Session
The multistakeholder approach has long been central to Internet governance, particularly within the United Nations context. Twenty years into the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, and over a decade into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world has witnessed significant achievements. However, alarming digital divides, including gender-based gaps, continue to persist.
The global community has recently reflected on these challenges through processes such as the São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines agreed at NETmundial+10, adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), and the ongoing WSIS+20 consultations process. These reflections underline the urgency of strengthening inclusive and transparent governance mechanisms.
This session will assess the functioning of the multistakeholder approach to Internet and digital governance and explore strategies to reinforce it amid evolving technological and societal changes. Drawing on evidence-based insights from experts affiliated with over 176 national, regional, and youth IGFs (NRIs), the session will aim to reaffirm core principles such as inclusiveness, openness, and transparency, while examining the successes and limitations of the multistakeholder approach. Special attention will be given to identifying concrete proposals to enhance global digital cooperation, including adapting governance structures to new technological developments, such as the evolution of web protocols and new and emerging technologies. With 5.4 billion people now online, strengthening multistakeholder collaboration is essential for building an inclusive digital future aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finally, the session will highlight the tangible impacts of local multistakeholder communities and explore how to engage policymakers, legislators and regulators more effectively in order to ensure their active participation in multistakeholder processes at all levels.
Examples of policy guiding questions the session could address include:
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How can the multistakeholder approach be strengthened within UN-led processes such as the WSIS+20 Review and the Global Digital Compact to ensure more inclusive, transparent, and effective digital governance?
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What concrete measures can enhance the participation of academia, governments, regulators, civil society, technical communities, and the private sector in global digital cooperation frameworks?
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How can the the São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines agreed at NETmundial+10 be applied in practice to improve governance structures at national, regional, and global levels?
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In the context of the digital public policy processes and new technologies, such as evolving web protocols and AI, how should the multistakeholder approach adapt to remain relevant and effective and for digital governance to remain human-centric?
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What lessons learnt from the experience of national, sub-regional, regional, and youth IGFs (NRIs) demonstrate the tangible benefits and impacts of multistakeholder governance, and how can these be scaled and replicated globally?
Session flow:
- Welcome by the moderator and introduction (5 min)
- Setting the stage by 7 designated and endorsed speakers (30 min)
- Open floor discussion (30 min)
- Conclusion and closing (10 min)
Speakers:
The session is open to all stakeholders for active participation. Before the floor is opened for general requests to speak, the following experts, designated by the NRIs Multistakeholder Organizing Committees, and endorsed by the global NRIs network, will set the stage.
- Ms. Nithati Moorosi, Minister, Ministry of Information, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lesotho | Lesotho IGF
- Mr. Declan McDermott, Internet Policy & Regulatory Affairs Manager, .ie, Ireland | Ireland IGF
- Ms. Agustina Ordoñez, Chief of Advisors to a Deputy in the National Congress in Argentina and Coordinator of the Gender and Public Policy Forum at Yale University, Argentina | Argentina IGF
- Ms. Joyce Chen, Senior Advisor-Strategic Relations, APNIC, Australia/Singapore | APrIGF
- Mr. Byron Holland, President and CEO, Cira, Canada | Canada IGF
- Ms. Sarai Faleupolu Tevita, Chief Operating Officer, National University of Samoa, Samoa | Pacific IGF
- Mr. Qusai Al Shatti, Deputy Chairman, Kuwait Information Technology, Kuwait | Arab IGF
Onsite moderator: Ms. Christine Arida, Strategic Advisor to the Executive President and Board Member at the National Telecom Regulatory Authority of Egypt | North Africa IGF, Arab IGF
Online moderator: Ms. Lily Edinam Botsyoe, Ghana Youth IGF
Rapporteurs: Mr. Sameer Gahlot, Southeast Asian Youth IGF; Ms. Martha Negedu, Nigeria IGF; Mr. Ernest Mafuta, Zambia IGF
Output: Messages from the NRIs
Report
The session titled “Enhancing Multistakeholder Participation in Global Digital Governance Beyond 2025” brought together stakeholders from diverse regions and sectors to discuss actionable strategies for inclusive and participatory digital governance. At the heart of the discussion were the São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines, WSIS+20 review and the Global Digital Compact, viewed as pivotal moments to redefine participation frameworks and ensure sustainability.
Byron Holland, representing the Canada IGF, discussed the ways in which multistakeholder approach can be strengthened within the UN led processes. Further, he highlighted certain pivotal points pertaining to transparency, comprehensibility, accessibility and the actionable role of distinct stakeholders to make significant difference.
Hon. Minister Nthati Moorosi presented Lesotho’s model of embedding multistakeholder practices into national strategies. The annual Lesotho IGF exemplifies grassroots engagement and cross-sector collaboration. She urged for global mechanisms to follow suit and not treat participation as symbolic.
Declan McDermott shared the journey of the Island IGF, which despite being new, has already seen meaningful engagement. His emphasis on the different scaling approaches offers a roadmap for other NRIs.
Agustina Ordoñez stressed the importance of learning from Latin America’s local experiences and called for more youth and political actors in IGF spaces. Joyce Chen articulated the psychological and historical barriers to entry, particularly for newcomers, and advocated for contextual onboarding and storytelling tools.
Joyce Chen pointed out certain historical context and usage of complex language(s) in IG spaces often alienate newcomers while proposing novel approaches including storytelling, community onboarding, and government openness in including non-governmental advisors, to leverage NRIs and other community-led initiatives.
SIDS representative Sarai Tevita emphasized the role of multistakeholderism in overcoming vulnerabilities and building climate-smart, inclusive digital systems. She called for localized solutions and emphasized capacity building for sustainable participation.
Ahmed Farag, speaking from the Middle East perspective, proposed a fresh start in consultations that connects stakeholders from the beginning and balances inclusivity with regulatory firmness.
The discussion was enriched by inputs, questions and comments from members, including Mamud (Bangladesh IGF) and Nazza Kurama (Tanzania IGF), who underscored the importance of linguistic and financial inclusivity.
Key Takeaways and Action Items
Participants agreed that while the multistakeholder model has strong support, its impact depends on real, consistent, and context-aware implementation. There is an urgent need to:
- Scale existing NRI models to new territories.
- Translate grassroots input into high-level policy influence.
- Equip new participants with accessible resources and institutional backing.
- Develop trust funds and digital education programs that reflect local realities.
- Mainstream the multistakeholder model across all UN-led and national processes.
The session concluded with a shared commitment to sustaining and amplifying inclusive practices that bring digital governance closer to the people it serves.
