HerCyberTracks Cybersecurity Program for Women 2026

ITU Her CyberTracks Initiative 2026 (Fourth Edition) for Women in Cybersecurity

If you’ve been looking for a serious international opportunity to grow in cybersecurity, policy, cybercrime, incident response, or cyber + AI, this is one worth paying attention to.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has officially opened applications for the Her CyberTracks Initiative 2026, a global programme created to support and advance women in cybersecurity through training, mentorship, networking, and regional capacity-building.

This is a structured, multi-month international development programme backed by major global institutions and designed to help women build the skills, confidence, and professional network needed to thrive in cybersecurity-related careers.

About the Programme

The Her CyberTracks Initiative 2026 is the fourth edition of a specialized women-focused cybersecurity development programme organized under the ITU Cybersecurity Programme.

The initiative was created to promote the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in cybersecurity by equipping them with the practical skills, technical exposure, policy understanding, mentorship, and professional support needed to succeed in the field.

The programme combines:

Expert-led learning sessions

Self-paced online courses

Regional on-site trainings

Mentorship from senior professionals

Cross-regional networking and collaboration

In simple terms: this programme is designed to help women not just “learn cyber,” but actually grow into serious contributors and future leaders in the space.

What the Programme Offers

Participants selected for Her CyberTracks 2026 will benefit from a five-month structured training experience focused on building both technical and leadership capacity.

What you get:

Access to high-level cybersecurity training

Learning across technical, policy, legal, and AI-related cyber themes

Mentorship from experienced cybersecurity professionals

Regional on-site training opportunities

Exposure to global and cross-regional collaboration

Opportunity to build a strong international cybersecurity network

Possible access to limited travel sponsorship for regional training activities

Available CyberTracks

Applicants are expected to choose the track that best aligns with their background, work experience, and career goals.

1) Policy & Diplomacy CyberTrack

This track is designed for women who want to operate at the intersection of cybersecurity, public policy, international affairs, peace, and diplomacy.

Best for:

Women working in cybersecurity policy

Women in ICT/digital policy roles

Women involved in peace and security

Women in technical roles who want to transition into policy or diplomacy

What you will learn:

Cybersecurity policy concepts and frameworks

International cyber diplomacy themes and developments

Cyber governance and regulatory issues

Negotiation and leadership skills

Cross-border collaboration and strategic engagement

Eligibility for this track:

Applicants should have:

2–3 years of experience in policymaking, diplomacy, technology policy, cybersecurity, peace and security, or

Experience in a technical cybersecurity role with interest in policy/diplomacy

2) Incident Response CyberTrack

This track is for women who want to strengthen their practical skills in cybersecurity operations, incident handling, and response.

_Best for:_

Women working in IT

Women with a basic understanding of cybersecurity

Women looking to move into incident response

Entry-level women already working in CERT or SOC teams

_What you will learn:_

Core cybersecurity concepts

Basic incident response methods

Practical tools used in cyber incident handling

AI-enhanced incident management and related risks

Communication and teamwork skills for crisis response

Eligibility for this track:

Applicants should have either:

2–3 years of experience in IT/network systems administration, or

At least 1 year of experience in a CERT, SOC, public-sector incident response environment, or private critical infrastructure security environment

You should also have:

Basic system administration

Basic network knowledge

Familiarity with Linux or Windows

3) Criminal Justice CyberTrack

This track is focused on women working in the criminal justice ecosystem who are interested in cybercrime and digital investigations.

Best for:

Prosecutors

Lawyers

Law enforcement officers

Justice sector professionals

Women seeking to enter cybercrime or digital investigation fields

What you will learn:

Cybercrime typologies

Legal and institutional frameworks

Investigation and prosecution-related cyber concepts

Practical cybercrime investigation skills

Human rights, AI, and ethical digital investigations

Communication and teamwork

Eligibility for this track:

Applicants should have:

2–3 years of experience in the criminal justice sector

This is a strong fit if you work in or want to enter the world of cybercrime enforcement, prosecution, investigation, or digital legal practice.

4) Cyber & AI CyberTrack

This is one of the most interesting tracks in the programme because it focuses on the growing intersection between cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Best for:

Women in cyber policy

Women in ICT or digital policy

Women working in peace and security

Women in technical roles interested in AI governance and cyber policy

What you will learn:

Fundamentals of AI

The intersection of AI and cybersecurity

AI-related risks and opportunities in cyber

Cybersecurity and AI policy/regulatory developments

Frameworks for assessing organizational readiness

International cooperation around cyber and AI

Eligibility for this track:

Applicants should have:

2–3 years of experience in policymaking or diplomacy, especially in technology, cybersecurity, peace and security, or

Be a woman in a technical role interested in cyber/AI governance and policy

This is an especially strong track if you want to position yourself in one of the fastest-growing future-facing spaces in tech and policy.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is specifically for women residing in selected countries across multiple regions.

To apply, you must:

Be a woman

Reside in one of the targeted eligible countries

Meet the experience requirement for your chosen CyberTrack

Have a good working knowledge of English

Be willing and able to commit about 10–15 hours per month

Be available for the duration of the programme

Eligible Countries

The programme is open to women in selected countries across:

Africa

Americas

Arab States

Asia and the Pacific

CIS

Europe

Regional Participation & Sponsorship

One important feature of this programme is that it focuses on regional participation, which means the training and networking opportunities are designed to strengthen women’s involvement in their local and regional cybersecurity communities.

Mentorship Opportunity

The programme also includes a mentor pathway for experienced professionals.

If you are already established in cybersecurity and want to support the advancement of women in the field, you can also apply to serve as a mentor.

Mentors are expected to have:

Proven cybersecurity expertise

Preferably senior or managerial experience

Experience across public, private, academic, justice, or civil society sectors

Benefits

It is built to help women:

Build real capability

Expand their network

Access mentors

Develop credibility

Position themselves for future opportunities and leadership

If you’re serious about building a meaningful career in cyber, this is the kind of programme that can sharpen your profile and open doors.

Application Deadline: 19 April 2026

Apply Here