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Contributing to the Global Digital Compact: Dynamic Coalitions Supporting Sustainable Digital Development

Time
Wednesday, 18th December, 2024 (06:00 UTC) - Wednesday, 18th December, 2024 (07:15 UTC)

Following the anticipated adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) as an annex to the "Pact of the Future," the 2024 DC Main Session convened leading Dynamic Coalitions (DCs) to demonstrate how their work contributes to a more inclusive, secure, and equitable digital future. The GDC’s key objectives - bridging digital divides, expanding digital economy inclusion, fostering safe and human rights-based digital spaces, advancing responsible data governance, and enhancing global AI governance - were examined through the lens of DC contributions. This session built on the previous year’s work, illustrating how DCs translate global commitments into practical, context-sensitive strategies, and how their initiatives can benefit from aligning more closely with the GDC.

Session Moderators:

  • Irina Soeffky, Director, Head of the National, European, and International Digital Policy Division Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
  • Mark Carvell, Independent consultant on Internet governance policy based in the United Kingdom. Member of EuroDIG (the European regional Internet governance forum) and of the UN Internet Governance Forum’s Working Group on Strategy (IGF WG-Strategy)

Organisers and Rapporteurs:

  • Jutta Croll (Onsite Rapporteur)
  • João Rocha Gomes (Online Rapporteur)
Session Time
Wednesday, 18th December, 2024 (06:00 UTC) - Wednesday, 18th December, 2024 (07:15 UTC)
Key Takeaways (* deadline 2 hours after session)
1. Dynamic Coalitions (DCs) as a Catalyst for Advancing the Global Digital Compact (GDC): 21 DCs showcased their collective role in bridging global goals with local realities. By leveraging thematic expertise and multistakeholder collaboration, DCs contribute directly to the GDC objectives, ensuring inclusive, sustainable, and accountable digital development. Their joint vision reflects the need for tailored solutions to diverse challenges
2. Inclusive Digital Development Requires Collaboration and Contextualized Approaches: Achieving meaningful progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands context-specific strategies that address structural inequalities. DCs highlighted pressing barriers such as connectivity gaps, digital financial exclusion, and accessibility limitations, advocating for frameworks that prioritize marginalized and underrepresented communities.
3. Balancing Technological Progress with Ethical Governance and Core Internet Values: DCs emphasized the need to reconcile emerging technologies - like AI, IoT, and data-driven systems - with fundamental human rights, security, and ethical accountability. Frameworks such as the ROAM-X indicators, "safety-by-design" principles, and inclusive policy development were identified as key tools to ensure technology serves humanity equitably.
Call to Action (* deadline 2 hours after session)
Action 1: Establish dedicated platforms and capacity-building initiatives supported (logistically and financially) by the IGF community to address specific challenges, foster dialogue, and empower communities to co-create solutions: Stakeholders must collaborate to amplify diverse voices, particularly those from underrepresented regions and vulnerable groups, ensuring meaningful participation in digital governance processes.
Action 2: Recognize DCs as key mechanisms for advancing GDC objectives: Dynamic Coalitions provide a unifying space for thematic expertise and shared progress, serving as a bridge between global policies and local realities. Their joint efforts are critical to accelerating the implementation of GDC commitments. Action 3: Adopt robust governance models (e.g., ROAM-X framework) and promote ethical guidelines to align technological advancements
Session Report (* deadline Monday 20 December) - click on the ? symbol for instructions

IGF 2024 DC Main Session Report

Title: Contributing to the Global Digital Compact: Dynamic Coalitions Supporting Sustainable Digital Development
Date & Time: Day 3, Wednesday, Dec. 18th, 9:00 - 10:15 (local Riyadh time)
Venue: King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC), Plenary Hall (Hybrid)
IGF Calendar Link: https://sched.co/1sYdc

Context and Objectives:
Following the anticipated adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) as an annex to the "Pact of the Future," the 2024 DC Main Session convened leading Dynamic Coalitions (DCs) to demonstrate how their work contributes to a more inclusive, secure, and equitable digital future. The GDC’s key objectives - bridging digital divides, expanding digital economy inclusion, fostering safe and human rights-based digital spaces, advancing responsible data governance, and enhancing global AI governance - were examined through the lens of DC contributions. This session built on the previous year’s work, illustrating how DCs translate global commitments into practical, context-sensitive strategies, and how their initiatives can benefit from aligning more closely with the GDC.

Session Moderators:

  • Irina Soeffky, Director, Head of the National, European, and International Digital Policy Division Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
  • Mark Carvell, Independent consultant on Internet governance policy based in the United Kingdom. Member of EuroDIG (the European regional Internet governance forum) and of the UN Internet Governance Forum’s Working Group on Strategy (IGF WG-Strategy)

Organisers and Rapporteurs:

  • Jutta Croll (Onsite Rapporteur)
  • João Rocha Gomes (Online Rapporteur)

Multistakeholder Collaboration and DC Ecosystem:
Speakers and participants emphasized that DCs do not operate in isolation; rather, they serve as bridges connecting different regions, sectors, and interest groups. This multistakeholder approach ensures that digital governance solutions are context-aware, inclusive, and adapted to local needs. Notably, 21 of the current 31 IGF DCs have confirmed their potential to contribute toward implementing GDC objectives - reinforcing the DC ecosystem as a network of valuable partnerships supporting sustainable digital development. Participants encouraged cross-DC collaboration to leverage synergies, for example, aligning environmental concerns with financial inclusion efforts and integrating human rights considerations into AI governance.

