The UN-Portugal Digital Fellowship concluded on the 30th of May with a closing ceremony featuring Portuguese Ambassador Ana Paula Zacarias, who currently serves as Director of the Portuguese Diplomatic Institute, addressing participating government officials and policymakers from UN Member States who had participated in the week-long program.
Diplomacy & Governance
Ambassador Zacarias delivered a presentation explaining how the Portuguese Diplomatic Institute operates and the framework that shapes Portugal's foreign policy.
She also emphasised the importance of the participants' engagement throughout the fellowship and their commitment to advancing digital transformation in their respective nations. Speaking to the assembled government officials and policymakers, she underscored how their presence in Guimarães, Portugal, represented a significant investment in building more inclusive and effective digital societies.
In her closing remarks, Ambassador Zacarias expressed Portugal's gratitude for the international participation.
We thank you for being here and allowing us to share what we have.
Improving Global Governance Through Knowledge Exchange
Delfina Soares, Director of UNU-EGOV, addressed the gathering with remarks focused on thanking the participants for their active engagement in the course and the vital importance of knowledge sharing between UN Member States, noting that such collaborative exchanges form the backbone of effective international cooperation.
The Director highlighted how governance represents an area with tremendous potential to improve the lives of individuals within states, highlighting the fellowship's core mission.
We should enable digital leaders to learn from each other's experiences and implement effective governance solutions that directly benefit citizens.
Training Week
The closing ceremony marked the end of an intensive program that had brought together representatives from 24 UN Member States to explore artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, governance, and user experience. Over the course of five days, participants were given 13 specialized modules covering digital governance, policy frameworks, and implementation strategies.
2030 Agenda
The fellowship supports a variety of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), by strengthening governance capacity and promoting effective, accountable institutions through digital transformation and international knowledge exchange among participating UN Member States.
Partnerships & Network
The fellowship was developed through collaboration between UNU, the Camões Institute of Cooperation and Language and the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ceremony concluded with participants committing to maintain the collaborative network established during their time in Guimarães, ensuring that the fellowship's impact would extend well beyond its formal conclusion. This network will serve as a platform for continued knowledge sharing and joint problem-solving as these digital leaders implement new approaches in their home countries.
