[PNAI] IGF NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2025

Thu Dec 18 19:55:25 EST 2025

[- Description: IGF Logo]
🌐IGF Monthly Newsletter
December 2025
Your monthly update on IGF news, activities, and upcoming events.
Dear IGF Community,
Welcome to this month’s newsletter! Below you’ll find updates on new publications, IGF Secretariat’s activities, NRI highlights, intersessional work, capacity development, WSIS+20 developments, and upcoming events.
📝WSIS+20 High Level Meeting at UNGA

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The United Nations General Assembly has concluded the WSIS+20 High-Level Review, with a historic adoption by consensus of the outcome document assessing 20 years of implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) outcomes. The review was informed by extensive multistakeholder inputs, including contributions from governments, the private sector, civil society, the technical and academic communities, international organizations, and other stakeholders.

The outcome builds on the 20-year review report of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the outcomes of the 2025 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Norway, the WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event, UNESCO-led consultations, and a wide range of regional and international processes, underscoring the strength and maturity of the WSIS ecosystem.

A central highlight of the outcome document is the strong reaffirmation of the Internet Governance Forum as the United Nations’ primary multistakeholder platform for dialogue on Internet governance, including emerging digital issues. Member States welcomed the IGF’s evolution over the past two decades, from an annual meeting into a dynamic, year-round ecosystem encompassing intersessional work, Dynamic Coalitions, Best Practice Forums, and Policy Networks, as well as the growth of more than 170 national, regional, and youth IGFs worldwide.

The General Assembly also recognized the role of the IGF’s Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) and the establishment of the IGF Leadership Panel, noting their contributions to strengthening the Forum’s strategic direction, inclusiveness, and visibility.

Importantly, the outcome document decides that the IGF shall be made a permanent forum of the United Nations, with its Secretariat continuing to be hosted by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), supported by appropriate staffing and resources, and funded on a stable and sustainable basis in line with UN budgetary procedures.

Access the UNGA resolution HERE.<https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/ltd/n25/347/85/pdf/n2534785.pdf> Pictures can be found HERE<https://www.flickr.com/photos/185833270@N04/albums/72177720330999196>.

UN News Article on WSIS+20

[cid:image011.png at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WIwhO8HlWQ>

Read the article by UN News on the WSIS+20 High Level Meeting at the General Assembly, and watch their interview with founder, actor, and producer Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Access the article and interview HERE<https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166623>.

📚 New Publications

Video: “How the IGF Drives Local Action for Digital Inclusion”

[cid:image001.png at 01DC708A.507142F0]<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tK4dPIP5as>Mr. ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, discusses the key barriers to digital inclusion and how the organization’s programmes deliver tangible impact by fostering learning, building connections, and scaling solutions through national, regional, and global IGF’s.

Watch the video HERE<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tK4dPIP5as>.

IGF Intersessional Work Outputs 2025

[cid:image014.png at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/339/30196>[cid:image015.png at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/339/30200>[cid:image016.png at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/339/30209>[cid:image017.png at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/282/30188>

Between its annual meetings, the IGF carries out intersessional work through a community-driven, open, inclusive, and bottom-up process. To mark the conclusion of the 2025 intersessional cycle, a publication ceremony was held on 1 December, releasing the outputs of all Policy Networks and the Best Practice Forum.

The reports capture key findings, collaborative achievements, proposed next steps to advance global cooperation, and policy recommendations within each thematic area.

Access the reports here:
Policy Network on Artificial Intelligence<https://intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/282/30188>
Policy Network on Meaningful Access<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/339/30196>
Policy Network on Internet Fragmentation<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/339/30200>
Best Practice Forum on Cybersecurity<https://intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/339/30209>

IGF Secretariat’s Anja Gengo Feature in UNOICT’s #WomenInTech Campaign

[cid:image028.png at 01DC708A.507142F0]<https://unite.un.org/en/WomenInTech-UN/anja-gengo>This month, our dear colleague, Anja Gengo, was featured in the UN Office of Information and Communications Technology (UNOICT) campaign - #WomenInTech. The campaign highlights women who are driving digital transformation across the UN system.

At a time when digital cooperation is more important than ever, IGF and UNOICT share a common commitment: empowering women and ensuring their full participation in shaping the digital age.

Access the feature HERE<https://unite.un.org/en/WomenInTech-UN/anja-gengo>.
🗂 Secretariat Updates

Side Events Co-Hosted by the IGF Secretariat During WSIS+20 in New York

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[cid:image021.jpg at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://www.flickr.com/photos/185833270@N04/>

[cid:image022.jpg at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://www.flickr.com/photos/185833270@N04/>

[cid:image023.jpg at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://www.flickr.com/photos/185833270@N04/>

On the margins of the WSIS+20 High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, the IGF co-hosted a number of side events together with Switzerland, France, the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), the International Chamber of Commerce, and the World Economic Forum.

