About the IGF


The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) serves to bring people together from various stakeholder groups as equals, in discussions on public policy issues relating to the Internet. While there is no negotiated outcome, the IGF informs and inspires those with policy-making power in both the public and private sectors.  At their annual meeting delegates discuss, exchange information and share good practices with each other. The IGF facilitates a common understanding of how to maximize Internet opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise.

For more information on IGF please refer to the following documents:

In 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', the existing mandate of the IGF as set out in paragraphs 72 to 78 of the Tunis Agenda was extended for another 10 years. 

IGF Mandate

Paragraph 72 of the Tunis Agenda:

72. We ask the UN Secretary-General, in an open and inclusive process, to convene, by the second quarter of 2006, a meeting of the new forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue—called the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The mandate of the Forum is to:

  • Discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet;
  • Facilitate discourse between bodies dealing with different cross-cutting international public policies regarding the Internet and discuss issues that do not fall within the scope of any existing body;
  • Interface with appropriate inter-governmental organizations and other institutions on matters under their purview;
  • Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, and in this regard make full use of the expertise of the academic, scientific and technical communities;
  • Advise all stakeholders in proposing ways and means to accelerate the availability and affordability of the Internet in the developing world;
  • Strengthen and enhance the engagement of stakeholders in existing and/or future Internet governance mechanisms, particularly those from developing countries;
  • Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention of the relevant bodies and the general public, and, where appropriate, make recommendations;
  • Contribute to capacity building for Internet governance in developing countries, drawing fully on local sources of knowledge and expertise;
  • Promote and assess, on an ongoing basis, the embodiment of WSIS principles in Internet governance processes;
  • Discuss, inter alia, issues relating to critical Internet resources;
  • Help to find solutions to the issues arising from the use and misuse of the Internet, of particular concern to everyday users;
  • Publish its proceedings

Vacancies at the IGF Secretariat

Please check our vacancies page.

Internships at the IGF Secretariat

Internship at the IGF Secretariat 

Fellowship Programme at the IGF Secretariat

The IGF fellowship programme provides an opportunity for those active in the field of Internet governance, to work at the IGF Secretariat for up to nine months. The nominations should be submitted through national and regional IGF initiatives. Preference is given to nominees from least developed Countries (LDC's), developing countries and transitional economies. Names submitted through this process are kept on a roster. Unfortunately due to the large number of applications the Secretariat can only contact those that are shortlisted in a particular cycle. For further information about the fellowship programme please contact the IGF Secretariat at igf[at]un.org


United Nations

Secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

Villa Bocage

Palais des Nations,

CH-1211 Geneva 10

Switzerland

igf [at] un [dot] org

+41 (0) 229 173 411