In a lead-up to the 16th IGF in Katowice, Poland, the IGF 2021 hybrid process will feature the preparatory component or phase which will include build-up sessions on the IGF 2021’s issue areas, development of the intersessional work as well as a series of capacity development activities. The main goal of this phase is to support understanding of the IGF 2021 issue areas, the programme's structure, develop capacity in Internet governance and IGF-related processes and to foster stakeholder engagement.
| GOALS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO REACH | Quick and efficient in participating in the IGF 2021 |
| Understanding the IGF 2021 issue areas | |
| Becoming more knowledgable in cybersecurity, gender online, environment and access | |
| Interconnecting with others |
The preparatory phase will unfold in the following ways:
I. Deep diving into IGF 2021 issue areas, facilitated by the MAG-issue areas teams
To further develop the IGF 2021 issue areas, upon the advice of the MAG WG-Strategy, the MAG-issue areas teams aim to:
1. Create synergies between IGF 2021 issue areas and intersessional workstreams
All intersessional workstreams (DCs, PNs, BPFs), as well as the NRIs, are invited to consider cooperating on the following:
- Individually or collectively respond to the IGF 2021 Meeting Guide on Issues and Policy Questions by emailing the IGF Secretariat until 1 September, when the updated version of the Guide will be produced.
- Communicate which issue areas are of the highest priority for their work. This can be done via email or by completing this webform.
- Host (informal) discussions on the issue areas, focusing on a particular policy question, and feed with outputs into the IGF 2021 programme. The NRIs could host discussions back to back to their meetings. Should this be the case, the IGF Secretariat is at the disposal to support the preparatory work or documentation of outpus as a neutral pen holder.
2. MAG-issue teams shared space for tracking issue discussions
The MAG cooperates through its shared online space on tracking the issues the session organizers will be discussing and gathering relevant resources which will be made available to everyone. These issues will also help the MAG to prepare the main sessions.
3. Unpacking the IGF 2021 issue areas through the Introductory sessions
The IGF 2021 preparatory phase will include online hosted sessions to help the participants to prepare for the various community-facilitated sessions that will be hosted during the 16th IGF in Katowice. The tentative schedule of these sessions, to be hosted as live webinars, will be announced during the Second IGF 2021 Open Consultations and MAG Meeting.
II. Days of IGF 2021 Intersessional Work
In connection to the 3rd IGF 2021 Open Consultations in September, several open consultations would be facilitated by the intersessional workstreams on concrete policy questions:
| OPEN EXCHANGE | AGENDA & POLICY FOCUS | TIME (tentative) | SPEAKERS |
| Capacity development: how to effectively participate in intersessional work of IGF 2021? Breakout group discussions | Networking for better digital policies | 16 August 14:00-15:30 UTC |
Facilitators of BPFs, PNs and DCs (names tTBC) |
| Best Practice Forum on Cybersecurity | Drivers of cyber norms: concerns raised by the Internet users, security incidents and other events | 1 September 14:00-15:00 UTC |
To be confirmed |
| Best Practice Forum on Gender and Digital Rights | Comparative review of strategies and actions to halt the spread of gendered disinformation and build a less toxic environment for female and gender-diverse groups online | 8 September 14:00-15:00 UTC |
To be confirmed |
| Policy Network on Environment | Public data for environmental stability | 22 September 14:00-15:00 UTC |
To be confirmed |
| Policy Network on Meaningful Access | Concrete actions for concrete ways to bridge the digital divide | 29 September 14:00-15:00 |
To be confirmed |
- It is suggested that the network of Dynamic Coalitions facilitates the session focus on a policy question of their collective interests. The invitation to DCs to consider this remains open until mid-July to sign up.
- The NRIs, as well, are encouraged to host a substantive exchange on a policy question of their collective interests.
The IGF Secretariat is at the disposal to support the preparatory work or documentation of outpus as a neutral pen holder.
III. Capacity development activities
1. Series of capacity development workshops on engagement in the IGF
In order to build long term engagement between various communities and Internet Governance Forum (IGF), as well as to build capacity on IGF processes, the capacity development workshops will be delivered for various regions of the world, hosted in close collaboration with the NRIs, where possible and on the margins of the regional NRIs meetings. For 2021, given the COVID-19 pandemic constraints, these workshops would be delivered online.
2. How to effectively host and participate in a hybrid IGF 2021?
Training for session organizers and developing countries stakeholders on meaningful ways of participation in the hybrid IGF 2021 meeting, will be implemented.
3. Capacity development workshops: ''Our Digital Future''
The IGF Secretariat in collaboration with Microsoft will host multistakeholder capacity development workshops on digital transformation and cybersecurity.
Driven by the call in the UN Decade of Action to partner for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the workshop will support stakeholders by focusing on themes covered in Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation and Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.