Ecosystem learning curriculum

Information on Training Courses

Capacity building is a critical enabler for the thematic priority. ITU is currently developing online courses on various topics that aim to offer fundamental knowledge on ecosystems, strategic foresight, and related subjects.

Attaining a certain level of mastery is essential, which is why ITU might establish a validation process for competencies, along with advocating for a peer-to-peer learning approach within communities of practices.

ITU toolkits provide a roadmap towards a competency-based framework that aids in supporting ecosystem development. ITU's competency framework aligns with best practices for continual learning and the advancement of human resources.

Framework Overview: Our courses are designed to enhance capacity building amongst stakeholders. After the design validation phase, participants will undergo comprehensive yet self-guided training following the Alliance's capacity-building framework. This training equips stakeholders with the essential frameworks and tools needed to effectively manage the center, thereby cultivating a skilled workforce capable of driving growth and innovation.
Course Offerings: The training will include specialized courses covering various topics to support the implementation of strategic objectives and operational elements. Participants will gain expertise in the ITU framework, addressing existing knowledge gaps and ensuring readiness to implement services using the Alliance playbooks.
Training Approach: The courses will be primarily delivered through self-paced online modules and accreditation examinations, allowing participants to learn at their own convenience. They will be equipped with post tasks in the form of knowledge checks, case studies, hands-on try-it exercises, self-study materials, resources, and expert-led video recordings. These components engage participants in practical application, analysis of real-world examples, interactive exercises, reflective practice, and insights from industry experts.

BDT has developed several courses, including online, hybrid, and physical formats, to address the needs of its membership.

List of active and newly launched courses

Strategic Foresight 201 is an instructor‑led course designed to help acceleration centres plan effectively for the future in a rapidly evolving digital world. Based on the ITU/BDT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance's Playbook for Strategic Foresight, the course introduces practical tools, methods, and case studies to strengthen research readiness and support digital transformation.

Through guided lessons and hands‑on activities, participants learn to identify emerging trends, anticipate technological and policy shifts, and apply foresight techniques to drive innovation within their organizations. By integrating strategic foresight into projects, policies, and strategies, learners gain the skills needed to shape long‑term impact and contribute to national development priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This course is reserved for ITU Acceleration Centre staff only.

Ecosystem Initiative Development 201 is an online, instructor‑led course that equips ITU Acceleration Centres with the skills to design, launch, and scale digital innovation initiatives. Grounded in the Playbook for Ecosystem Initiative Development and aligned with the ITU Innovation Framework, the course provides a structured methodology for driving digital transformation and supporting national development priorities.

Through expert-led sessions, interactive discussions, and practical exercises, participants learn how to navigate innovation ecosystems, engage key stakeholders, and build sustainable, high‑impact initiatives. Ideal for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem facilitators, this course empowers learners to unlock the full potential of their ecosystems and accelerate transformative change.

This course is reserved for ITU Acceleration Centre staff only.

Strategic Foresight 101: A self-paced course introducing strategic foresight for fostering digital innovation in digital development. Emphasizes addressing global challenges, bridging the digital divide. Participants explore key concepts, tools, and terminology, honing skills in futures thinking to integrate foresight into projects and policies. Ideal for policymakers, decision-makers, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, industry professionals aiming to drive innovation in digital development.

Click here to register and discover more about this course.

Innovation Ecosystem 101: Fundamentals on building competitive and innovative ICT-centric ecosystems: Relaunched on popular demand, this course is Intended for policymakers, decision-makers, innovators, and ecosystem builders who wish to build thriving entrepreneurial communities that can navigate technological revolutions and create competitive ICT industries. The course introduces key terminologies, concepts, tools, and steps to assess your country's innovation capacity through practical information. Upon completion of the course, you will understand: Innovation, digital ecosystems and digital transformation, and their relationship to national development priorities.

Click here to register and discover more about this course.

Past Courses

Global South Covid-19 Digital Innovation Challenges Bootcamp 101 Exclusively for winners of the 2021 Global South COVID-19 Innovation Challenge. Participants focused on scalable digital solutions for pandemic-related challenges in governance, economy, and social well-being. The boot camp included a self-paced segment and three mandatory webinars covering business plan refinement, ecosystem strategy, and scaling projects. Completion resulted in a certificate and mentorship for scaling projects in another Global South.

