ITU Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Board

This advisory board is all about action and results, offering practical advice to the ITU Secretary General. The board will provide diverse youth perspectives, and concrete recommendations to enhance worldwide cooperation in bridging the digital divide “connecting the unconnected” and aligning ITU’s programs with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Purpose

• The purpose of this board is:
  • To provide youth perspectives on the future vision of ITU and the role that ITU can play in promoting equitable, affordable, universal, innovative, and safe connectivity.
  • To contribute ideas and recommendations on how to narrow the digital divide and harness technology for the greater good of society; responsibilities may encompass researching innovative solutions, providing analysis, collaborating with youth networks and communities, and formulating recommendations to ensure technology is accessible.
  • To provide youth feedback on ITU’s work programs, management approaches, and human resources development.
  • To support ITU initiatives and promote ITU’s work among youth audience worldwide.
  • To share insights on the potential of telecommunications, emerging technologies and ITU’s role in closing existing gaps. To consult with youth networks to get feedback on ideas for connectivity, emerging technologies including AI, the space economy, e-waste and the circular economy, leveraging digital technologies for climate change monitoring, mitigation and adaptation, amongst other priority areas priorities for ITU.
• This Youth Advisory Board will be of 12 young, exceptional individuals from 6 ITU Regions (Africa, Americas, Arab states, Asia and the Pacific, Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe) (2 per region) who dive into a wide array of telecommunications-related topics, from artificial intelligence and quantum technology to the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, space sustainability, the future of network technology and much more.

Support and Logistical Arrangements

• Membership is purely voluntary and non-remunerated
• The ITU General Secretariat team will perform the functions of secretariat for the Board.
• The ITU General Secretariat will provide the necessary technical and administrative support to its members to participate fully in the board.
• The ITU General Secretariat will have oversight of all substantive matters relating to board’s fulfilment of its work.

Eligibility Criteria

• 12 exceptional individuals from 6 ITU regions (2 per region) will be selected and appointed by the ITU Secretary-General. The candidates will need to submit an expression of interest form and meet the criteria outlined below:
  • Candidates must be between the ages of 18 to 30;
  • Demonstrated commitment to the vision of ITU;
  • Demonstrated achievements showing impact and results in promoting equitable, affordable, universal, innovative, and safe connectivity;
  • Leaded and/or contributed to STEM related research, publication, journal;
  • Member, founder, or leader of related STEM youth led movement, network, organization or programme;
  • Knowledge about technology, existing international ICT policies and regulations.

For more information, visit ITU.