Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 1: Svaradiva devi, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Ida Padikuor Na-Tei , Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 3: Ludymilla Cristinne Dos Santos Chagas, Government, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 4: Carlos Francisco Baca Feldman, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2: Ida Padikuor Na-Tei , Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 3: Ludymilla Cristinne Dos Santos Chagas, Government, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 4: Carlos Francisco Baca Feldman, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format is the most suitable layout for this session, as it fosters interactive dialogue and collaborative engagement among participants. Given the complex and multidimensional nature of local digital governance and sustainable partnerships, the roundtable structure encourages equal participation, allowing community leaders, experts, and policymakers to exchange experiences, insights, and best practices in a more dynamic and inclusive manner. The 45-minute duration is optimal to facilitate a focused yet comprehensive discussion, enabling speakers to present key insights while allowing sufficient time for participant interaction. The session is designed to prioritize knowledge-sharing and problem-solving, making the roundtable format ideal for generating practical recommendations and collaborative strategies for strengthening community networks and promoting meaningful connectivity.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format is the most suitable layout for this session, as it fosters interactive dialogue and collaborative engagement among participants. Given the complex and multidimensional nature of local digital governance and sustainable partnerships, the roundtable structure encourages equal participation, allowing community leaders, experts, and policymakers to exchange experiences, insights, and best practices in a more dynamic and inclusive manner. The 45-minute duration is optimal to facilitate a focused yet comprehensive discussion, enabling speakers to present key insights while allowing sufficient time for participant interaction. The session is designed to prioritize knowledge-sharing and problem-solving, making the roundtable format ideal for generating practical recommendations and collaborative strategies for strengthening community networks and promoting meaningful connectivity.
Policy Question(s)
Which local digital governance models have proven to be the most effective in ensuring the autonomy and sustainability of community networks? How can these models be replicated or adapted to different contexts?
What are the challenges and limitations of public-private partnerships in financing community networks, and how can these arrangements be structured to respect community autonomy while promoting digital inclusion?
What are the key challenges and opportunities in developing local digital governance models that strengthen human rights and promote digital equity?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of local digital governance models and the most effective strategies for communities to autonomously and sustainably manage their own connectivity infrastructures. This session will provide practical insights into various financing models and public-private partnerships, highlighting innovative approaches to ensuring the economic viability of community networks without compromising their accessibility, inclusivity, and autonomy. Beyond theoretical knowledge, the exchange of experiences with experts and community leaders will enable participants to engage with real-world challenges and explore applicable solutions across diverse contexts. By the end of the session, participants are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of the topic, as well as the necessary tools to implement sustainable connectivity models within their own communities.
Description:
Community networks play a fundamental role in promoting meaningful connectivity, particularly in regions that continue to face structural challenges in accessing the internet. To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of these networks, it is essential for communities to actively participate in the governance of their digital infrastructures. This panel will examine how local governance models can strengthen the autonomy of community networks by fostering inclusion, participation, and adaptation to the specific needs of each territory. Beyond governance, financial sustainability remains a critical challenge for community networks. This session will explore potential strategies for enabling public-private partnerships, addressing crowdfunding models, social impact funds, and collaborations with private sector and governmental actors. The discussion will focus on structuring these partnerships in a way that supports connectivity without compromising accessibility or digital rights. Through a dynamic exchange with experts, community leaders, and representatives from the public and private sectors, the panel will present concrete examples and best practices for building sustainable connectivity solutions. This exchange of experiences will help identify challenges, map opportunities, and propose pathways to strengthen community networks as viable and scalable alternatives for universal internet access. The overarching goal is to create a space for knowledge sharing and collaborative learning, fostering the development of public policies and initiatives aligned with the principles of meaningful connectivity, human rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The insights generated in this discussion will contribute to a strategic roadmap for local digital governance and the financial sustainability of community networks, driving concrete actions to ensure equitable, inclusive, and community-centered internet access.
Community networks play a fundamental role in promoting meaningful connectivity, particularly in regions that continue to face structural challenges in accessing the internet. To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of these networks, it is essential for communities to actively participate in the governance of their digital infrastructures. This panel will examine how local governance models can strengthen the autonomy of community networks by fostering inclusion, participation, and adaptation to the specific needs of each territory. Beyond governance, financial sustainability remains a critical challenge for community networks. This session will explore potential strategies for enabling public-private partnerships, addressing crowdfunding models, social impact funds, and collaborations with private sector and governmental actors. The discussion will focus on structuring these partnerships in a way that supports connectivity without compromising accessibility or digital rights. Through a dynamic exchange with experts, community leaders, and representatives from the public and private sectors, the panel will present concrete examples and best practices for building sustainable connectivity solutions. This exchange of experiences will help identify challenges, map opportunities, and propose pathways to strengthen community networks as viable and scalable alternatives for universal internet access. The overarching goal is to create a space for knowledge sharing and collaborative learning, fostering the development of public policies and initiatives aligned with the principles of meaningful connectivity, human rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The insights generated in this discussion will contribute to a strategic roadmap for local digital governance and the financial sustainability of community networks, driving concrete actions to ensure equitable, inclusive, and community-centered internet access.
Expected Outcomes
The key expected outcomes of this session include the formulation of strategic recommendations to strengthen local digital governance models and structure sustainable partnerships for community networks. The exchange of experiences among experts, community leaders, and stakeholders from the public and private sectors is expected to generate concrete solutions to overcome financial, regulatory, and operational challenges, fostering a more equitable ecosystem for digital connectivity. Additionally, the session will contribute to the development of a collaborative roadmap for the sustainability of community networks, guiding future initiatives and events on the topic. The discussions will also be systematically compiled into a final report, consolidating best practices and policy guidelines to ensure meaningful connectivity aligned with digital rights and local development. This document may serve as a reference for advocacy and decision-making, extending the impact of the session beyond the event itself.
Hybrid Format: To ensure effective engagement between onsite and online participants, the session will incorporate hybrid facilitation strategies that enable real-time interaction and active participation. A dedicated online moderator will oversee the virtual platform, ensuring that online attendees can ask questions, share insights, and contribute to discussions without delays. Meanwhile, the onsite moderator will actively integrate online contributions into the conversation to maintain a fluid and inclusive dialogue. Additionally, the session will use real-time Q&A tools where both in-person and remote attendees can submit and upvote questions, ensuring the most relevant topics are addressed. A shared collaborative document will also allow participants to contribute key points and insights throughout discussion. The session will be designed to provide an equitable experience for both onsite and online audiences by fostering an interactive and inclusive discussion.