The Digital UNGA, convened jointly by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, provides a global platform to accelerate the Global Digital Compact and to align digital cooperation with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Within this platform, the persistent digital gender divide in the Global South remains one of the most consequential barriers to inclusive growth: girls and young women in rural and peri-urban communities continue to face compounded exclusion from connectivity, digital literacy, and the economic opportunities that digital infrastructure unlocks.
DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative, in partnership with the Alliance of Social Transformers for Sustainable Development, Mactay Consultings, and the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations, proposes this side event to introduce the Girls in Energy Villages model as a practical, place-based approach to closing that divide — anchoring digital inclusion in community energy access, local skills pipelines, and sustainable financing.
Digital@UNGA is a United Nations General Assembly-anchored platform convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to explore how digital technologies can drive progress for people and prosperity everywhere.
The platform brings together innovators and world leaders from government, the private sector, civil society, international organizations and youth to spotlight how digital technologies can be a force for good through inclusion, purpose, and collaboration.
Building on the SDG Digital events of 2023 and 2024, and anchored in the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society and the Global Digital Compact, Digital@UNGA responds to the global call for action to ensure that digital transformation delivers for everyone, everywhere.
Launched in September 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Digital@UNGA has become a focal point during the General Assembly for dialogue and action-oriented collaboration on digital technologies.
Affiliate Sessions are independently organized, partner-led events that share the goals of Digital@UNGA and the values of ITU, UNDP, and the United Nations. They complement the Digital@UNGA Anchor Event by showcasing digital solutions, partnerships, innovations, and commitments that help build a more inclusive, trusted, and people-centered Digit’all Future.
By hosting an Affiliate Session, organizations help expand the stage of Digital@UNGA, ensuring that voices, ideas, and innovations from every sector and region are spotlighted throughout UN High Level Week 2026. Sessions are encouraged to contribute to one or more of the Digital@UNGA 2026 thematic journeys: Digit’all Innovation, Digit’all Inclusion, and Digit’all Future.
Affiliate Sessions are featured as part of the official Digital@UNGA programme, included in the event guide, and may be amplified through ITU and UNDP channels. Each session is fully designed and managed by its organizers, with flexibility in format, including in-person, hybrid, or virtual events. Key highlights and outcomes will also be reflected in the Digital@UNGA post-programme recap.