IGF 2025 WS #97 NRIs' Role in Bridging Digital Divide in Global South

    Organizer 1: Civil Society, African Group
    Organizer 2: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Organizer 3: Government, African Group
    Speaker 1: Lily Edinam Botsyoe, Technical Community, African Group
    Speaker 2: Osvaldo Larancuent, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 3: Henrietta Ampofo, Civil Society, African Group
    Speaker 4: Sabelo Sabelo, Technical Community, African Group
    Speaker 5: Henry Wang, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
    Speaker 6: El Rhdioui Rachida, Civil Society, African Group
    Format
    Roundtable
    Duration (minutes): 60
    Format description: A Roundtable format encourages inclusive, interactive discussions, allowing stakeholders from different backgrounds to directly engage with one another.
    Policy Question(s)
    1- How do all stakeholders collaborate locally to bridge digital trust and inclusion in the global south context ? 2- How can we motivate companies exporting minerals essential to the production of smartphones to set up primary processing industries in countries where these minerals are available in order to create jobs ? 3- How to help more women in digital technology sciences ? 4- What can be the limit between generalizing digital identity, digital finances and privacy ?
    What will participants gain from attending this session? Attendees will gain practical insights into how NRIs are addressing the digital divide through digital trust and inclusion strategies in the Global South. They will explore successful community-driven models that enhance cybersecurity, digital literacy, and inclusive AI development, learning from diverse stakeholders across civil society, government, and the private sector. Through interactive discussions, participants will leave with: 1) A deeper understanding of regional challenges and solutions for bridging the digital divide. 2) Best practices and policy recommendations to enhance digital trust. 3) Strategies to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration for digital inclusion. 4) Actionable insights on strengthening digital governance within their own communities.
    Description:

    The digital divide remains a pressing issue in the Global South, exacerbated by economic, infrastructural, and regulatory challenges. Trust in digital ecosystems is crucial to ensuring meaningful connectivity and online participation. This workshop will explore strategies for fostering digital trust while promoting universal digital inclusion, especially for marginalized communities. The session will bring together stakeholders from civil society, the technical community, governments, and private sector actors who are active in their National and Regional IGF Initiatives (NRIs) in the Global South. It will focus on: (i) Digital literacy as a tool for trust-building,(ii) Strengthening cybersecurity and data governance policies, (iii) Inclusive AI development and digital rights protection, (iv) The role of NRIs in supporting digital trust initiatives.
    Expected Outcomes
    Policy recommendations for governments and NRIs to enhance digital trust. A roadmap for collaboration between NRIs and global stakeholders. Strengthened partnerships to drive inclusion and resilience in digital governance.
    Hybrid Format: We will have a dedicated online moderator will ensure seamless participation by managing virtual interactions, relaying online questions, and engaging remote attendees in discussions. The onsite moderator will facilitate a balanced discussion, ensuring online voices are heard and integrated into the conversation. Speakers will be encouraged to address both in-person and virtual participants to maintain engagement.