Speakers and Their Thematic Focus (By GDC Objective):

1.    Bridging Digital Divides (Speaker: June Parris, DC-SIDS):
Limited resources, external economic shocks, and local infrastructure constraints particularly affect Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other underserved regions. DC-SIDS, DC-BAS, DC-Interplanetary, DC3, and DC-Digital Inclusion (UNESCO-IFAP) showcased solutions ranging from community networks and blockchain assurance to universal indicators for inclusion. These DCs stressed that bridging digital divides requires not only improving infrastructure but also addressing affordability, ensuring meaningful usag, enhancing capacity-building, and incorporating children’s voices (given that one-third of Internet users are under 18 years old). Forums, where communities can articulate connectivity challenges, negotiate telecommunication pricing, and determine service quality, were suggested as crucial channels for shaping responsive digital policies.

2.    Expanding Digital Economy Inclusion (Speaker: Muhammad Shabbir, DCAD):
DC-DFI, DC-OER, DC-AD, and DC-Environment underscored dismantling barriers to digital financial services, providing open educational resources in multiple languages, and ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities. They highlighted the importance of webinars, workshops, and revised guidelines to empower people with disabilities to engage fully in digital economies. Integrating environmental sustainability and financial inclusion efforts can foster equitable job creation and long-term global prosperity — demonstrating that the digital economy, when guided by inclusive policies, can be a catalyst for sustainable development.

3.    Fostering a Safe, Secure, and Inclusive Digital Space Upholding Human Rights (Speaker: Olivier Crepin Leblond, DC-CIV):
Coalitions such as IRPC, DC-CRIDE, YCIG, IS3C, and DC-CIV focused on embedding human rights frameworks and safeguarding children online through safety by design. They addressed the importance of integrating youth perspectives and applying security standards to build trust. Questions from participants further highlighted the need to consider emerging issues — like the global demographic change due to an ageing population — in digital policy, and how data-driven governance in the context of AI should remain human-centric. Together, these DCs’ work demonstrates that ethical, transparent, and accountable governance approaches are essential for maintaining user-centricity and fundamental rights.

4.    Advancing Responsible, Equitable, and Interoperable Data Governance (Speaker: Tatevik Grigoryan, UNESCO):
Drawing on ROAM-X indicators, DC-Internet Universality Indicators, DC-Digital Economy, and DC-DAIG showcased methodologies to evaluate digital policies through a rights-based, inclusive, and equitable lens. Ensuring data-driven policymaking is grounded in robust metrics and transparency was deemed vital to addressing global inequalities. Participants raised questions on data-driven governance practices — how to ensure that data collection and analysis inform decisions ethically and equitably, especially regarding AI. These DCs made it clear that responsible data governance hinges on fostering trust, involving local communities, and addressing underrepresented voices from the Global South.

5.    Enhancing Global AI Governance for Humanity’s Benefit (Speaker: Yao Amevi Amessinou Sossou, DC-DDHT):
DC-Gender, DC-IoT, DC-DH, and DC-DDHT focused on preventing algorithmic discrimination, respecting privacy and human rights in AI-driven healthcare, and ensuring intersectional considerations guide AI policies. The discussions acknowledged that while AI presents transformative opportunities, it also risks deepening divides if not managed responsibly. Questions arose on how to prevent the AI divide from becoming a driver of inequality rather than a tool for progress. DCs agreed that robust governance models, anchored in fairness, safety, and inclusivity, are crucial for ensuring AI benefits all communities.

Session Flow, Discussion, and Additional Interventions:
After introductory remarks from the speakers, moderators posed targeted questions. Participants — both onsite and online — engaged actively, asking how the DCs’ work could further benefit the GDC and vice versa,  and how DCs can support balanced, inclusive AI adoption. While audio clarity and real-time engagement posed some technical challenges, these did not detract from the constructive nature of the conversation.
Announcements included the Creators Union of Arab’s platform on intellectual property verification and upcoming DC meetings focusing on integrating Internet Universality Indicators into educational curricula. A DC-IoT member (Maarten) called for defining global good practices that factor in current realities and future trajectories. These interventions illustrated the breadth and depth of DC activities, which cover everything from environmental sustainability to intellectual property verification, accessibility, safety and security, and media literacy education.

Calls to Action:
1.    Empower DCs as Core Partners:
Acknowledge and strengthen DCs’ roles in translating GDC objectives into effective, localized outcomes, capitalizing on their thematic expertise and knowledge, networks, and capacity for innovation.
2.    Promote Capacity-Building and Inclusive Participation:
Expand platforms, training, and outreach to ensure that youth, women, persons with disabilities, rural communities, and SIDS have a meaningful voice. Addressing underserved groups, including aging populations, remains an area for further focus.
3.    Adopt Equitable and Ethics-Driven Governance Models:
Encourage the use of frameworks (e.g., ROAM-X) and standardized assessments of safety and security issues, as mentioned during the session, to ensure data governance, AI innovation, and emerging technologies align with fundamental rights, accountability, and societal needs.

Conclusion:
The 2024 DC Main Session at IGF reinforced the role of Dynamic Coalitions as essential bottom-up driving engines of inclusive digital governance. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, DCs help transform global compacts into actionable local strategies, bridging the gap between global intentions and grounded, community-driven initiatives. Through collaboration, applied research, and advocacy, DCs ensure the Internet remains a force for equitable development, human rights, trustworthiness, and meaningful global participation. This session demonstrated that achieving the GDC’s objectives depends on collective action, shared expertise, and a commitment to inclusive, rights-based approaches.