Multistakeholder digital governance beyond 2025

The multistakeholder approach has long been central to Internet governance, particularly within the United Nations context. Twenty years into the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, and over a decade into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world has witnessed significant achievements. However, alarming digital divides, including gender-based gaps, continue to persist. 

The global community has recently reflected on these challenges through processes such as the São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines agreed at NETmundial+10, adoption of the Global Digital  Compact (GDC), and the ongoing WSIS+20 consultations process. These reflections underline the urgency of strengthening inclusive and transparent governance mechanisms. 

This session will assess the functioning of the multistakeholder approach to Internet and digital governance and explore strategies to reinforce it amid evolving technological and societal changes. Drawing on evidence-based insights from experts affiliated with over 176 national, regional, and youth IGFs (NRIs), the session will aim to reaffirm core principles such as inclusiveness, openness, and transparency, while examining the  successes and limitations of the multistakeholder approach. Special attention will be given to identifying concrete proposals to enhance global digital cooperation, including adapting governance structures to new technological developments, such as the evolution of web protocols and new and emerging technologies. With 5.4 billion people now online, strengthening multistakeholder collaboration is essential for building an inclusive digital future aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finally, the session will highlight the tangible impacts of local multistakeholder communities and explore how to engage policymakers, legislators and regulators more effectively in order to ensure their active  participation in multistakeholder processes at all levels.

Examples of policy guiding questions the session could address include:

1. How can the multistakeholder approach be strengthened within UN-led processes such as the WSIS+20 Review and the Global Digital Compact to ensure more inclusive, transparent, and effective digital governance?
    
2. What concrete measures can enhance the participation of academia, governments, regulators, civil society, technical communities, and the private sector in global digital cooperation frameworks?
    
3. How can the the São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines agreed at NETmundial+10 be applied in practice to improve governance structures at national, regional, and global levels?
    
4. In the context of the digital public policy processes and  new technologies, such as evolving web protocols and AI, how should the multistakeholder approach adapt to remain relevant and effective and for digital governance to remain human-centric?
    
5. What lessons learnt from the experience of national, sub-regional,  regional, and youth IGFs (NRIs) demonstrate the tangible benefits and impacts of multistakeholder governance, and how can these be scaled and replicated globally?

Tentative session flow:

• 15:45h – Welcome by the moderator and introduction (5 min)

• 15:50h - Setting the stage by 7 designated and endorsed speakers (30 min)
  • *Moderator to agree with the speakers on the order and specific question they will be asked.
• 16:20h - Open floor discussion (30 min)
• 16:50h - Conclusion and closing (10 min)