Digital transformation is now recognized as a driving force for growth across diverse sectors of the economy. Notably, the United Nations advocates for its role in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At its 2023 Sustainability Forum held on November 21 in Dongguan, China, under the theme "Thrive Together with Tech: Realizing Sustainable Development", Huawei unveiled a fellowship program in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This initiative targets young innovators between the ages of 18 and 28 worldwide who have impactful digital projects that empower community development.

Called the "The ITU Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme in Partnership with Huawei," the fellowship will open for applications early next year and run for three years. The 30 young people selected will be supported in carrying out their projects. This is an expression of the Chinese technology company's firm belief in the catalytic effect of digital talent in future technological innovation.

Jeff Wang, President of Huawei's Public Affairs and Communications Department, explains: “The support that participants will receive includes financial contributions to their projects, mentoring from ITU and Huawei experts, and opportunities to participate in joint events.”

The fellowship introduced by Huawei and ITU marks a significant development in the ongoing collaboration between the two entities, which commenced last year with the establishment of the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition (P2C). P2C is a program dedicated to advancing global connectivity and digital transformation, with a special emphasis on underserved communities in regions and countries facing digital accessibility challenges. As part of its commitment to this initiative, Huawei has pledged to extend connectivity to approximately 120 million individuals residing in these underserved regions across over 80 countries by 2025. Notably, the company reports that it has already made significant strides, reaching 90 million people as of now. 

"Digital is a prerequisite for accelerating the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We want the youth to push the envelope on the evolving global digital ecosystem and make their transformative contributions," said Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau.