ITU Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme 2026–2027 in Partnership with Huawei
Organization: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Program: Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme (GCYLP)
Category: Leadership Programme
Deadline: 23:59 CET on Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Eligibility: Young individuals aged 18 to 28
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 cohort of the Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme (GCYLP). The programme is presented by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with Huawei and is designed to engage, empower, and inspire young digital leaders and changemakers.
Programme Focus
According to the official page, GCYLP supports young visionaries from around the world who propose creative, far-reaching, innovative, and feasible community-driven projects aimed at building a more inclusive and empowered digital future.
Host and Partnership
The page states that the ITU Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme is a project of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector in partnership with Huawei.
Deadline
The submission deadline is listed as 23:59 CET on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
Who Can Apply
The programme is open to young individuals aged 18 to 28 who are passionate about driving meaningful change in their communities through digital development. Applicants must be either currently enrolled in or have recently graduated from tertiary education programmes in STEM, meaning Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or closely related fields.
Skills Expected
The official page says selected fellows are emerging leaders with strong communication skills that enable them to fully engage in the programme’s training sessions, networking opportunities, and events.
What Fellows Receive
Selected GCYLP fellows receive a package of support that includes virtual mentorship and leadership training sessions delivered by ITU and Huawei in collaboration with other partner. Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in an in-person global Development Week in Geneva, Switzerland.
Grant Support
Each selected fellow is awarded an initial grant of $5,000 USD to implement a digital development project of their choice. At the end of the programme, the most impactful projects receive an additional $5,000 USD to support scaling efforts, bringing the total potential grant to up to $10,000 USD.
Number of Fellows
The page states that ITU, in partnership with Huawei, is providing guidance, training, and financial support to 30 young fellows per year.
Project Aim
Through the programme, fellows are supported in practically implementing digital development projects in their communities. The page also notes that young leaders can use the programme either to turn new digital development ideas into reality or to expand the impact of existing projects.
Clarifications
For clarifications on the application and selection process, the page directs applicants to the FAQs and provides the contact email GCYLP@itu.int.