The side events highlighted how multistakeholder collaboration continues to shape inclusive and effective digital governance. The sessions reflected on the IGF’s evolution and future role, examined how Dynamic Coalitions and intersessional work contribute concrete expertise to global digital policy, and underscored the importance of strong national, regional, and local ecosystems in governing digital technologies in context. Participants also emphasized the need to bridge generations, ensuring that youth perspectives and intergenerational dialogue inform digital policymaking and help build a more inclusive, sustainable digital future.

The Internet Society Foundation Launches IGF Sponsorship Program

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The Internet Society Foundation will begin accepting applications for funding through our Internet Governance Forum (IGF) sponsorship program on 6 January 2026!

Read eligibility requirements and apply on 6 January HERE<https://www.isocfoundation.org/grant-programme/internet-governance-forum-events/>.

The Internet Society Foundation’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF) funding program supports the organization of United Nations (UN) IGF Secretariat-recognized National and Regional Initiatives (NRIs) and National and Regional Schools on Internet Governance. The purpose of the IGF is to encourage open, non-commercial, and inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue on issues related to Internet governance. The goal of Schools on Internet Governance is to ensure that diverse actors have the skills to participate in Internet governance structures and shape the future of the Internet.
🌍 National & Regional Initiatives (NRIs), and Capacity Development

IGF Secretariat at Global AI Conference for Parliamentarians
On 28-30 November, the IGF took part in the global conference “The Role of Parliament in Shaping the Future of Responsible AI”, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event brought together more than 200 parliamentarians from over 65 countries, hosted by the Parliament of Malaysia, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and UNDP.

[cid:image025.jpg at 01DC7087.C91673E0]<https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMGjp7Mj3esu3keCcWnXQfqHja6F1nJ_zrSynPdFetRR_61h_7ttL4HI5fUXkotaw?pli=1&key=VE1qZFROY0RIWWhIWlFvR2Fkd1JiZkljamQzMnh3>

The IGF Secretariat supported UNDP with facilitation of a foresight workshop, where parliamentarians from different regions mapped the effects of AI on their constituents, developed positive and negative scenarios, created specific actions plans, and presented their findings to other participants.

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Furthermore, the IGF Secretariat joined a panel on International Cooperation. Four themes stood out:
• increasing risk of fragmentation in global AI governance
• the need to strengthen multi-stakeholder approaches
• widening capacity gaps between countries, and
• the emergence of shared “red lines” guiding coherent global action.

During this session, the IGF highlighted the essential role of inclusive, multi-stakeholder governance in shaping legitimate AI norms. With more than 180 national and regional IGFs worldwide, this network enables diverse voices to contribute to governance approaches reflecting different contexts and development priorities.

Access the outcome report and all session summaries HERE<https://sites.google.com/view/parliaments-responsible-ai>.

Results of 2025 NRI Survey: Exploring NRIs Working Modalities

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In 2025, in the context of the WSIS+20 Review, the NRIs commenced a broad community consultation through a dedicated survey, to examine the current state of their working modalities. This process aimed to better understand their internal structure and governance practices, identify strengths, and map persistent or emerging challenges. The purpose of this assessment is to inform a collective NRIs strategy for 2026, focused on strengthening coordination, enhancing transparency and inclusiveness, and ensuring that NRIs continue to evolve in alignment with the IGF’s core principles while responding effectively to local and regional priorities.

Read the report and survey HERE<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/52/30221>.
📅 Upcoming Events

Date
Event
Location
January 2026
29-30 Jan 2026
Trinidad and Tobago IGF<https://igf.tt/>
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

THANK YOU

As we close 2025 and look ahead to 2026, the IGF Secretariat extends its sincere thanks to each and every one in the IGF community for your dedication, active participation, and constructive collaboration.

Your engagement across regions, stakeholder groups, and generations has been essential to strengthen global multistakeholder cooperation on digital issues and ensures that the IGF remains an open, inclusive, and impactful platform.

We are deeply grateful for your contributions to shaping a more equitable and resilient digital future for all.
Stay Tuned for 2026!
[LinkedIn]<https://www.linkedin.com/company/internet-governance-forum-igf/>    [X] <https://x.com/intgovforum>     [cid:image004.png at 01DC7087.665D5200] <https://bsky.app/profile/intgovforum.bsky.social>     [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/IntGovForum>     [Flickr] <https://www.instagram.com/intgovforum/>     [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/@igf/videos>     [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@intgovforum>
Visit our website: www.intgovforum.org<http://www.intgovforum.org/>

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