IGF 2021 Policy Network on Meaningful Access

The PNMA brough together experts from all stakeholder groups and regions to exchange experiences and ideas on why achieving meaningful and universal Internet access remains ‎so challenging, in spite of years of efforts by policy makers and other actors from all stakeholder ‎groups. During IGF 2021, the PNMA multistakeholder working group of experts, together with the community, explored the following policy questions:

• How to improve affordability, meaningful connectivity, and the social elements that support meaningful access?
• How to improve the use and quality of connectivity?
• What is connectivity used for?
• What impact does connectivity have?

A dedicated PNMA session was hosted at the 16th IGF in Poland. Please access the session recoding here.   The session brough together experts from various disciplines and regions to exchange views on the following aspects: From policy recommendation to policy implementation Workstream 1 - Connectivity: overview and findings  Workstream 2 - Digital Inclusion: overview and findings Workstream 3 - Capacity Development: overview and findings Q&A - Bringing all together  Looking ahead: What can make the outputs more useful?

Implementation Process 
The PNMA will be a gathering point for all those interested to contribute to the matter with their ‎expertise and experience. With advice from dedicated co-facilitators of the IGF ‎Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG), it will also work closely with the existing networks ‎of the IGF, such as the Dynamic Coalitions, Best Practice Forums, National Regional, Sub-‎Regional and Youth IGF initiatives, as well as all other stakeholders, including the session ‎organisers and IGF annual meeting participants. Stakeholders that are not traditionally involved ‎in the IGF process and have an interest in this topic are particularly encouraged to actively ‎participate. ‎The PNMA will have close linkages with the IGF 2021 high-level and parliamentary tracks.

The PNMA's work would be facilitated by a dedicated multistakeholder working group of experts. Its membership would include leading ‎intergovernmental and international organisations, UN member states, parliaments, research academic institutions, leading private sector companies and ‎representatives of technical communities, national, regional and youth IGFs (NRIs) and other ‎stakeholders whose work is relevant for the PNMA.