GDC – ISOC LIVE NOTICEBOARD

12:53 pm on September 15, 2026 · 2026 (252), digital cooperation (11), GDC (10), un (40), ungis (1), wsis (34), WSIS+20 (8)

HYBRID 18 SEP 14:15 UTC – UNGIS: Stronger Together – Advancing Digital Cooperation Across the UN System

September 15, 2026 by ISOC Live

REGISTER IN-PERSON / ONLINE | ADD TO CALENDAR | PERMALINK

On Friday, 18 September 2026 at 10:15–11:15 EDT (14:15–15:15 UTC), the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) hosts ‘UNGIS: Stronger Together — Advancing Digital Cooperation Across the UN System‘, a hybrid thematic session of the WSIS Forum 2026, in NYC.

As digital transformation reshapes societies and economies, and the UN system reflects on becoming more efficient, agile and responsive, stronger coordination across UN institutions matters more. UNGIS is the inter-agency mechanism advancing coherent and inclusive digital cooperation, and the WSIS+20 review reaffirmed its relevance. Since the WSIS+20 Resolution (A/RES/80/173), UNGIS has set up the Task Force on Strengthening Financial Mechanisms for Digital Development, launched the Multistakeholder Consultation Group, submitted the Joint Implementation Road Map for WSIS–GDC Coherence to the 29th session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), and welcomed UNICRI, UNODA, UNSSC and UN-OHRLLS as new members.

The session will present examples of inter-agency collaboration in connectivity, digital inclusion, digital public infrastructure, capacity development, data cooperation and emerging technologies, and discuss how UNGIS can support implementation of the WSIS+20 Outcome Document and the Global Digital Compact (GDC), with contributions from UN entities, Member States, the private sector, civil society, academia and technical communities on multistakeholder partnerships and coordinated support to countries.

PANELLISTS
Suela Janina – Ambassador & Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Albania to the United Nations
Nur Sulyna Abdullah – Chief, Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Cynthia Lesufi – Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of South Africa (remote)
Robert Opp – Chief Digital Officer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Juan José Martinez Badillo – Chief of the UNCTAD New York Office, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Jayathma Wickramanayake – Senior Advisor, UN Women
Li Zhou – Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Stela Mocan – Practice Manager, Digital Government, World Bank
Felix Guimard – Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

MODERATOR
Gitanjali Sah – Head, WSIS and Stakeholder Engagement Division, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

#WSIS #WSIS20 #GlobalDigitalCompact #DigitalCooperation

4:45 am on September 9, 2026 · 2026 (252), Africa IGF (3), GDC (10), igf (239), WSIS+20 (8)

VIDEO 9 SEP 2026 – AfIGF – ROAD TO GHANA: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SERIES #1

September 14, 2026September 9, 2026 by ISOC Live

Black event title card for the 15th Annual Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), featuring an orange silhouette of Africa and a stylized “2026” incorporating Ghana’s flag colors. Large white text reads “Road to Ghana – Community Engagement Series #1,” with the topic “Leveraging the NRI Ecosystem for the Implementation of the WSIS+20 Outcomes and the Global Digital Compact in Africa.” Date: 9 September 2026.

VIDEO | PERMALINK

On 9 September 2026, the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) Secretariat hosted ‘Road to Ghana: Community Engagement Series #1‘, on ‘Leveraging the NRI Ecosystem for the Implementation of the WSIS+20 Outcomes and the Global Digital Compact in Africa‘.

This was the first session in a series launched in preparation for the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2026), hosted by the Government of Ghana in Accra from 2-5 November 2026 under the theme ‘Advancing Africa’s Digital Future Through Innovation, Inclusion, and Trust‘. It focused on the role of National, Regional, and Youth Internet Governance Forum Initiatives (NRIs) in advancing implementation of the WSIS+20 Outcomes and the Global Digital Compact (GDC) across Africa, exploring how the African NRI ecosystem can translate them into concrete actions, partnerships and policy processes, and identifying the capacities, resources and collaborative mechanisms needed to strengthen NRI effectiveness, sustainability and impact.

SCENE SETTING: WSIS+20, GDC AND THE FUTURE OF NRIs
Mactar Seck – UNECA
Mihret Woodmatas – AUC (TBC)
Hon. Alhagie Mbow – Chair, Africa IGF MAG
Isabelle Lois – Vice-Chair, CSTD
Deniz Susar – UN DESA
Vladimir Stankovic – ITU
Anja Gengo – IGF Secretariat

WSIS+20 OUTCOME REFLECTIONS
Davide Storti – UNESCO

ON THE 2026 WSIS FORUM SESSION ‘FROM DIALOGUE TO PRACTICE: NRI-DRIVEN MULTISTAKEHOLDER LABS’
Eng. Concettina Cassa – Head of International Affairs, Agency for Digital Italy (AgID)

BREAKOUT GROUPS
Group 1 – Sustainability and Capacity Development
Facilitator: Mary Uduma; Rapporteur: Fatou Sarr
Group 2 – WSIS+20 and GDC Implementation
Facilitator: Lillian Nalwoga; Rapporteur: Winnie Kamau
Group 3 – Inclusion and Multistakeholder Participation
Facilitators: Dr Jimson Olufuye, Mohamed Farahat; Rapporteur: Yao Amevi A. Sossou, Policy Chair, NPOC, ICANN
Group 4 – Future Architecture of the African NRI Ecosystem
Facilitator: Anriette Esterhuysen; Rapporteur: Michel Tchonang Linze

MODERATOR
Sorene Assefa – Coordinator, Africa IGF Secretariat

#AfIGF2026 #RoadToGhana #WSIS20 #NRIs

2:19 am on July 5, 2026 · 2026 (252), GDC (10), internet governance (45), isoc (163), wsis (34)

RECAP 9 JUL 2026 – WSIS+20 follow-up – from Milestones to Momentum: what comes next?

