Portugal-UN Digital Fellowship: Empowering Global Policymakers for the Digital Era

The 2nd edition of the UN-Portugal Digital Fellowship took place in Guimarães from 26 – 30 May in Guimarães.  The joint initiative between the Portuguese Government and the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) aims to strengthen digital governance capabilities in developing countries. This programme reflects Portugal’s commitment under its 2030 Development Cooperation Strategy to promote digital transformation as a driver of sustainable development.

Digital technologies are recognized as accelerators of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The fellowship provided high-level government officials from developing nations – especially Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) – with tailored training on digital innovation and transformation.

The curriculum addressed critical areas such as digital governance frameworks, policy design, open data, and citizen-centred services, while also exploring emerging challenges like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. By equipping participants with practical knowledge and strategies, the program sought to foster inclusive, secure, and resilient digital societies.

Through this initiative, Portugal and the United Nations reaffirmed their commitment to international cooperation and capacity-building, enabling partner countries to harness digital technologies for economic growth, equity, and improved public service delivery.