Call for Applications Her CyberTracks 2026 Cohort

Her CyberTracks supports women in cybersecurity through specialized training and mentorship by offering four tailored CyberTracks — Policy & Diplomacy, Incident Response, Criminal Justice and Cybersecurity & Artificial Intelligence.

Her CyberTracks is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) and the European Union (EU), with contributions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy (MAECI). The initiative is co-implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), in partnership with the Global Programme on Cybercrime of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Latin America and Caribbean Cyber Competence Centre (LAC4).

Why we need Her CyberTracks
Securing human rights and protecting digital systems demands a global, open, free, stable, safe, and secure cyberspace. However, gender-specific perspectives are often overlooked. This gap emphasizes the need for equal representation in cybersecurity to foster peace, security, and human rights-based development. Women constitute only about 24% of the cybersecurity workforce in 2024 and are underrepresented in international negotiations on cyber issues. Addressing this is not just a matter of equity but a necessity for shaping inclusive international
norms, comprehensive strategies, fair criminal justice systems, a strong cyber workforce, and effective incident response, ensuring a safe and resilient cyberspace for all.
 

Her CyberTracks contributes to closing the gender gap by promoting the equal, full, and meaningful participation of women in cybersecurity. The initiative equips participants with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the field through a one-stop curriculum based on four core pillars:

TRAIN
We provide expert training courses to equip women with the technical and soft skills needed to shape cybersecurity.

MENTOR
We provide a platform for cybersecurity experts in senior positions to mentor women at junior level and foster their professional and personal growth.

INSPIRE
We organise inspirational keynotes to shift perceptions and (rightly) position women as valuable additions to the cybersecurity workforce.

NETWORK
We support the establishment of resilient networks of cybersecurity experts within and across regions.

Mentees may choose among the following CyberTracks based on their profiles: 

Policy & Diplomacy CyberTrack
• Concepts and processes, developments on national and international cybersecurity policy & diplomacy
• For policymakers and technical profiles interested in policy/ diplomacy 

Incident Response CyberTrack
• Basic incident response skills, use of entry-level tools and techniques
• For technical profiles, e.g. working in IT/systems administration wishing to enter cybersecurity, or entry level CERT/SOC roles 

Criminal Justice CyberTrack
• Frameworks and tools to understand and contribute to cybercrime investigations and prosecutions
• For prosecutors, law enforcement and lawyers involved in or aiming to enter cybersecurity and countering cybercrime fields 

Cyber & AI CyberTrack
• Intersection of Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence with a focus on policy and governance
• For women with a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity policy as well as technical profiles interested in focusing on the intersection of cyber & AI policy

Her CyberTracks addresses women working in or for the public sector or critical infrastructure providers in African countries (AU Member States), the Western Balkans, selected countries in the Eastern Partnership region, selected countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean region and, for the first time this year, selected countries in the Indo-Pacific region (please find a list of eligible countries per Cyber Track below). The programme will be delivered between May and October 2026.

Want to become a mentee:
Mentees will be expected to commit to the full programme duration, attend online sessions and mentorship meetings, and successfully complete both online and onsite trainings to receive a certificate (ca. 15 hours per month).
Next to the online curriculum, the program features a regional 4-day training on-site with soft skills masterclasses, hands-on trainings and simulation exercises, study visits to cybersecurity organizations, and engaging networking events. Limited fellowships are available for travel and accommodation.

Want to become a mentor:
Mentors are essential for guiding mentees through the program. As senior cyber professionals, they share expertise and help their mentee(s) navigate their career(s), committing ca. 4 hour per month to (online) mentoring. Online live sessions are offered to mentors. Selected mentors may be able to attend the regional 4‑day on‑site training. We welcome mentors of all genders, who can devote time, share knowledge, and support mentees professionally.
You can find all the details, including eligibility criteria, on Her CyberTracks here.

Apply now!
For interested participants (mentees) – please note that you first need to create an account on ITU Academy here:

• Policy & Diplomacy CyberTrack: apply here
• Incident Response CyberTrack: apply here
• Criminal Justice CyberTrack: apply here
• Cyber & AI CyberTrack: apply here

For mentors, both women and men senior cyber professionals from all countries are invited to apply via the following link.

Applications are open until 19 April 2026.

For any questions regarding the programme please write to hercybertracks@giz.de and regarding technical questions on the application platform to ituacademy@itu.int.