Digital transformation is the driving force of fast-evolving processes which are re-shaping societies, economies, and States.
Digital technologies can act as a cross-cutting accelerator of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, SDG 16 calls for effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels in the framework of peaceful and inclusive societies. Digital transformation of governance processes and procedures has a role to play in achieving such a goal. The use of digital technologies by Governments to improve their operation as well as ways to foster bidirectional interaction with citizens has been the subject of significant and steady progress in recent years. Its enormous potential for the progressive realisation of the SDGs is widely recognised, namely through the recent adoption of the United Nations Pact for the Future and its Global Digital Compact.
The last two decades witnessed major efforts of the public sector first to introduce and later to manage the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in their ecosystems. Although a number of lessons have been learned in relation to risk minimisation and outcome maximisation, digital transformation and digital governance require an extensive effort to build awareness, capacities, and competencies within the public sector.
Within its “2030 Development Cooperation Strategy”, Portugal recognises the importance of digital transformation to achieve the SDGs, in particular for developing countries. One of the strategy’s priority axes (axis 4A) is fostering prosperity, namely through digital transformation, in order to help advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the implementation of its SDGs.
This is why Portugal is again partnering with the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) who is in a good position to assist developing countries in their digital development, to organize the third edition of the UN-Portugal Digital Fellowship focused on digital innovation and transformation.
Target participants
The envisaged participants of this Fellowship are high-level officials and diplomatic officials at the Permanent Mission’s in New York, from developing countries.
Seminar cohorts will be arranged to accommodate up to 30 in-person participants.
Objectives
The purpose of the United Nations - Portugal Digital Fellowship is to:
Provide high-level digital policy officials from UN Member States classified under UNCTAD’s classification of economies as developing economies with access to a capacity-building programme tailored to the needs of decision-makers, as well as empower a new generation of leaders with the knowledge and skills to address pressing digital-related issues.
Build capacity in developing countries with the view to assisting in the driving of innovative solutions to foster digital transformation, economic growth and equity.
Equip participants with further expertise to be an effective digital policy decision-maker at the national and international level via a unique inter-disciplinary curriculum integrating the key domains of digital innovation and transformation.
Facilitate international cooperation and information sharing on digital-related issues by providing a platform for national high-level officials to network and build relationships with their foreign counterparts, leveraging the expertise of both Portuguese and international experts.
Support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Number of Fellowships
Up to a maximum of 30 (thirty) Digital Fellowships will be awarded per year.
Qualifications
The desired qualifications of nominees include the following:
The UN-Portugal Digital Fellowship is intended for high-level officials, namely heads/deputy heads of national agencies overseeing and responsible for digital policy and/or their equivalents holding decision-making responsibility in the areas of digital policy, innovation and transformation, as well as diplomatic personnel from the Mission to the UN in New York in charge of digital affairs, from developing countries.
Candidates should have demonstrable experience in digital policymaking and governance for their respective national authorities. Candidates should be currently employed in the service of their respective Governments with plans to stay in the related role for the foreseeable future.
Candidates must have a good working knowledge of English as the Fellowship will be conducted only in this language.
The nomination of women candidates is highly encouraged with a view to achieving the equal, full, inclusive, and effective gender participation. The United Nations priorities the equal participation of women and men in all its sponsored activities, including this Fellowship.
Procedure for Submission of Nominations
To nominate a candidate to participate in the Fellowship, three documents are required and should be sent by email to digitalfellowship@mne.pt and egov-digitalfellowship@unu.edu:
An official communication (i.e. Note Verbale) from the Member State, through the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. The communication should, if applicable, list all nominations from that Member State (if more than one nomination is made, these should be ranked by order of priority).
A nomination form must be submitted for each individual candidate.
A copy of the passport (biometric data page) must be submitted for each individual candidate, and the passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to the organization of the Fellowship.
More information on the submission of nominations procedure, including the necessary documents, can be found at https://unu.edu/egov/un-portugal-digital-fellowship.
To ensure the quality of the training and proper participation, there is a limited number of participants. Only nominations with full documentation will be considered at the review and selection process led by the co-organizers.
Deadline for Nominations
Nominations are open until February 2nd 2026.
Dates and duration of Program
The second iteration will take place from 13 – 17 April 2026, spanning a total of 5 (five) days (excluding travel time to and from Portugal). Participants must attend the Fellowship for the whole duration as the sessions build on each other.
Financial and logistical aspects
Each selected participant will be provided with:
Round trip economy class flights from the capital of the country of origin to Porto International Airport.
Transportation from Porto International Airport to Guimarães.
Hotel accommodation in Guimarães for the duration of the Fellowship.
Breakfast, lunches, coffee breaks and an Opening Dinner during the Fellowship.
The organizers will not be providing the following:
Internal travels in the country of origin, nor flights initially departing from and/or having as final destination any city other than the capital of the country of origin. Furthermore, the organizers will not cover hotel accommodations on the trip from the country of origin and Portugal.
Daily subsistence allowances (DSA).
Travel or personal insurance cover. Participants are encouraged to purchase those by their own means.
- Assistance in obtaining travel visas, including travel/accommodation expenses to another city for visa arrangements. Once selected, participants should make their own arrangements to obtain the aforementioned visa for their visit to Portugal, as necessary and as soon as possible. Information on visa requirements can be found on the following webpage, namely under “who needs a visa” and “where should you lodge a visa application” on the right-hand side menu: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/short-stay-visas-schengen/general-information/who-needs-a-visa.
The organizers shall also not be held liable for any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from or in connection with the services provided. By deciding to apply to the Fellowship and upon selection, participants acknowledge that the organizers bear no responsibility for the actions, omissions, or any other occurrences involving participants. Any claims, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses related to the services involving the participants will be without implication of liability to the organizers.
