5.8 KiB
IGF 2026 WS #417 Fragile or Agile? Fixing Internal Governance in the IGFs
Description
For two decades, Internet Governance Forums (IGFs) at the global, regional, and national levels have relied on the multistakeholder model to foster open dialogue. However, behind this collaborative vision lies a growing institutional challenge: a lack of standardized, transparent, and resilient internal governance mechanisms. This session directly confronts the structural vulnerabilities that threaten the credibility, impact, and long-term sustainability of IGFs. Without robust internal frameworks, forums risk becoming procedurally fragile, vulnerable to capture by well-resourced actors, and disconnected from measurable policy outcomes. Participants will critically examine whether the current operational model offers genuine organizational agility or masks systemic fragility.
Designed as a collaborative policy lab, the workshop brings together civil society, technical communities, industry leaders, and policymakers to dissect key governance deficits. The discussion will revolve around three core pillars:
Accountability and Inclusivity: Establishing transparent protocols for agenda-setting, speaker selection, and decision-making to balance power dynamics between tech giants, governments, and resource-constrained stakeholders.
Institutional Sustainability: Developing durable funding, operational, and organizational models—particularly for National and Regional IGFs (NRIs) in the Global South.
Impact Tracking: Building lightweight Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) mechanisms to trace how non-binding discussions translate into tangible regional and national policy initiatives.
Rather than offering passive criticism, this workshop aims to produce a concrete set of a minimum standards of Internal Governance Model and Principles. By equipping IGFs organizers with actionable reform blueprints, the session seeks to transform internet governance platforms from passive dialogue venues into resilient, accountable, and impactful institutions built for the digital age.
Policy Question(s)
How can IGFs implement standardized internal transparency protocols for agenda-setting and funding to prevent capture by well-resourced actors?
What structural mechanisms can National and Regional IGFs (NRIs) adopt to achieve long-term financial and operational sustainability without compromising independence?
How can multistakeholder forums establish lightweight Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) frameworks to track the real-world policy impact of non-binding discussions?
Expected Outcomes
Internal Governance Framework: A practical set of draft principles outlining standards for transparent agenda-setting, conflict-of-interest management, and inclusive decision-making across global, regional, and national IGFs (NRIs).
NRI Sustainability Blueprint: Actionable recommendations identifying alternative funding models, operational practices, and capacity-building strategies to secure the long-term institutional independence of forums, particularly in the Global South.
Impact-Tracking Roadmap: A lightweight Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) methodology designed to help organizers measure, document, and trace how non-binding multistakeholder dialogues influence real-world national and international tech policies.
Enhanced Network & Knowledge-Sharing: An active community of practice connecting IGF organizers, civil society, and policy experts committed to implementing structural reforms and sharing best practices for governance resilience beyond the annual event.
Format
Roundtable Duration (minutes): 90 Format description: Designed as an interactive 90-minute Roundtable, this session prioritizes peer-to-peer dialogue over passive presentations. To kick off, four diverse lead discussants deliver 3-minute lightning triggers outlining key internal governance deficits.
The majority of the session is dedicated to facilitated, non-hierarchical discussion among all onsite and online participants. Utilizing dual-moderation and live digital collaboration tools (Slido and Miro), the roundtable creates a level playing field where attendees actively debate reform proposals, address power imbalances, and co-draft a set of practical Internal Governance Principles for the IGF community.
Hybrid Format
Hybrid Format: To guarantee complete parity between physical and remote participants in our 90-minute Roundtable, we employ a dedicated Dual-Moderation Strategy. An Onsite Moderator manages the physical room while a Remote Moderator manages the Zoom queue, chat, and technical needs, maintaining a live backchannel to alternate speaking queues 1:1. Remote speakers sit "at the table" via main-screen displays and high-definition room audio.
Designed as an interactive Policy Lab, long lectures are replaced by 3-minute lightning triggers, reserving over 70% of the session for open debate. All attendees interact through a single digital hub: Slido for live polling/Q&A upvoting (accommodating non-native speakers or low bandwidth) and Miro for a 20-minute live co-drafting segment. High-contrast, screen-reader-accessible visual sharing ensures an inclusive, high-quality experience for all participants.
Organizers
Organizer 1: MOHAMED FARAHAT, 🔒African IGF
Speakers
Speaker 1: MOHAMED FARAHAT, Civil Society, African Group Speaker 2: Malek khachlouf, Government, African Group Speaker 3: Shifa Sorene Assefa , Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization Speaker 4: Amged B Shwehdy, Intergovernmental Organization, African Group
Moderator
MOHAMED FARAHAT, Civil Society, African Group
Online Moderator
MOHAMED FARAHAT, Civil Society, African Group
Rapporteur
MOHAMED FARAHAT, Civil Society, African Group
Participant Benefits
What will participants gain from attending this session?
SDGs
16.6 16.7 17.16 17.17