ITU Gender Champions Programme 2027: Fully Supported Global Opportunity for Young Women Leading Digital Transformation
Applications are open for the ITU Gender Champions Programme 2027, offering a fully supported global leadership opportunity for young women leveraging technology and digital innovation to create meaningful change.
Overview
The ITU Gender Champions Programme 2027 is a global leadership opportunity designed to recognize and strengthen the next generation of women leaders advancing digital transformation, digital inclusion, equitable access to technology, digital skills, artificial intelligence for social good, online safety, and inclusive digital policymaking. Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with support from Australia and Women’s WorldWide Web (W4), the inaugural cohort will select up to four outstanding young women. Selected Champions will join an international network of experts, policymakers, and innovators, and participate in the AI for Good Global Summit 2027 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Benefits
- Participation in the AI for Good Global Summit 2027 in Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled from 21 to 25 June 2027.
- Round-trip economy-class flight ticket to and from the event location provided by ITU.
- Accommodation in Geneva during the relevant stay.
- A per diem subsistence allowance for the duration of the stay.
- Access to an international network of experts, policymakers, innovators, and fellow changemakers.
- International visibility and media exposure through ITU content channels.
- Potential support to implement or strengthen a community-level project advancing women and girls' digital inclusion, access, skills, or empowerment, subject to the availability of funds and organizer discretion.
Eligibility
- Open to young women between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of application submission.
- Applicants must be actively engaged in using technology and digital innovation to drive positive social change, such as through digital skills, connectivity, artificial intelligence, online safety, STEM, digital entrepreneurship, or inclusive public policy.
- No specific university degree, academic qualification, or computer science background is required.
- No specific nationality or regional restrictions apply, though participants must be able to obtain the necessary travel documents and visas for Switzerland.
- Submissions must be written in English.
- Applicants must not be related to selection committee members or employed by the organizer.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the official application form provided by the organizer. Candidates should review both the official programme webpage and Terms and Conditions thoroughly before completing their submissions in English.
Deadline
The application deadline is 15 November 2026.