Click here to discover more about this course in English.

Digital Innovation Ecosystem Training Building entrepreneurial communities and competitive ICT industries for job creation: The past course, Digital Innovation Ecosystem Training (DIET), was an exclusive six-session program designed for policymakers, academics, innovators, and ecosystem-builders. It aimed to empower participants in building entrepreneurial communities adept at adapting to technological advancements and fostering competitive ICT industries. Through collaboration between the Smart Africa Digital Academy and Digital Innovation Ecosystem ITU Academy, the course provided insights from toolkits, ecosystem assessments, forums, and research. Participants learned to assess innovation capacity, develop bankable projects, and improve ecosystem performance. The training included expert-led online learning, webinars, and virtual co-creation sessions, offering practical approaches towards transforming ICT ecosystems into centers of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Click here to discover more about this course.

Bridging the Digital Innovation Divide Developing remarkable projects that accelerate your digital innovation ecosystem global competitiveness: This train-the-trainer course equips participants with expertise in transforming their ICT ecosystem into an innovative hub following the ITU approach. Learners gain skills in assessing ecosystem performance, developing notable projects using ITU's toolkit, conducting research, and facilitating co-creation workshops.

Click here to discover more about this course.

ITU Innovation Challenges Bootcamp 101 The course is intended for policymakers, decision-makers, innovators, and ecosystem builders who wish to build thriving entrepreneurial communities that can navigate technological revolutions and create competitive ICT industries. This 2nd edition is primarily for the winners of the ITU challenges and prospective participants to the regional innovation forums and global innovation forums. The course introduces key terminologies, concepts, tools, and steps to assess your country's innovation capacity through practical information.

Click here to discover more about this course.

Past Training Workshops

I-CoDI Global Workshop on Policy Experimentation, 18–22 August 2025 · Dubai, UAE

The ICoDI Global Workshop on Policy Experimentation brought together ITU Acceleration Centres for a five‑day capacity‑building programme hosted by the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). As part of TDRA's Partner2Connect commitment supporting the ITU–TDRA International Center of Digital Innovation (I‑CoDI), the workshop strengthened countries' abilities to advance digital innovation through adaptive and future‑ready policy approaches.

Aligned with the ITU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance framework, the workshop featured hands‑on exercises, case studies, and co‑creation sessions focused on policy experimentation, sandboxes, and evidence‑based regulatory design. Participants enhanced their skills in assessing policy gaps, designing adaptive interventions, and applying experimentation tools to support sustainable and inclusive digital transformation.

For more details on this workshop click here and to gain more information on I-Codi, click here.

I-CoDI Global Workshop, 4-8 March 2024, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The I-CoDI workshop concluded in March 2024 in Dubai. It focused on catalyzing processes for our stakeholders and marked their first meeting. Hosted by the Telecommunication and Digital Regulatory Authority of the UAE (TDRA), the workshop aimed to kick off activities, build a common understanding of new frameworks, and provide intensive training using specific playbooks to accelerate digital innovation. Key objectives included building capacity, operationalizing services, and fostering strategic foresight and ecosystem development within diverse group of stakeholders.

For more details on this workshop click here and to gain more information on I-Codi, click here.

ITU Toolkits

Despite massive investment in digital ecosystems, countries are unable to adapt to the fast-changing digital environment and technological revolutions. Very few are empowered to understand, diagnose, and intervene in increasingly complex enabling environments that are powered by innovation and entrepreneurship. ITU has developed two toolkits and a learning curriculum to help build stakeholders' capabilities in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Bridging the digital innovation divide: A toolkit for developing ICT-centric ecosystem projects: Building on ITU's innovation toolkit series, this revised toolkit adds new tools and shares more insights on how stakeholders can undertake rapid ecosystem diagnosis, establish key recommendations, and develop flagship projects that effectively nurture ICT-centric innovation within their digital ecosystems.

Click here to gain more information on this toolkit, available in all UN languages.

Bridging the Digital Innovation Divide: A toolkit for strengthening ICT centric ecosystems

Click here to access the toolkit.

Learn more about our framework through the factsheets!

Factsheet: Ecosystem Assessment Canvas	Factsheet: Ecosystem Maurity Map
Factsheet: Good Practice Canvas	Factsheet: Service Design Canvas
Factsheet: Storytelling Canvas