Agenda

2024 and 2025 are critical years in the global digital governance ecosystem, with two key UN processes presenting an unique opportunity to reflect on how humanity can truly benefit from digital technologies in an inclusive, safe and secure way: the Global Digital Compact (GDC) process, to conclude at the Summit of the Future in September 2024, and the 20-years review of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). 

The session will unpack these two processes from an African perspective. An open-ended discussion will revolve around the following questions: 

Why are these processes relevant for Africa? 
Looking at WSIS action lines, to what extent have they been implemented in Africa, and what still needs to be done? How to ensure that, as the WSIS+20 process advances, African voices are not only raised, but also heard? 
To what extent have GDC discussions so far reflected the interests and priorities of African countries and stakeholders? As the negotiations advance, what are the priorities that African countries should focus on?
How can African countries join forces for an effective and efficient engagement in these processes? How can International Geneva support these efforts?

Takeaways from the session will take the form of: (a) a list of arguments in support of a strong involvement of African countries in these two processes; (b) a toolkit of concrete actions that Missions in Geneva, and International Geneva more broadly, can be taken to enable such an involvement.