BDT Director's Corner: Activities

BDT welcomed 31 young leaders from around the world to Geneva for the launch of the second cohort of its Generation Connect Youth Leadership Programme. Held during Development Week 2025, the event marked the beginning of a year-long fellowship focused on digital innovation and community impact. 

Fellows presented their project ideas to ambassadors and stakeholders, addressing issues such as AI-powered disaster alerts, digital literacy for girls, and cybersecurity education for women. Each fellow received USD 5,000 in seed funding, mentorship, and training from ITU and Huawei. Six projects were selected for an additional USD 5,000 grant to scale their initiatives. 

The session also featured updates from two 2024 fellows who shared progress on their projects. 

ITU’s engagement reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive digital development.