IGF 2024 Open Forum #42 Global Digital Cooperation: Ambition to Country-Level Action

    Theater
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: A 90-minutes theater-style format is best suited to this discussion as it will allow for a panel discussion to be followed by interactive discussion.

    Description

    In September 2024, world leaders agreed on a Global Digital Compact as part of the Summit of the Future to articulate shared principles and commitments for an open, free and secure digital future for all. Although the agreement of the Compact marks an important milestone for global digital cooperation, realizing its ambitions and delivering on its commitments will require investments, partnerships, and support at the country level. This would be especially important in view of the WSIS+20 review next year at the United Nations, which will also provide critical guidance on delivering impact directly to individuals, communities and countries all around the world.

    This Open Forum will bring together stakeholders from across all sectors to discuss how to deliver on the commitments of the Global Digital Compact for countries around the world, recognizing the importance of Compact outcomes in continuing global digital cooperation efforts. It is also an opportunity to reaffirm the role of the multistakeholder community in IGF and WSIS as a partner to the United Nations system in delivering on its mandates to support countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, narrow global digital divides and Leave No One Behind in this digital age.

    The co-organizers will prioritize active engagement and interaction between onsite and online participants in three ways. First, we will include virtual speakers, already. Second, we will use the chat and other virtual engagement functions, such as polling, to ask participants to share their reflections on specific questions and issues throughout the session. Third, we will ensure a balanced discussion by alternating questions and contributions from onsite and online participants.

    Organizers

    UNDP
    United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Organization, Global International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Organization, Global UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), International Organization, Global Southern Voice, Non-Governmental Organization, Africa, Asia, and Latin America Internet Society, Non-Governmental Organization, Global

    Speakers

    Robert Opp, UNDP, International Organization, WEOG

    Juwang Zhu, Director, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, and Acting Director, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN DESA, International Organization, Asia-Pacific

    Margarita Gómez, Executive Director, Southern Voice, Non-Governmental Organization, GRULAC

    Sally Wentworth, Internet Society, Non-Governmental Organization

    Sarah Kemp, Intel, Private Sector

    High-level Representative, ITU, International Organization (name tbc)

    We will also add speakers from government (from Africa, GRULAC and the Asia Pacific specifically), as well as from among the NRIs, civil society, the technical community, and the private sector.

    Onsite Moderator

    UNDP

    Online Moderator

    UNDP

    Rapporteur

    UNDP