Finland's support to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), 4th contribution

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 UNDESA project Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to implement articles 72-80 of the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society (World Summit on the 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 IGF has become a popular platform for discussions. It gathers together all relevant stakeholder groups (governments, business, technical community, civil society, academia) that might not meet otherwise. The IGF has been replicated in numerous regional and national initiatives. The UN based WSIS+10 review meeting the mandate was renewed until the next review in 2025 (WSIS+30). Finland has supported UNDESA's multistakeholder trust fund for the IGF with 1 045 000 euros in 2008-2013. Development issues figure a cross-cutting theme of the IGF; namely how the internet is best deployed for reaching development goals. Well deployed, it can contribute to poverty reduction and to reduction of economic and social disparities. It can, among other things, 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 and it supports their capacity to participate internet governance discussion regionally and globally. IGF also supports the UN sustainable development goals (Agenda 2030), especially goals 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16 and 17. It also helps the integration of developing countries into the world economy. IGF meetings are realized in co-operation with all stakeholders. Everyone can participate in the planning and implementation on an equal footing. The secretariat, host countries and the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) play key roles in organizing 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 at IGF meetings. The IGF also receives in-kind support from various stakeholders. Finland's support to IGF is 200,000 euros for the years 2018 and 2019. The funding is to be paid in one instalment in 2018.