Support to the Internet Governance Forum, IGF

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

Support (funds-in-trust) to the UNDESA project GLO/11/X01 (Internet Governance Forum) to implement articles 72-80 of the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society (World Summit on Information Society, WSIS). The referred articles invite the Secretary-General of the United Nations to convene a forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on internet governance. Convening once a year in different regions, the Internet Governance Forum has become a popular discussion platform. It gathers together all relevant stakeholder groups (states, business, technical community, civil society) which might not meet otherwise. The IGF has been replicated in numerous regional and national initiatives. In 2010 the General-Assembly of the United Nations decided to renew the mandate of the IGF for another five years (2011-2015). Finland has supported the UNDESA´s Multistakeholder Trust Fund for the IGF by 645 000 euros in 2008-2011. Development figures as IGF´s cross-cutting theme; namely how the internet is best deployed for reaching the developmental goals. Well deployed, the internet can contribute to poverty reduction and to reduction of economic and social disparities. It can, among others, increase climate sustainability, democracy, good governance and human rights. The IGF offers developing countries the opportunity to discuss these issues in a global, multistakeholder environment. Through its broad perspective to internet, it enhances developing countries´ capacity and engagement in internet governance. It also contributes to the expansion of multistakeholder culture at national and regional levels. The IGF meetings are realized in co-operation with all stakeholders. The principle is that everyone can participate in the planning and implementation. The secretariat, the host countries and the Multistakeholder Advisory Group MAG play key roles in the organization of each meeting. The support to the IGF is channeled to the costs of a small, Geneva based secretariat (personnel costs and developing countries´ fellowship program) as well as to the support for the participation of stakeholders from developing countries in the IGF meetings. The IGF also receives in-kind support from various stakeholders.