6.9 KiB
IGF 2026 WS #305 Beyond AI Principles: Operationalising AI Governance
Description
Governments, international organisations and the private sector in AI principles, ethical frameworks and national AI strategies have made significant progress. It is no longer in doubt what responsible AI should look like, but how do we implement it effectively? The OECD observes that the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance frameworks is on the rise, but this has not yet translated into their effective implementation across organisations. As countries implement the Global Digital Compact, the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, and national AI strategies, institutions are increasingly confronted with practical governance questions. How should responsibilities be shared across government agencies? What accountability mechanisms are needed? How can governments, industry, civil society, academia and the technical community work together to translate AI commitments into practice? This workshop will focus on the practical challenge of operationalising AI governance. Through a structured multistakeholder dialogue, participants will examine implementation experiences from different regions, identify common institutional challenges and exchange practical approaches for strengthening coordination, accountability and multistakeholder collaboration. Rather than debating new AI principles, the discussion will explore how existing commitments can be translated into effective governance arrangements. The session will produce an AI Governance Implementation report which can also be used as a toolkit, capturing practical recommendations, implementation approaches and institutional considerations that governments, international organisations and other stakeholders can adapt to strengthen AI governance in different national and regional contexts. By focusing on implementation rather than principle setting, the workshop aims to support more effective, inclusive and accountable AI governance across the Internet governance ecosystem.
Policy Question(s)
What institutional arrangements and governance mechanisms are needed to translate AI principles and national AI strategies into effective implementation? How can governments, the private sector, civil society, academia and the technical community strengthen coordination and accountability for AI governance across different national and regional contexts? What practical approaches can help organisations operationalise AI governance while remaining inclusive, transparent and adaptable to emerging technological and policy developments?
Expected Outcomes
The session will produce an AI Governance Implementation Guide, capturing practical recommendations and good practices for translating AI principles into effective governance. The guide will identify common implementation challenges, highlight institutional approaches discussed during the session, and outline practical considerations for strengthening coordination, accountability and multistakeholder collaboration. WIG will publish and share the guide with the wider Internet governance community to encourage continued dialogue and adaptation. Participants will gain a better understanding of the practical barriers to implementing AI governance across different contexts, learn from experiences shared by governments, industry, civil society, academia and the technical community, and identify approaches that can support more effective implementation of existing AI governance commitments. The session will also strengthen collaboration among stakeholders by encouraging the exchange of practical experiences and implementation lessons that can inform future AI governance initiatives.
Format
Roundtable Duration (minutes): 90 Format description: A roundtable layout is best suited to this workshop because it promotes active dialogue, equal participation and collaborative problem-solving among stakeholders. Since the session focuses on operationalising AI governance rather than debating principles, participants will work together to analyse governance challenges and identify practical implementation approaches. The roundtable setting encourages interaction between governments, the private sector, civil society, academia and the technical community, ensuring that diverse perspectives shape the discussion and proposed solutions. A 90-minute format provides sufficient time for brief framing remarks, focused expert insights, small-group discussions using the AI Governance Canvas, followed by a moderated discussion that identifies common themes and practical recommendations. This balance between expert contributions and participant engagement supports meaningful multistakeholder dialogue while ensuring the session produces practical outputs. The format aligns with the workshop's objective of generating actionable recommendations that will inform the AI Governance Implementation Guide.
Hybrid Format
Hybrid Format: The session will be designed to ensure that onsite and online participants contribute equally throughout the discussion. A dedicated online moderator will monitor the virtual platform, facilitate interventions, and ensure that questions and comments from remote participants are integrated into every stage of the session. During the Governance Design Challenge, online participants will be assigned to mixed discussion groups alongside onsite participants using a shared collaborative document to contribute to the AI Governance Canvas in real time. Each group will nominate a rapporteur to present its recommendations, regardless of whether they are participating online or onsite. Interactive polling will be used to identify priority implementation challenges and build consensus on key recommendations. Key recommendations from each discussion group will be captured live and displayed throughout the session, enabling all participants to review, refine and prioritise the final implementation recommendations.
Organizers
Organizer 1: Gloria Frimpomaah Amofah-Adjekum , Women in Internet Governance/ Makatob IT IT
Speakers
Speaker 1: Ines Hfaiedh, Civil Society, African Group Speaker 2: Houda CHIHI, Government, African Group Speaker 3: Betty Fausta, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) Speaker 4: Jacob Odame-Baiden, Civil Society, African Group Speaker 5: Raymond Amumpaire, Civil Society, African Group
Moderator
Prerna Chhetri, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Online Moderator
Nwakanma Nnenna, Civil Society, African Group
Rapporteur
Sarata Omane, Civil Society, African Group
Participant Benefits
What will participants gain from attending this session?
SDGs
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 9.5 9.c
- Reduced Inequalities 10.2 10.3
- Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 16.10 16.6 16.7
- Partnerships for the Goals 17.16 17.17 17.18