IGF 2021 WS #257
Multistakeholder engagement in implementation of the Roadmap

Organizer 1: Jason Munyan, United Nations

Speaker 1: Anriette Esterhuysen, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Nnenna Nwakanma, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Birgit Kainz-Labbe, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization

Moderator

Anriette Esterhuysen, Civil Society, African Group

Online Moderator

Jason Munyan, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization

Rapporteur

Jason Munyan, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization

Format

Round Table - Circle - 90 Min

Policy Question(s)

Governance and cooperation for an evolving Internet: How does Internet governance need to change in order to meet the changing nature and role of the Internet? What tools, mechanisms, and capacity building instruments are needed for stakeholders to effectively cooperate, and engage in Internet governance?
Advancing global digital cooperation: What opportunities are provided by the current focus on digital cooperation resulting from the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for digital cooperation? What role should the IGF play (and how) in advancing global digital cooperation?

This session will consider how various stakeholders have been engaged in the implementation of the Roadmap to date and over the first year of establishment of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology and, as part of this, how to deepen engagement and synergies with the ongoing work of IGF. It will also explore areas for further multi-stakeholder engagement.

SDGs

17.16
17.17
17.6


Targets: This session aims to increase engagement and cooperation among stakeholders, including through the establishment of partnerships. In addition, the Office of the Envoy on Technology is currently developing an inventory of partnerships to be displayed on the Office website.

Description:

The Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, which lays out the Secretary-General’s vision of for an open, inclusive, and secure digital future for all, affirms that “Digital cooperation is a multi-stakeholder effort and, while Governments remain at the centre, the involvement of the private sector, technology companies, civil society and other stakeholders is essential. It is vital to engage with the private sector, the technical community and civil society from the beginning if realistic and effective decisions and policies are to be made.” Moreover, the Secretary-General notes that the United Nations is ready to serve as a platform for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on emerging technologies and many of the Roadmap recommendations call for multi-stakeholder approaches in their implementation.

This session will consider how various stakeholders have been engaged in the implementation of the Roadmap to date and over the first year of establishment of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology and, as part of this, how to deepen engagement and synergies with the ongoing work of IGF. It will also explore areas for further multi-stakeholder engagement.

Expected Outcomes

Suggestions and best practices discussed in the session will be summarised and considered by the Office of the Envoy on Technology, which will coordinate with the Civil Society Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, other United Nations offices, Roadmap multi-stakeholder recommendation groups, and other relevant entities. This will help promote the engagement of the IGF community and stakeholders in implementing the Roadmap, and may lead to updates to guidance on the online participation of civil society in the United Nations’ work on digital cooperation, and broader multi-stakeholder engagement.

Onsite and online participants will be treated the same as much as possible. Most of the speakers will be online and there will be regular transitions between onsite and online participants.

Following a welcome and opening remarks by the Office of the Envoy on Technology, the invited speakers will share their perspectives and suggestions. Participants will then be invited to comment and raise questions. In determining the speaking order, the organizers will regularly monitor expression of interest both on-site and online. Throughout the session, participants will be encouraged to provide comments in the chat or similar tool that would be accessible both by on-site and online participants.

Online Participation



Usage of IGF Official Tool. Additional Tools proposed: Polling (such as Mentimeter) and the platform chat or a Google Doc or similar, to log ideas