Session
Organizer 1: Sameer Gahlot, National Internet Exchange of India
Organizer 2: Saba Tiku Beyene, 🔒
Organizer 3: Alina Ustinova, 🔒Center for Global IT Cooperation
Organizer 2: Saba Tiku Beyene, 🔒
Organizer 3: Alina Ustinova, 🔒Center for Global IT Cooperation
Speaker 1: Jacob Ellis, Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 2: Umut Pajaro Velasquez, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Ellen Taylor, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Loic Kliemann, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Umut Pajaro Velasquez, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Ellen Taylor, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Loic Kliemann, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Moderator
Sameer Gahlot, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Online Moderator
Sophia Tawonga Longwe, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Rapporteur
Saba Tiku Beyene, Technical Community, African Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: We propose a roundtable format with a 60-minute duration to foster an inclusive and participatory discussion. A U-shaped seating arrangement will promote direct engagement between speakers and attendees, allowing for fluid exchanges rather than passive listening. Unlike traditional panels, this format encourages open dialogue, collaboration, and real-time input from both in-person and online participants. The session will begin with five-minute scene-setting remarks from experts, each offering insights based on their expertise pertaining to the 2100 Learning Agenda. These remarks will set the stage by highlighting key challenges and opportunities. The next 40 minutes will feature guided discussions in small groups, where online and onsite participants can interact meaningfully. The final 15 minutes will be dedicated to summarizing key takeaways, emphasizing shared insights and recommendations.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: We propose a roundtable format with a 60-minute duration to foster an inclusive and participatory discussion. A U-shaped seating arrangement will promote direct engagement between speakers and attendees, allowing for fluid exchanges rather than passive listening. Unlike traditional panels, this format encourages open dialogue, collaboration, and real-time input from both in-person and online participants. The session will begin with five-minute scene-setting remarks from experts, each offering insights based on their expertise pertaining to the 2100 Learning Agenda. These remarks will set the stage by highlighting key challenges and opportunities. The next 40 minutes will feature guided discussions in small groups, where online and onsite participants can interact meaningfully. The final 15 minutes will be dedicated to summarizing key takeaways, emphasizing shared insights and recommendations.
Policy Question(s)
- How can the 2100 Learning Agenda be integrated with National and Regional Initiatives (NRIs) to promote sustainable and responsible innovation in the youth-driven digital ecosystem?
- What policies and frameworks can support youth overcoming structural barriers to digital entrepreneurship and innovation?
- How can cross-regional youth-led collaborations, particularly through multistakeholder partnerships, enhance digital trust and resilience while ensuring responsible technology use?
- What role should governments, industry, and international organizations play in fostering an enabling environment where youth-led digital innovations contribute to sustainable development?
What will participants gain from attending this session? This session will serve as a platform for exchanging diverse perspectives, promoting intercultural dialogue and cooperation. Such interactions will deepen understanding and collaboration within the digital space. Participants will have the opportunity to share their ideas, and the session itself will lay the groundwork for building horizontal relationships and forming international teams for new digital cooperation projects.
By presenting a variety of approaches and viewpoints on innovation from different regions, the session will encourage dialogue and mutual learning, helping to break down barriers and build bridges between communities. Various global initiatives should unite young people and their projects, fostering a strong youth community of modern leaders who will drive the world forward by setting an example.
Description:
It is estimated that over 50% of the population is under the age of 30 years, predominantly in the African and Asian region. This presents an opportunity for a future where even the smallest voices can make the biggest difference, and the world is big enough for everyone to share. Through this session, we intend to discuss the 2100 Learning Agenda, a guidebook centered around young people and countries in the global agenda, developed by the United Nations Foundation Next Generation Fellows. The said initiative was introduced at the United Nations Summit of the Future which is structured around the future of 5Ps i.e. People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships. As the 2100 Learning Agenda is a dynamic framework, its learning coupled with NRIs initiatives, specially youth initiatives could be partnered for developing a new century and world order. Partnership could play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering this common vision, desire and commitment to build a people-centric, inclusive and development-oriented information and knowledge society where everyone can create, access, utilise and share information. This could also help in facilitating the exchange of information and best practices with distinct multistakeholder processes such as WSIS+20, and NETmundial+10. Additionally, it can foster meaningful dialogues among and between the National and Regional Initiatives (NRIs), especially youth initiatives, underpinning the relevance of emerging technologies to promote responsible practices.
It is estimated that over 50% of the population is under the age of 30 years, predominantly in the African and Asian region. This presents an opportunity for a future where even the smallest voices can make the biggest difference, and the world is big enough for everyone to share. Through this session, we intend to discuss the 2100 Learning Agenda, a guidebook centered around young people and countries in the global agenda, developed by the United Nations Foundation Next Generation Fellows. The said initiative was introduced at the United Nations Summit of the Future which is structured around the future of 5Ps i.e. People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships. As the 2100 Learning Agenda is a dynamic framework, its learning coupled with NRIs initiatives, specially youth initiatives could be partnered for developing a new century and world order. Partnership could play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering this common vision, desire and commitment to build a people-centric, inclusive and development-oriented information and knowledge society where everyone can create, access, utilise and share information. This could also help in facilitating the exchange of information and best practices with distinct multistakeholder processes such as WSIS+20, and NETmundial+10. Additionally, it can foster meaningful dialogues among and between the National and Regional Initiatives (NRIs), especially youth initiatives, underpinning the relevance of emerging technologies to promote responsible practices.
Expected Outcomes
We expect to produce a set of concrete recommendations for bridging digital inequalities – for example, strategies to expand youth access to digital skills and entrepreneurship opportunities in underserved communities. The session will foster international cooperation by connecting young leaders, policymakers, and industry partners across regions, laying the groundwork for a cross-border youth digital collaboration network. A key outcome will be a shared action plan that participants and organizations can implement post-IGF, targeting improvements in connectivity, education, and inclusion. Additionally, the discussion will catalyze corporate support for youth-led initiatives: companies and sponsors in attendance will be encouraged to pledge mentorship, funding, or resource partnerships to scale up these youth-driven projects. In summary, the expected outcomes include: enhanced understanding and capacity among youth participants, a multi-stakeholder coalition for ongoing cooperation, and tangible commitments from the private sector – all contributing to sustained youth empowerment and a reduction in the digital divide.
Hybrid Format: The moderator will introduce subject matter experts while explaining the topic before engaging with discussants in a roundtable conversation. The moderator will also closely follow the discussion in order to give floor to all the speakers and any participants willing to speak. The onsite and online attendees will have equal opportunity to speak up and ask their questions on the topic. The best way of facilitation is to organize it in turn, alternating onsite and online attendees. In this case everybody online and offline will have an equal chance to take a floor and be a full member of the session. This means that on every question of remark from the onsite audience will be the same from the online one. This workshop will also be using such tools as Mentimeter and Kahoot! to make participants engage more in the discussion. Moreover, both tools are great for hybrid audiences.