- Loly Gaitan
- Jenny Arana
Introductory
Event organizer(s)
Supported by
Description
The GCYLP Development Week is a key part of the implementation of the Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme [GCYLP] project in partnership with ITU-D Sector Member, Huawei.
GCYLP is a 1-year programme to engage, empower, and inspire young digital leaders and changemakers. Through the GCYLP, ITU and Huawei provide guidance, training, and financial support to 30 young fellows per year to enable them to practically implement digital development projects in their diverse communities across the world.
By identifying young leaders from around the world willing to champion digitalization for equal and equitable empowerment through ICTs especially for people in vulnerable situations, GCYLP highlights youth as leaders and key stakeholders in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to co-create an inclusive, more prosperous digital future for all.
From Monday 28 July – Friday 1 August 2025, the second cohort of GCYLP fellows will be welcomed to Geneva for a transformative training week to develop capacity on innovation, project management and leadership. Participants will receive guidance from experts towards taking their digital development projects and ideas to the next level.
The GCYLP Development Week is designed for the second cohort of 31 Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme (GCYLP) Fellows—young changemakers aged 18–28 who were competitively selected from a global pool of 6,973 applicants representing over 185 countries. These fellows come from all ITU regions (ARB, AFR, AMS, ASP, CIS, EUR) and are committed to leveraging digital innovation to address pressing development challenges in their communities. Representing diverse cultural, socio-economic, and professional backgrounds, the fellows bring a shared vision of fostering inclusive and sustainable digital transformation. Over the next year, they will receive technical support, mentoring, and capacity-building resources to implement impactful digital development projects at the grassroots level.
Qualifications or experience needed to participate in this training course:
- Young people aged 18-28
- Demonstrated interest in making real impact in your communities by leading their own digital development project
- Currently enrolled or recently graduated from a tertiary education institution from a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or a demonstrably STEM-related academic programme
- Able to communicate in English, the main language of the programme. This language requirement is to ensure that all fellows can benefit from the planned offerings of trainings, networking, and events.
Number of available places for the cohort: 31
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Present their digital development project idea to diverse stakeholders more concisely and convincingly
- Demonstrate increased capacity in: Project Management, Innovation and Leadership.
- Leverage the knowledge from the training, the inspiration from the experience, and the provided resources to implement their digital development project in their diverse communities.
The GCYLP Development Week follows an experiential and participatory learning methodology designed to equip fellows with practical skills and strategic insight to advance their digital development projects. The programme integrates a blend of self-directed learning, expert-led masterclasses, interactive workshops, and peer learning opportunities. Synchronous sessions will include dynamic group work and fireside chats with senior leaders, encouraging fellows to actively engage, reflect, and co-create solutions. The training content leverages case studies and problem-based learning to enhance understanding of key concepts in innovation, project management, and leadership, while promoting critical thinking and adaptability.
Throughout the week, fellows will engage in a variety of formats—ranging from hands-on group activities and guided reflections to mentoring sessions and collaborative presentations. They will participate in peer discussions, knowledge exchange forums, and real-world explorations, such as visits to institutions like the UN Palais des Nations. This blended methodology is designed to support both personal and professional growth, foster meaningful connections, and ensure that each fellow not only gains knowledge but also builds the confidence and capacity to implement impactful digital initiatives in their respective communities.
Activity | Weighting (%)
- Active participation in groupwork: 30%
- Draft grant proposal & annexes: 35%
- Final presentation: 35%
A total score of 80% or higher is required to obtain the ITU certificate
Day 1 (Monday 28 July)
08:00–09:00
Session: Registration
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: ITU arrival & badging at Montbrillant Lobby
09:00–09:30
Session: Opening of the training by:
• ITU-BDT
• Huawei
Learning Outcomes: Understand the strategic goals and purpose of the week and the GCYLP program as introduced by key stakeholders.
Activity/Location: Room K1
09:30–10:00
Session: Icebreaker Exercise and Briefing for the week
Learning Outcomes: Build rapport with peers and gain clarity on training structure, expectations, and logistics.
Activity/Location: Room K1
10:00–11:00
Session: ITU Tour - history, mandate and work
Learning Outcomes: Describe the history and role of the ITU in global digital development.
Activity/Location: ITU Headquarters
11:00–12:00
Session: Interactive knowledge-sharing session:
- ITU overview presentation
- Huawei overview presentation
- Q&A
Learning Outcomes: Present ITU and Huawei’s roles in global ICT development and identify synergies in digital inclusion initiatives.
