JIU/REP/2020/7 United Nations Blockchain applications in the United Nations system: towards a state of readiness Report of the Joint Inspection Unit Prepared by Petru Dumitriu JIU/REP/2020/7 Original: English Blockchain applications in the United Nations system: towards a state of readiness Report of the Joint Inspection Unit Prepared by Petru Dumitriu United Nations • Geneva, 2020 Project team: Petru Dumitriu, Inspector Stefan Helck, Evaluation and Inspection Officer Eleyeba Bricks, Research Assistant Dejan Dincic, Consultant Ruichuan Yu, Intern Simon Christopher Mueller, Intern JIU/REP/2020/7 Executive summary Blockchain applications in the United Nations system: towards a state of readiness Blockchain in the context of digital transformation Blockchain is among the extending technologies whose fusion and interaction across the physical, digital and biological systems define the profile of the fourth industrial revolution. Even if the technology is still young, given its potential impact, weighing the trade-offs and determining regulatory action and operational frameworks should be a subject for multi-stakeholder dialogue, including in the United Nations system. In its first years (2008–2013), blockchain was perceived as one of the most promising digital technologies, despite its relatively modest essence (a shared ledger of data). Blockchain has been proclaimed by some as the greatest innovation since the advent of the Internet, even though it builds on previously existing technologies (cryptographic techniques, peer-to-peer networking, consensus protocols) by combining them together in a very innovative way. The proponents of the technology claimed that it would disrupt every industry and would have a massive impact on the lives of individuals. The erosion of general trust in institutions generated in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis only added to the power of attraction of bitcoin as the first major use of blockchain. The popularity of blockchain has seen a historic rise and a considerable fall, with little evidence of significant impact beyond the controversial history of bitcoin, the original blockchain application. The high rate of failures of start-ups proved that engaging in blockchain without careful consideration of the associated risks could be detrimental to the concrete objectives of private companies or public organizations. The emergence of new platforms after 2013, in particular Ethereum, opened new paths for blockchain applications, including smart contracts. At present, the hype is over, and the time has come for blockchain to move towards business-ready solutions and proven results. The technology is still in its infancy but is gradually maturing. The evangelists of blockchain, who prevailed in the debate over blockchain in the early years of its development, have made way to providers of business solutions. The users and the theorists have come to realize that blockchain is neither an end in itself, nor a panacea for unsolved problems. Investments in the technology increase and so does the diversity of the blockchain landscape. According to a recent study, while blockchain was once classified as a technology experiment, it has made the leap from the theoretical to the practical and is increasingly recognized as a true agent of change. More leaders now see blockchain as integral to organizational innovation. They are investing resources in blockchain as a strategic solution in more tangible ways (see, for example, “Deloitte’s 2020 global blockchain survey: From promise to reality”). In the same vein, another study estimates that blockchain technology has the potential to boost global gross domestic product by $1.76 trillion over the next decade.1 The United Nations system organizations could not stand aside and watch developments in the industry. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the strategic calls for innovation that have followed it, have prompted some organizations to take the lead and experiment with blockchain applications, mostly for operational activities. Some organizations are contemplating visionary ideas for very ambitious applications based on blockchain: a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination certification infrastructure (a partnership between the World Health Organization and the Government of Estonia), a 1 PwC, “Time for trust: the trillion-dollar reasons to rethink blockchain” (October 2020). iii JIU/REP/2020/7 unique United Nations ID (the United Nations Digital Solution Centre, founded by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the United Nations International Computing Centre) and a draft governance framework for humanitarian assistance (issued by WFP and its partners in the “Building Blocks” project). There is considerable work in progress in the United Nations system: standards are being developed, legal aspects examined and blockchain pilots carried out. Ten organizations use blockchain applications for different types of projects and operations, individually and in collaboration. The ongoing use cases, most of them at field level, include supply chain, digital payments, tracing of livestock, digital identity and land registration. Most organizations that are not using blockchain now, are considering a possible use in the future. Their interest will grow and mature as innovation in blockchain accelerates. However, the resources used for blockchain are minimal and its history in the United Nations system is short: from 2017 to 2020. The Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) review was conducted with a view to looking to the future. The present report is intended to assist the participating organizations, in particular those willing to implement blockchain applications but not yet having the means, the knowledge or clear objectives to do so. In a nutshell, the main purpose of the report is to assemble information and a package of recommendations leading to a state of readiness of United Nations system organizations for making good use of the technology. The main dilemmas faced by JIU in its attempt to take a balanced approach to blockchain were, by and large, the following: (a) Using a language accessible to readers who are non-technical, including senior managers, while being accurate enough for the United Nations staff involved directly in the promotion or practical use of blockchains; (b) Moving the focus on recommendations from a traditional compliance perspective to a prospective focus and from too prescriptive a standpoint to a more flexible scenario-based approach, without prejudice to the specificity of the United Nations system; (c) Arguing for a fundamental change of attitude towards innovation, from a wait- and-see approach (let us see what the technology would let us do) to a proactive one (let us see what technology could do for us); (d) Keeping as much as possible the balance between highlighting the potential benefits of blockchain (without promoting unconditional adoption of the technology) on the one hand and the risks and challenges involved (without discouraging innovation) on the other hand; (e) Trying to propose a specific United Nations decision-making approach to using blockchain, whose original concept was born with the clear underlying intention of circumventing central control. Such an approach is not likely to be cognizant of the values of the United Nations and its vocation to deliver public goods; (f) Demystifying the aura that surrounded the technology when it was being hyped and conveying the message that adopting blockchain is less a technological decision than a pragmatic, business-serving decision. The report contains both arguments and caveats as presented by the participating organizations, while the recommendations and the elements for a decision-making matrix are all proposed by them. The report is also intended as a contribution to the collective efforts triggered by recent overarching strategies on new technologies and the future of work, which address the issue of innovation and the use of digital technologies by the United Nations system in an action-oriented approach. The use of blockchain is viewed in the context of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, in support of the vision contained in the report of United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation. iv JIU/REP/2020/7 Objectives The specific objectives of the JIU review of blockchain applications were to: (a) Map the current use of blockchain applications in the United Nations system; (b) Compile lessons learned during this phase of incipient development and identify good practices; (c) Identify main challenges and risks related to the use of blockchain; (d) Explore the potential use of blockchain to facilitate greater inter-agency cooperation and efficiency; (e) Provide inputs for developing guidance, standards and frameworks for the future use of blockchain applications. In chapter V and recommendation 4 below, JIU proposes a decision-making matrix, developed in full consideration of the specificity of the United Nations, for the rigorous determination of the use cases for which blockchain is really the best option compared to traditional alternatives. The sequence that is recommended describes a simple but comprehensive decision-making process, in several layers, that includes a minimalistic decision tree for the adoption of a blockchain solution, passing through the choice of a specific blockchain platform and the optimization