1. Title of the Session
Substantive Session: A Dialogue – Inter Regional and National IGF Initiatives 2015
2. Length
120 minutes
3. Brief Description/Objective
Since its inception as mandated by the Tunis Agenda, a steady growth and expansion of
the IGF has emerged at the national, sub regional and regional levels. Each year during the IGF itself, the Coordinators and participants in these Initiatives gather to share experiences, and advance the contribution of the national and regional Initiatives into the IGF. National and Regional Initiatives are bottom up activities that are reflective of the priorities and concerns of each individual initiative; in some regions, both national and sub regional events
occur.
This session has the following objectives: present the outcome of a Survey undertaken by the Secretariat and a volunteer Survey Working Team; host a mini-WSIS+10 reflection from the National and Regionals that held special sessions during their meetings; review a priority topic, based on the bottom up consultation – Connecting the Next Billion; and discuss
perspectives of strengthening the input and contribution of the national and regional IGF Initiatives from 2015 forward, with a special focus on intersessional work during 2016.
National and Regional Initiatives cover a wide range of Internet Governance issues that
are of great relevance to the IGF itself, but have a particular unique focus as they reach a very broad range of stakeholders, only a few who also engage and attend the IGF. Through the Initiatives, the impact and engagement of the multi stakeholder model of the IGF is being reflected in an ever growing reflection at national and regional fora. Thus the interaction and engagement of the Substantive Session for the National and Regional IGF Initiatives is a reflection in two directions – into the IGF itself, and from the IGF back into the Initiatives, through the engagement of the Coordinators and participants from the Initiatives. The Substantive session also allows a further growth of sharing of practices and views across the Initiatives, helping to spread the awareness and engagement of national governments with their national stakeholders in Internet governance policy areas.
4. Agenda and format
The session has several segments:
Welcome and Setting the Scene for the Session:
Marilyn Cade, MAG Member and coordinator for planning the Substantive Session
Opening Introductions from Coordinators and Participants – 1 minute per Initiative
Welcoming Remarks: Chengetai Masango, IGF Secretariat and Janis Karklins, IGF MAG Chair
Introduction of the Co-Facilitators – UNGA as Special Guests - TBC
Main Program:
1) Presentation of the Survey Results:
Led by Team Leaders for presentation of Survey Results and Secretariat
2) WSIS +10 – 2-3 minutes per Initiative
that held sessions on WSIS+10 – Round robin
3) Connecting the Next Billion – As many of the National and Regional Initiatives made substantive contributions into the Intercessional work, this topic was chosen by the Survey Respondents as a priority for thematic discussion during the Substantive Session - 3 minutes per Initiative
4) Reflecting views into the IGF processes and reflecting from the IGF into the National and Regional Initiatives processes
5) Growing the number of IGF National Initiatives for 2016 and beyond
The Coordinators or a designated speaker from each Initiative will be seated at the table, with additional seating, and a roving microphone available for additional comments. The participants will be encouraged to engage with Coordinators during the session.
Policy Questions
The Session does not use policy questions per se, but is designed to enable discussions between the Coordinators/designated speakers.
Remote Observation and Participation is invited:
Desired results/output
Building the understanding of the organization and structure and management challenges
of the National and Regional IGF Initiatives. Highlighting the perspectives from the Initiatives on Connecting the Next Billion, WSIS+10, and the further growth of the number of Initiatives. Identifying further support and activities that can support the engagement and reflection
of views from the National and Regional Initiatives into the IGF, and from the IGF into the Initiatives