Activity/Location: Room K1
12:00–13:30
Session: Networking Lunch
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: ITU Cafeteria
13:30–14:00
Session: Fellowships Payment Order Collection
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: –
14:00–16:00
Session: Masterclass and immersive exercise led by UNITAR
Learning Outcomes: Apply strategic thinking and diplomacy skills in simulated scenarios; demonstrate understanding of multilateral systems and of the SDGs
Activity/Location: Room K1
16:00–17:00
Session: End of day reflection and announcements + sharing of gift bags
Learning Outcomes: Reflect on key insights gained; articulate personal objectives for the week.
Activity/Location: Room K1
17:00–18:00
Session: ‘Office hours’ for fellows to drop by if they have any issues and individual work
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: Room K1
Day 2 (Tuesday 29 July)
09:00–09:30
Session: Morning briefing & icebreaker
Learning Outcomes: Strengthen peer-to-peer relationships and align on the day’s goals.
Activity/Location: Satellite Room – Tower 15th Floor
09:30–11:00
Session: Innovation for Impact Workshop
Learning Outcomes: Identify the key principles of innovation for social good; apply innovation tools to community-based projects.
Activity/Location: Satellite Room – Tower 15th Floor
11:00–12:00
Session: Leadership Fireside Chat with the BDT Director
Learning Outcomes: Recognize qualities of effective leadership in international development; analyze personal leadership style.
Activity/Location: Satellite Room – Tower 15th Floor
12:00–13:30
Session: Networking Lunch
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: ICRC
13:30–16:00
Session: Immersive and educational tour to the UN/Palais des Nations - history, mandate and work
Learning Outcomes: Explain the UN’s role in international diplomacy and policy-making; understand the historical importance of the Palais.
Activity/Location: –
16:00–17:00
Session: End of day reflection and announcements
Learning Outcomes: Synthesize key learnings from the day and express areas of personal growth.
Activity/Location: Satellite Room – Tower 15th Floor
17:00–18:00
Session: ‘Office hours’ for fellows to drop by if they have any issues and individual work
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: Satellite Room – Tower 15th Floor
Day 3 (Wednesday 30 July)
09:00–09:30
Session: Morning briefing & icebreaker
Learning Outcomes: Foster collaboration and energize participants for the day.
Activity/Location: Room K1
09:30–12:00
Session: Project Management Workshop 1
Learning Outcomes: Apply fundamental project management principles; draft a basic project plan with financial components.
Activity/Location: Room K1
12:00–13:30
Session: Networking Lunch Break
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: ITU Cafeteria
13:30–16:00
Session: Project Management Workshop 2
Learning Outcomes: Develop monitoring and evaluation strategies; prepare reporting documents aligned with grant deliverables.
Activity/Location: Room K1
16:00–17:00
Session: End of day reflection and announcements
Learning Outcomes: Synthesize key learnings from the day and express areas of personal growth.
Activity/Location: Room K1
17:00–18:00
Session: ‘Office hours’ for fellows to drop by if they have any issues and individual work
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: Room K1
Day 4 (Thursday 31 July)
09:00–09:30
Session: Morning briefing & icebreaker
Learning Outcomes: Prepare mentally and collaboratively for the pitch sessions.
Activity/Location: Room K1
10:00–12:30
Session: Entrepreneurship masterclass led by ITC
Learning Outcomes: Explain key elements of social entrepreneurship; identify steps for turning ideas into viable initiatives.
Activity/Location: ITC HQ
12:30–13:30
Session: Networking Lunch Break
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: ITC Cafeteria
14:00–15:30
Session: Youth Pitch Presentation 1
Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate presentation and pitching skills; communicate project value effectively.
Activity/Location: Montbrillant Lobby
15:30–16:00
Session: Coffee Break
Learning Outcomes: Network with Geneva International Community and the ITU Staff and delegates of Permanent Missions
Activity/Location: Montbrillant Lobby
16:00–17:30
Session: Youth Pitch Presentation 2
Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate presentation and pitching skills; communicate project value effectively.
Activity/Location: Montbrillant Lobby
17:30–18:00
Session: ‘Office hours’ for fellows to drop by if they have any issues and individual work
Learning Outcomes: –
Activity/Location: Montbrillant Lobby
Day 5 (Friday 1 August)
09:00–09:30
Session: Morning briefing & icebreaker
Learning Outcomes: Celebrate learning progress and set the tone for closing reflections.
Activity/Location: Montbrillant Lobby
09:30–12:00
Session: Reflections by Youth, for Youth: Building the GCYLP Legacy
Learning Outcomes: Articulate key takeaways from the week; co-develop strategies to sustain engagement through the GCYLP legacy.
Activity/Location: Montbrillant Lobby
12:30–14:30
Session: Farewell Lunch
Learning Outcomes: Understand final grant agreement requirements and long-term expectations.
Activity/Location: ITU Cafeteria
14:30–18:00
Session: Swiss Day Celebration and individual time
Learning Outcomes: Appreciate the local culture and informally consolidate relationships built during the program.
Activity/Location: Geneva City
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.