NEW-COMERS’
TO INTERNET
GOVERNANCE
FORUM GUIDE
ABOUT THE IGF
The United Nations Internet Governance Forum
(IGF) serves to bring people together from
various stakeholder groups in discussions on
digital public policy.
While it does not produce negotiated outcomes,
the IGF informs and inspires those with policy-
making power in both the public and private
sectors. As a year-round process, the IGF
includes policy, outreach, and community and
capacity-building activities, all dedicated to
facilitating a common understanding of how to
maximise digital opportunities and address
digital risks and challenges.
IGF intersessional work culminates in annual
meetings, where delegates discuss current and
critical issues, share good practices and
exchange policy recommendations with one
another. The IGF’s resulting outputs are
transmitted to global and national decision-
making bodies.
IGF PROCESSES
Annual IGFs are convened by the UN Secretary-
General and supported by a different host country
each year. The upcoming 2024 IGF will be held
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following the
2023 IGF in Kyoto, Japan.
The IGF is currently in its 18th year. Its mandate is
set out in paragraphs 72 to 78 of the Tunis
Agenda endorsed at the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) in 2005. The mandate
was extended for a further ten years with the
resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly
on 16 December 2015, (70/125) 'Outcome
document of the high-level meeting of the General
Assembly on the overall review of the
implementation of the outcomes of the World
Summit on the Information Society'.
HOW CAN I JOIN?
Be a mentor or
3 a mentee for
fellowship 4
Be part of programs.
organizations, Be a volunteer
2 associations on working
and interested groups.
groups. 5
Make a Subscribe to
presentation mailing lists that
during IGF interest you.
1
The internet governance ecosystem, allows you to easily
contribute to many activities if you have the interest. It is
an official UN event, and to participate, you only need to
sign up for it when the inscriptions period opens.
The event has limited scholarships, but you can also try
funding with your company, university, government, ISOC
chapter, or other groups tha work with Internet
Governance or technology.
4
SUBMITTING PROPOSALS
When it comes to submitting proposals to the
event, you must be attentive to the deadline of
submissions, and the criteria.
If selected, it does not mean that you have a
scholarship guaranteed from the event's
organizers. Another important aspect, is that you
don't need to pay to be in the event, nor to make
your presentation.
This year, you can choose
between 8 session types, if you
meet the requirement. If you are
a new-comer, it might be better
for you, to choose between
Workshops and Lighting Talks.
Workshops
Open Forums
Launches and Awards
Lightning Talks
Networking Sessions
Dynamic Coalition Sessions
National, Regional and Youth IGF
Initiatives (NRIs) Collaborative Sessions
Pre-events (Day 0 sessions)
Access the guidebooks to understand more about the
criteria for each proposal. And remember that you need to
be registered on the site to be able to submit.
This year IGF has the following thematic tracks:
Harnessing innovation and balancing risks in
the digital space
Enhancing the digital contribution to peace,
development, and sustainability
Advancing human rights and inclusion in the
digital age
Improving digital governance for the Internet
We Want
JOIN OUR WORKING GROUPS TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE,
PARTNERS AND HELP ON YOUR PROPOSALS.
Thanks for your interest on Internet
Governance. We hope to see you soon on IGF.
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