime concern, but also on existing regulatory frameworks, data and identity more broadly.”

Dutch government’s “Blockchain Pilots” program manager Koen Hartog posited that:

“For blockchain to reach its full potential, a clear understanding of the legal implications involved is required.”

UNOPS, being the operational arm for UN System implementation, has been seen across the globe collaborating with its partners in an effort to advance the UN’s goals for sustainable development.

As has been proven by previous initiatives, this would not be the first time UNOPS has delved into distributed ledger technologies for Blockchain-based solutions. In the past, UNOPS has once explored the utilization of Blockchain in solving humanitarian issues. Its partnership with the Dutch government’s program aims to find legal use cases which would serve as point of reference for both international organizations and public administration officials.