Version 0.6 of the UN Transparency Protocol (UNTP), the implementation instrument for UN/CEFACT Recommendation No. 49 - Transparency at Scale, is now available for pilot testing. That's a big deal, not because it's perfect, but because it's ready.
If you're serious about supply chain transparency, sustainability claims, or data integrity, this is your chance to shape the global standards as they are nearing completion.
What's in 0.6?
- Credentials and Templates: Sample data and render templates to help you build and test real-world use cases.
- Schema validation fixes: Improvements to support cleaner interoperability.
- Reference Implementation: Yes, there's a test suite and tools to try on for size.
- Trust Graph PoC: A first step toward surfacing who to trust and why.
- Current Release Test Playground: https://test.uncefact.org/test-untp-playground
What's the process?
At a macro-level, there are just five steps for any UNTP implementer to follow. [excerpt from UNTP site]
| Step | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review business case examples re: the value that UNTP implementation is likely to deliver. Establish key performance measures to track costs and benefits. Review and leverage the implementation plan relevant to your needs. Plans identified for producers/manufacturers/brands, member associations, registry operators, scheme owners, regulators, conformity assessment bodies, and software vendors. |
Positive business case |
| 2 | Review the UNTP and/or UNTP extensions pages relevant to your organisation type and to determine which credentials you should be issuing. Register your (non-binding) intent to implement so that you gain access to community support. | Implementation intent registered |
| 3 | Choose a software product or request your existing software system provider to implement UNTP. Test your implementation using the UNTP test service. | Update implementation register with positive test results |
| 4 | Run a pilot with other registered implementer(s) that has completed testing to confirm interoperability and value. | Successful pilot |
| 5 | Ramp up to full production volumes, routinely issuing and verifying UNTP credentials. Measure cost and benefit performance indicators to track ongoing value | Consider publishing your story as an UNTP case study |
Testing
You can head to the UNTP Playground for the current 0.6 release, check out the latest bleeding-edge playground for testing against experimental versions, or take note of the full UNTP test service which can be deployed locally.
Go to Test Services on the UNTP site for the 3 Tier Test Architecture and more information.
Reference Implementation
The following tools make up a reference implementation. [excerpt from UNTP site]
| Tool | Link | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project VC Kit | https://github.com/uncefact/project-vckit | This is a tool that verifies and issues credentials. | Active Development |
| Mock Apps | https://github.com/uncefact/tests-untp/tree/next/packages/mock-app | Tool to build testable supply chain implementations to enable testing and validation of your DPPs and supply chain | Active Development |
| Identity Resolver | https://github.com/uncefact/project-identity-resolver | Tool that enables to go from the identifier to more information about the identified object including a DPP | Active Development |
| UNTP Test Suite | https://github.com/uncefact/tests-untp/tree/next/packages/untp-test-suite | Provides tooling for implementers to validate their DPP's across the 3 tiers (correct credential, correct schema, and correct choreography) | Active Development |
We're here to make it easier.
You'll find Guidance and the Reference Implementation on the UNTP site. But don't worry if the site alone doesn't get you all the way there. That's why we're creating a community of Trust Architects, developers, policy advisers, data specialists, system integrators, and partners, and building tools and resources for Trust Architects.
Have questions? Want to test something specific? Hit up the community at chat.pyx.io. We've started two channels for you join.
— Getting Started with UNTP channel
— Reference Implementation Help channel
Whether you're trying to validate your own DTE samples, explore credential issuance, or see how your data maps to the UNTP model, ask away. There will be someone there to help unpack it.