UN Upgrades Pension System with Blockchain-Based Identity Verification

Global peacekeeping body, the United Nations, has called blockchain the “ultimate technology for digital identity verification” in a new white paper that details how it implemented a blockchain-based digital identity solution into its United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

The system, known as the Digital Certificate of Entitlement (DCE), allows members of the pension fund who receive periodic benefits to prove they’re still alive and eligible to receive the payments. 

The UN developed the system in collaboration with the Hyperledger Foundation. Development on a pilot program began back in 2020, before going into production in 2021.

The new blockchain-based identity solution enables the fund’s clients throughout 190 countries to access services using a self-sovereign identity (SSI) — so they can maintain ownership of their identity and control the use of their personal information. 

The self-sovereign identity (SSI) paradigm underpinning the UNJSPF solution represents a fundamental rethinking of how identities are managed in the digital age. Unlike traditional systems where identities are controlled by central authorities, blockchain enables individuals to own and manage their identities independently.

Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio, Chief Information Officer, UNJSPF

The UN said the system’s decentralised architecture also significantly reduces the risk of hacks and identity theft compared to centralised database-based solutions, which often have a single point of catastrophic failure.

“Traditional identity management systems face vulnerabilities such as data breaches, identity theft, and user privacy concerns. Blockchain technology offers a decentralized, tamper-resistant alternative that enables secure, seamless and interoperable identity verification across organizations,” the paper found.

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Blockchain-based System Replaces Decades-Old Paper System

The blockchain-based solution replaces a decades-old paper-based verification process, which was highly inefficient and error-prone, resulting in an average of 1400 payment suspensions a year, according to the white paper.

“The shift away from physical documentation has substantially reduced processing times previously spent on receiving, opening, scanning, and archiving paper documents,” the paper’s authors wrote.

The new system has also resulted in significant efficiency gains, reduced administrative overhead and improved data security, benefiting both the UN itself and the users of the pension system.

“By adopting the DCE, UNJSPF has streamlined operations, reduced administrative costs, and implemented a tamper-proof system benefiting thousands of retirees from the UN and 24 other UNJSPF member organizations worldwide.”

Related: Buterin Warns ZK-Wrapped IDs Aren’t Enough, Advocates ‘Pluralistic Identity’ for True Privacy

On the back of the success of this system, the UN is now looking to expand access across more of its agencies and organisations and potentially open up access to external organisations.

“Looking forward, the implications are far-reaching. This initiative opens the door to broader applications of secure digital identity within the UN system and beyond,” Sameer Chauhan, Director of UN International Computing Centre, wrote. 

“From facilitating user authentication in service delivery platforms to enabling interoperable credentials and secure data exchange, the foundational principles tested here can inform a wide range of future use cases. This initiative is a foundation on which further UN-wide digital solutions can be built, adapted, and scaled with confidence.”