Research on the Impact of Digital Payment Solutions for Public Good

Host entity: UNDP

Application deadline: 08/10/2026

Mission and objectives

Established in 1965, UNDP is the United Nations’ global development network, operating in nearly 170 countries and territories. Its mission is to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience to crises and shocks. The Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) is UNDP’s primary knowledge and advisory center for the Europe and Central Asia region.

Assignment context

UNDP's Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab), based at the Istanbul Regional Hub, designs and tests innovative financing mechanisms in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. A central programme within AltFinLab's portfolio is the SDG Blockchain Accelerator, which has supported country-level implementations of blockchain-based digital payment solutions across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The programme works primarily with unbanked and underbanked populations in fragile and low-infrastructure contexts, partnering with local fintech startups, NGOs, and public sector entities to deliver cash transfers, aid disbursements, and community investment flows through non-custodial digital wallets.

As the programme matures, AltFinLab requires a rigorous, evidence-based understanding of how blockchain-based digital payment solutions are generating measurable impact for last-mile beneficiaries, particularly in the UNDP RBEC region, which includes countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and others where AltFinLab is actively scoping new engagements. The research produced through this assignment will directly inform AltFinLab's post-acceleration investment framework, its engagement with development finance institutions and impact investors, and the design of future accelerator cohorts.
The assignment supports SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), specifically target 10.c, which calls for reducing remittance transaction costs to below 3% by 2030.

Task description

We are looking for 3 Online Volunteer with a strong background in financial research and development finance to support AltFinLab's ongoing work on blockchain-enabled digital payment solutions. The task will include the following responsibilities:

- Discuss and determine research parameters and scope with the AltFinLab team, with a focus on the UNDP RBEC region and the broader accelerator country portfolio
- Identify and gather sources, including academic literature, practitioner reports, and programme documentation from UNDP country offices and partner organizations
- Conduct structured research on the impact of blockchain-based digital payment solutions for public good programmes, with sub-focus areas including investment readiness of pilot-stage implementations, financial sustainability and cost-efficiency for last-mile beneficiaries, and the evidence gap between technology performance metrics and development finance indicators
- Develop a concise research report synthesizing findings and translating them into evidence relevant to DFIs, impact investors, and UNDP country office decision-makers
- The average estimated workload is expected to include roughly reviewing 5 to 7 documents over the course of the entire duration, including academic studies, UNDP programme reports, and practitioner frameworks from institutions such as CGAP, the World Bank, and the GSMA.

Skills and experience

Candidates should have strong research and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to synthesize evidence from academic and practitioner sources into structured, readable outputs. Background knowledge and working experience in development finance, financial inclusion, fintech evaluation, or blockchain applications in development contexts is highly desirable.

Direct familiarity with frameworks such as IRIS+, CGAP evaluation methodology, or DFI impact measurement standards is a strong asset. Experience working with or within a UN agency, international organization, or research institution is an advantage.

A degree in finance, economics, international development, or a related field at postgraduate level is considered an asset.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.