African Internet Governance Forum: A Platform for Internet Governance Discussions

The African Internet Governance Forum (AIGF) is a platform where stakeholders come together to discuss internet governance issues affecting Africa. It's a space for experts and community members to share ideas and experiences.

The AIGF was established in 2007, following the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). This marked the beginning of a new era in internet governance discussions on the continent.

The forum is held annually, with the first meeting taking place in 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. Since then, it has become a significant event on the African internet governance calendar.

The AIGF brings together representatives from governments, civil society, the private sector, and technical community to discuss key issues affecting the internet in Africa.

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Afiff is a critical component of the African Internet Governance Forum, which aims to promote multistakeholder dialogue and cooperation on internet governance issues in Africa.

The Afiff was established by the African Union's Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) in 2011 to facilitate a platform for African civil society organizations to engage in internet governance discussions.

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Afiff's primary goal is to ensure that African voices are heard and represented in global internet governance forums.

The organization has been actively involved in various internet governance initiatives, including the African Internet Governance Forum's annual meetings.

Afiff's membership is open to African civil society organizations, with over 100 members from across the continent.

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The African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) meetings are financed by the host country.

The AfIGF receives additional funds from various organizations, such as PRIDA, UNDESA, ICANN, and AFRINIC.

The African Internet Governance Forum brought together a diverse group of participants from all over the continent.

The forum featured five sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of internet governance in Africa.

The sessions included one on the role of governments in internet governance, which highlighted the need for coordination and cooperation between governments and other stakeholders.

The other sessions focused on issues such as cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and the impact of the internet on African economies.

These sessions provided a platform for experts, policymakers, and practitioners to share their experiences and insights on the complex issues surrounding internet governance in Africa.

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The Bureau of the African Internet Governance Forum plays a crucial role in organizing the AfIGF. It consists of the five regional IGF conveners or their designates.

These individuals are responsible for overseeing the AfIGF, with the host country of the last AfIGF chairing the bureau.

The AfIGF meetings have a diverse group of participants, including people from all African member states and subregional IGFs. This diversity is reflected in the number of countries represented at the meetings.

The number of participants has been steadily increasing over the years, with a notable jump in 2014 when 470 participants attended in person, along with 214 remote participants. In 2015, the number of participants was around 150, with 30 remote participants.

The AfIGF meetings have also seen a significant increase in remote participation, with 695 participants attending remotely in 2021. The number of countries represented has also varied over the years, with a high of 40 in 2014 and a low of 26 in 2018.

Here's a breakdown of the number of participants and countries represented at each meeting:

Registration for the AfIGF meetings is possible online, making it easy for people to participate from anywhere in the world.

So, you've submitted your sessions, and now you're wondering what happens next. All submitted sessions are carefully reviewed by our team to ensure they meet our quality standards.

Each session is evaluated based on its relevance to the conference theme and its potential to engage and educate attendees. This helps us curate a diverse and high-quality program.

Our team reviews every session, from keynote addresses to workshops and panel discussions. We consider factors like speaker expertise, session format, and audience interaction. This ensures that every session is engaging and informative.

We also take into account the number of submissions we receive, which can be around 500 or more. This means we have to be selective and prioritize sessions that will have the greatest impact on our attendees.

The African Internet Governance Forum has a strong focus on education and training, which is essential for promoting collaboration among stakeholders in internet policy and development.

The African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) is a key initiative in this area, co-convened by the Association for Progressive Communications, the Information Society Division of the African Union Commission, and Research ICT Africa.

First held in Durban, South Africa in 2013, AfriSIG has been running annually ever since, with a growing number of participants from across the continent.

The ninth course took place virtually in 2021, addressing topics such as digitalization, internet governance, and cybersecurity.

Participants in AfriSIG are typically experienced in the field of internet governance or information technology and are members of designated stakeholder groups.

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The African Internet Governance Forum (AIGF) plays a crucial role in shaping the global internet policy landscape. The forum brings together stakeholders from across the continent to discuss and address issues related to internet governance.

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The AIGF is one of the five regional internet governance forums established by the United Nations. This is a significant development as it provides a platform for African countries to have a stronger voice in global internet governance discussions.

The AIGF has been instrumental in promoting internet access and digital inclusion across Africa. In 2019, the forum launched a campaign to increase internet access to 50% of the African population by 2025.

The global internet policy framework is guided by the Internet Governance Forum's (IGF) multistakeholder approach, which involves the participation of governments, private sector, civil society, and technical communities.

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The African Internet Governance Forum is a platform that brings together stakeholders to discuss and shape the future of the internet in Africa. The forum features a range of keynotes and sessions that provide a wealth of information and insights.

Keynote speakers include experts from various fields, such as Dr. Nii Quaynor, a pioneer of the internet in Africa. Dr. Quaynor has made significant contributions to the development of the internet in Africa.

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One of the key sessions is the plenary session, which provides a forum for discussions on key issues affecting the internet in Africa. The plenary session is attended by representatives from various countries and organizations.

Another notable session is the workshop on internet governance, which focuses on the technical and policy aspects of internet governance. This session provides a platform for experts to share their knowledge and experiences.

The forum also features a session on youth engagement, which aims to empower young people to take an active role in internet governance. This session provides a platform for young people to share their ideas and perspectives.

The African Internet Governance Forum is a unique opportunity for stakeholders to come together and shape the future of the internet in Africa.

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