The post-WSIS+20 context: challenges and opportunities for the IGF
Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group - 2nd April 2026
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR | ARCHIVE | PERMALINK
Speakers: Anriette Esterhuysen (APC); Dr. David Souter; Theresa Swinehart (ICANN); Anita Gurumurthy (IT for Change); William Lee (Government of Australia); Chafic Chaya (Lebanon IGF / RIPE NCC); Elonnai Hickok (Global Network Initiative); Desiree Evans (RIPE NCC); Juan Fernandez (Government of Cuba); Lea Kaspar (Global Partners Digital); Craig Stanley Adamson (UK Government); Vinayak Bharadwaj (NetMission.Asia, for Bea Guevarra); Bruna Martins dos Santos (for Jordan Carter, auDA); Mona Gaballa (Internet Society); Carol Roach (IGF MAG Chair); Wolfgang Kleinwächter (University of Aarhus)
Moderator: Anriette Esterhuysen (APC); Host: Concettina Cassa (AgID)
Overview
This IGF MAG Working Group Strategy webinar examined the implications of the WSIS+20 review and the IGF’s new permanent mandate within the UN system, focusing on how the forum must evolve to remain relevant, impactful, and inclusive in a rapidly changing digital governance landscape.
Context and Framing
Concettina Cassa opened by emphasizing that the IGF’s permanent mandate is both validation and a call to strengthen its role, while Anriette Esterhuysen framed the session as a transition point—closing one strategic cycle and launching another grounded in critical reflection and forward planning.
Dr. David Souter – Strategic Outlook
Dr. Souter provided a comprehensive assessment of the post-WSIS+20 environment:
Limited change from WSIS+20: The review largely reaffirmed existing principles, while leaving many tensions unresolved.
Low external visibility: Outside the IGF community, awareness remains weak among policymakers, businesses, and other sectors.
New inflection point: Digital governance now intersects with AI, geopolitics, development, environment, and security in ways far beyond the original WSIS context.
He outlined six core strategic challenges:
Role within the UN: Permanent status requires rethinking purpose, inclusivity, and expectations.
Scope vs focus: Broad agendas risk superficiality; narrow agendas risk reduced relevance.
Participation gaps: Especially among developing countries and non-digital policy sectors.
Ecosystem coherence: NRIs and intersessional work need evaluation and stronger integration.
Weak outcomes: Outputs must be more substantive, targeted, and competitive in influencing decision-makers.
Outdated governance: Structures have not kept pace with the IGF’s expanded role.
His central message: permanence is an opportunity, not a solution.
Thematic Evolution and Relevance
Theresa Swinehart stressed the need for practical stability (funding, administration) and proposed more issue-driven thematic approaches (e.g., education, health) to broaden participation and relevance.
Anita Gurumurthy emphasized the IGF as a democratic political space, highlighting its role in:
Agenda-setting
Anticipating emerging issues
Linking dialogue to policy responsiveness
Lea Kaspar argued for improved thematic coherence across interconnected issues (AI, cybersecurity, data governance), shifting toward implementation-oriented impact.
Participation, Inclusion, and Capacity
A recurring theme was the need to expand and deepen participation:
William Lee called for urgency ahead of the Global Digital Compact review, proposing practical tools and clearer strategies.
Chafic Chaya emphasized capacity building, funding, and trust for developing country participation.
Elonnai Hickok highlighted the IGF’s role as a coordination space across UN processes.
Vinayak Bharadwaj underscored youth inclusion gaps, especially in emerging technology governance.
Speakers agreed that participation must be meaningful, not just numerical.
IGF Ecosystem and Integration
Speakers identified fragmentation across the IGF ecosystem:
NRIs, intersessional work, and annual meetings often function as parallel tracks.
Stronger integration is needed to create a coherent system with cumulative impact.
Proposals included:
Aligning NRI outputs with global themes
Developing topic-specific policy briefs
Strengthening feedback loops between IGF outputs and UN processes
Outcomes and Impact
Consensus emerged that the IGF must improve the quality, timing, and relevance of its outputs:
Desiree Evans emphasized targeted messaging for decision-makers.
Juan Fernandez warned IGF outputs are often ignored externally, calling for stronger institutional linkages.
Speakers stressed aligning outputs with global policy cycles and improving dissemination.
Governance and Funding
Key priorities identified:
Sustainable funding models beyond voluntary contributions
Enhanced government engagement, especially from developing countries
Stronger ecosystem integration
Clearer linkages with WSIS, GDC, and broader UN processes
Concerns included avoiding over-bureaucratization and preserving the multistakeholder model.
Concluding Remarks
Carol Roach (IGF MAG Chair)
Carol Roach underscored that the IGF now enters a new phase of responsibility following its permanent mandate, where expectations for delivery and relevance are significantly higher. She emphasized:
The importance of translating discussion into demonstrable value
The need for stronger coordination across the IGF ecosystem
Ensuring that all stakeholders—particularly underrepresented regions—are meaningfully engaged
She highlighted that the MAG and broader community must now focus on practical implementation, building on the foundation laid by WSIS+20, and ensuring the IGF remains responsive to evolving global digital challenges.
Wolfgang Kleinwächter (University of Aarhus)
Wolfgang Kleinwächter framed the moment as both a success and a test:
The IGF’s permanence reflects global recognition of the multistakeholder model
However, the real challenge lies in how effectively the IGF uses this opportunity
He stressed:
The need to preserve the IGF’s core identity as a non-negotiating, open dialogue platform
The importance of maintaining flexibility and innovation in governance approaches
Strengthening the IGF’s role as a bridge between different policy worlds and stakeholders
He concluded that the IGF’s future success will depend on its ability to adapt, remain inclusive, and demonstrate impact in an increasingly complex and contested digital governance environment.
Conclusion
The webinar highlighted that while WSIS+20 secures the IGF’s institutional future, it also raises the stakes. The IGF must now:
Deliver greater impact and relevance
Strengthen ecosystem integration
Expand inclusive participation
Improve outputs and strategic coherence
The central challenge ahead is to evolve without losing the IGF’s multistakeholder DNA, ensuring it remains a vital and effective platform in global digital governance.
RESOURCES
Internet Governance Forum (IGF) — UN multistakeholder platform discussed throughout; now holds permanent UN mandate
IGF MAG Working Group on Strategy (WG-Strategy) — working group that convened this webinar; strategy documents and papers available here
Global Digital Compact — adopted September 2024; its review process in 2026 was a key focus of discussion
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) — foundational framework; WSIS+20 review outcome grants IGF permanent status
ISOC: WSIS+20 Reaffirms Multistakeholder Governance and a Lasting IGF — Internet Society’s analysis of the WSIS+20 outcome, referenced by Mona Gaballa
IGF 2025 Sessions related to the WSIS+20 Review — background on the review process and IGF’s permanent mandate
Chris Buckridge — Digital Governance Discussion Group — WG-Strategy co-chair; writings on IGF strategy and multistakeholder governance
IGF MAG Members — full list of current Multistakeholder Advisory Group members
UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies — GDC — official GDC portal including implementation resources
TechPolicy.Press: Twenty Years On — What WSIS+20 Means for International Digital Governance — analysis by Global Partners Digital’s Lea Kaspar referenced in discussion