The mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) calls for strengthening and enhancing stakeholder engagement in developing countries. It also calls for the Forum to contribute to building capacity for Internet governance in developing countries, drawing fully on local sources of knowledge and expertise.
During the IGF 2018, the United Nations Secretary-General called for action to increase inclusiveness in the IGF processes, underlining that the IGF must increase its efforts to draw upon the “weak and missing voices” in the IGF's work. It was also called for a broader multidisciplinary approach, to involve experts not traditionally involved in the IGF processes. The community also echoed for more inclusion and diversity in the IGF's participation spectrum.
For these reasons, a limited number of eligible candidates from developing countries are supported to participate in the annual meetings. The support is provided through the IGF Global South Fund, which so far has been funded by the Governments of Germany and Japan.
The Call for Travel support is announced on the IGF website for a limited period against the below-listed eligibility criteria and with the applicable selection procedure.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The Call considers supporting individual stakeholders that fulfil the following criteria:
- Represent any stakeholder group;
- Are from a Least Developed Country, Landlocked Developing Country, Small Island Developing State or a Transitional Economy;
- Are engaged in the IGF process as active contributors (e.g. to the intersessional and NRIs work; as session co-organizers, session speakers, moderators and rapporteurs);
- Demonstrate interest in Internet governance-related activities;
- Show a demonstrated commitment to contributing to its community after participating at the IGF;
- Are recommended by a respected community member.
Preference may be given to underrepresented groups, such as women, indigenous people, persons with disabilities, elderly population, youth.
Those requesting partial funding will be given preference over others, should all criteria be met.
Those that did not receive travel support in past may be given preference, should all criteria be met.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
The IGF Secretariat evaluates received applications as per the above-listed eligible criteria. Applications are given further consideration if the three first formal criteria are met.
The number of selected candidates is dependent on the funds available.
The final composition of participants is stakeholder, regionally, gender and age-balanced.
The IGF Secretariat can approach underrepresented stakeholders that can enrich the diversity of the meeting and comply with the eligibility criteria, with an offer to support their participation at the annual IGF meeting.