The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) and the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) have unveiled a white paper outlining their progress in digital identity through the implementation of the blockchain-powered Digital Certificate of Entitlement (DCE).
The publication, titled Transforming Public Digital Identity: A Blockchain Case in Action from the UN System, highlights how the DCE has redefined pension verification for over 70,000 beneficiaries across 190 countries. Developed in partnership between UNJSPF and UNICC, the solution replaces a long-standing paper-based process with a digital system that incorporates blockchain, biometrics, artificial intelligence, and geo-location technologies.
The transition has brought notable results. The report stated that paper processing has decreased by 40 percent, archiving costs have been reduced by 95 percent, overtime expenses have been cut by 76.5 percent, and the digital system has achieved a user retention rate of 99.96 percent. These achievements are being linked to the UN’s wider agenda of driving digital transformation and operational efficiency.
Launch of the DCE Consortium Initiative
The white paper also presented the DCE Consortium Initiative, which seeks to extend the DCE framework as a service to other UN agencies and international bodies. This model emphasizes shared governance, cost recovery, and digital collaboration, aligning with major global strategies such as the UN’s Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future.
The initiative builds on earlier developments, including a face biometric pilot carried out five years ago by UNJSPF in collaboration with the ICC. That pilot laid the groundwork for automating pension processes through optimized identity verification, eventually culminating in the creation of the DCE.
📄 New white paper from UNICC and UNJSPF
The paper shows how the Digital Certificate of Entitlement (DCE) is more than a pension solution. It is a model for how #blockchain can modernize digital identity across the UN system.
Read more 👉 https://t.co/dBQHK56py0 pic.twitter.com/KrVWWBzFBH
— UNICC (@unicc_ict) September 18, 2025
UN Digital ID Gains Momentum
Parallel to the DCE, the United Nations is working on expanding its broader UN Digital ID initiative. Originally pitched by staff members as a means of simplifying operations across the organization’s 30-plus agencies, the proposal aimed to strengthen efficiency and enhance data interoperability.
The concept was formally introduced during the Reimagine the UN Together Challenge in 2020, when Massimiliano Merelli, then a World Food Programme team leader, presented a three-minute pitch for a unified digital identity. Merelli now serves as the UN Digital ID Programme Director, overseeing the initiative’s evolution from concept to full-scale program.
The UN Digital ID is designed to be portable and interoperable across the system. By integrating blockchain, biometrics, and mobile-first features, it enables UN personnel to securely manage and share verified personal data. Supported by the High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM), the initiative has since developed into a formally recognized program within the UN system.
Toward a Borderless Digital Ecosystem
The overarching objective of these digital identity efforts is to expand the UN Digital ID across all agencies, creating what is described as a borderless digital ecosystem for a global workforce. By combining blockchain technology with biometric verification and digital collaboration frameworks, the UN is seeking to establish a model that not only transforms pension verification but also sets a foundation for system-wide identity management.
The deployment of the DCE and the advancement of the UN Digital ID highlight how blockchain and emerging technologies are reshaping public digital identity. These initiatives reflect a broader trend in international governance, where innovation is being applied to streamline processes, strengthen security, and deliver cost efficiency on a global scale.
