This post was written by Kenneth Dimalibot, GDIP Communications Advisor.
Last week, GDIP joined policymakers, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders in Addis Ababa for the 17th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum. This year’s overarching theme is Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future and is guided by five constituent themes aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s Global Digital Compact.
If you’ve missed any of the sessions we were in or want to watch them again, we’ve listed them below, together with the recording of the high-level panels and discussions.
High-Level Leaders Session — Universal, Affordable & Meaningful Connectivity
GDIP Head of Africa Onica Nonhlanhla Makwakwa joined government ministers, senior UN officials, telecommunication regulators, and private sector representatives and discussed the role of different stakeholders, the digital gender divide, and digital skills, in Africa and beyond.
Read more about the session here.
Open Forum — An internet that empowers all women: can we make it happen?
Organized by GSMA and UN Capital Development Fund, GDIP Head of Africa Onica Nonhlanhla Makwakwa joined panelists from Digital Opportunity Trust, Safaricom, Vision Empower, and Africa 118, and talked about the unique challenges women face in accessing the internet and what can be done to bridge the digital gender divide.
Read more about the session here.
Workshop — Rural Community Networks, Electricity and Digital Inclusion: The case of rural and underserved impoverished communities in the developing countries
GDIP Head of Africa Onica Nonhlanhla Makwakwa joined key stakeholders and discussed issues on connectivity, accessibility, electricity, digital skills and digital inclusion within the context of the developing countries, and possible solutions in addressing the gaps that might exist and the intersectionality of sustainable financing.
Read more about the session here.
Policy Network on Meaningful Access — From Policy to Implementation: Lessons and Good Practices to Advance Meaningful Access
Organized and moderated by PNMA co-chairs Giacomo Mazzone and GDIP Executive Director Sonia Jorge, GDIP Head of Africa Onica Nonhlanhla Makwakwa joined internet pioneer Vint Cerf and digital policy experts from around the world and shared best practices in advancing meaningful connectivity.
Read more about the session here.
Town Hall — Enabling a Safe Internet for Women and Girls
GDIP Head of Africa Onica Nonhlanhla Makwakwa joined Hon. Neema Lugangira, Tanzanian MP and chair of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance, and representatives from civil society and technology companies, and talked about the increase in online violence against women and girls and what we can do about it.
Read more about the session here.
Best Practice Forum — Regulatory Practices – A Friend or Foe to Gender and Digital Rights?
GDIP Head of Africa Onica Nonhlanhla Makwakwa joined experts from civil society, academia, and the private sector to discuss gender and digital rights, online privacy and safety, and the protection of freedom of expression.
Read more about the session here.
About GDIP
The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership is a coalition of public, private, and civil society organizations working to bring internet connectivity to the global majority and ensure everyone is meaningfully connected by 2030. GDIP advances digital opportunities to empower and support people’s lives and agency, leading to inclusive digital societies.