Tether teams up with UN on African digital security initiatives
Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin, has announced a partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The collaboration aims to address cybersecurity challenges and provide public education about digital asset security across Africa.
This comes at a time when Africa is seeing rapid growth in cryptocurrency adoption. Actually, it’s become the third-fastest-growing crypto region globally. With that growth comes increased security risks, and perhaps that’s why this partnership feels timely. The UNODC focuses on combating illicit drugs, organized crime, terrorism, and corruption worldwide.
Three key projects target different regions
The partnership will focus on three main initiatives. First, there’s the Senegal Project, which involves public awareness campaigns about cybersecurity. The program targets youth through educational opportunities and bootcamps. It includes sessions by the Plan B Foundation and involves integration with the city of Lugano.
Participants will receive coaching, tutorship, and micro-grants to develop their projects further. I think this practical support could make a real difference for young people trying to enter the tech space.
Then there’s the Africa Project, which provides direct assistance to victims of human trafficking across several countries including Senegal, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda. The partnership will fund and support selected civil society organizations working in this area.
Focus on youth innovation and blockchain solutions
The third initiative is the Papua New Guinea Project. This one aims to raise awareness among students at the University of Papua New Guinea and the University of Solomon Islands. They’re planning a student competition focused on blockchain solutions for financial inclusion and crime prevention.
Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, commented on the collaboration. He said they’re backing initiatives that combine innovation and education to empower communities. The goal is to create safer, more inclusive opportunities for those who need them most.
Sylvie Bertrand, UNODC Regional Representative for West and Central Africa, also shared thoughts. She expressed excitement about the tripartite partnership involving the United Nations, private sector, and Senegalese authorities. The collaboration supports Senegal’s Digital New Deal vision.
Addressing urgent cybersecurity needs
There’s been talk about Africa needing around $260 million to strengthen cybersecurity against illicit crypto and fiat activities. While this partnership might not solve everything, it represents a step toward addressing those needs.
The partnership aligns with the UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Africa 2030. It aims to promote peace and security by improving community resilience and protecting digital assets. Using blockchain and other technologies, the initiative seeks to reduce vulnerabilities to cybercrime across the continent.
It’s interesting to see a major crypto company working directly with a UN agency. Usually, these relationships can be complicated. But here they seem to have found common ground around education and security.
The approach seems practical rather than theoretical. Instead of just talking about problems, they’re funding specific projects and providing direct support. That might be more effective in the long run.
Africa’s digital economy continues to grow, and security concerns are real. Scams and fraud pose genuine threats to people trying to participate in this new financial landscape. Maybe initiatives like this can help build the knowledge and tools needed to navigate these risks more safely.