July 13, 2026July 5, 2026 by ISOC Live

Green-to-teal gradient graphic with WSIS Forum 2026 branding in the upper left, clean white typography, and an ISOC.LIVE archive mark in the lower right

VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP | ARCHIVE | PERMALINK

On 9 July 2026, the Internet Society United Kingdom, Switzerland, Serbia, and Germany Chapters hosted a WSIS Forum 2026 session, ‘WSIS+20 follow-up – from Milestones to Momentum: what comes next?‘.

As the WSIS process marked its 20th anniversary, this interactive session offered a measured, action-oriented look at what comes next. Panellists reflected on the outcomes of the April CSTD meeting and the WSIS+20 outcome document, examining their implications for the Global Digital Compact and the agreed implementation roadmap. The discussion explored how intergovernmental decisions can translate into coherent, coordinated action at the global, regional, and national levels – and how progress can be monitored and made accountable.

It also addressed the IGF’s strengthened permanent mandate, the evolving IGF ecosystem, and the growing recognition of National and Regional IGFs – bringing together Member States, the technical community, civil society, and the private sector to align priorities and identify practical next steps.

SPEAKERS
Paul Gaskell – Deputy Director, Digital Trade, Internet Governance & Digital Standards, UK Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT)
Matthew Shears – Board Member, Internet Society United Kingdom
Markus Kummer – IGF Expert, Internet Society Switzerland
Valeria Betancourt – Internet Governance Lead, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Dr. Jimson Olufuye – CEO, Kontemporary Konsulting, Nigeria
Dr. Charles Noir – VP Community Investment, Policy & Advocacy, CIRA
Dr. Yik Chan Chin – Project Lead on AI, United Nations University, Macao

MODERATORS
Desiree Miloshevic Evans – President, Internet Society Serbia; Chair, RIPE NCC Cooperation WG
Dr. Olivier Crépin-Leblond – Chair, Internet Society United Kingdom

RESPONDENTS
Carl Gahnberg – Director of Policy Development and Research, Internet Society

Q&A
Pari Esfandiari – President, Global TechnoPolitics Forum
Wout de Natris – DC-ISSS

#WSIS #WSIS20 #InternetGovernance #IGF

8:07 am on March 26, 2026 · 2026 (252), environment (6), GDC (10), odet (1), un (40)

WEBINAR APR 15 – UN Global Digital Compact Sustainability Townhall

April 19, 2026March 26, 2026 by ISOC Live

REGISTER | ADD TO CALENDAR | PERMALINK

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 09:00-10:30 EDT (13:00 UTC) the United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) will host a Sustainability Townhall on the Global Digital Compact (GDC). Topic: the environmental cost of digital tech – energy, extraction, e-waste – and how global policy can respond.

Participation is via Microsoft teams, and the registration deadline is March 28.

#GDC #sustainability @ODET_UN

6:29 pm on March 20, 2026 · 2026 (252), ai (60), Amandeep Gill (1), CITP (11), GDC (10), un (40)

Mar 25 2026 – Princeton – A Conversation with Amandeep Singh Gill

March 26, 2026March 20, 2026 by ISOC Live

VIDEO | PERMALINK

On March 25, 2026,the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the Center for Information Technology Policy hosted a lunchtime event ‘A Conversation with Amandeep Singh Gill‘.

Amandeep Singh Gill serves as Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies. A leading voice on AI governance and digital cooperation, he helped shape some of the most significant global frameworks on responsible innovation, including the Global Digital Compact, the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. The conversation explored how states, technology firms, civil society, and international organizations can coordinate on AI risks despite competing interests and diverging approaches. Topics included bridging the global AI divide, building toward durable international cooperation, and what meaningful digital inclusion looks like for countries and communities being left behind. The event was webcast via Zoom.

SPEAKER
Amandeep Singh Gill – Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologie, United Nations
HOST / MODERATOR
Arvind Narayanan – Princeton University

#Princeton #CITP #AmandeepGill

9:52 am on May 23, 2025 · GDC (10), igf (239), wsis (34)

20 May 2025 – IGF MAG Webinar – Connecting WSIS, the IGF, and the Global Digital Compact (GDC)

April 1, 2026May 23, 2025 by ISOC Live

YOUTUBE | TRANSCRIPT EN / ES / FR | SUMMARY EN / ES / FR

ARCHIVE | PERMALINK

On 20 May, 2025, the Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF MAG) hosted a webinar ‘Connecting WSIS, the IGF, and the Global Digital Compact (GDC)‘. The session brought together UN entities, Member States, and stakeholders to explore how the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) framework and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) can contribute to the Global Digital Compact (GDC).

SPEAKERS
Isabel De Sola Criado – UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET)
Yu Ping Chan – UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Michel Roberto Oliveira De Souza – Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Deniz Suzar – UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
Gitanjali Sah – International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Angel Gonzalez-Sanzfrom – Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)
Torbjorn Frederiksson – UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
David Fairchild – Global Affairs Canada, Canada
Avri Doria – IGF’s Dynamic Coalition Coordination Group (DCCG)
Leandro Santos Teixeira – Permanent Mission of Brazil to the WTO
Jorge Cancio – OFCOM, Switzerland
Cynthia Lesufi – South African Mission to the UN Office and other International Organisations

MODERATORS
Christine Arida – National Telecom Regulatory Authority, Egypt
Concettina Cassa – Agency for Digital Italy, Italy

@ODET_UN @UNDP @UNHumanRights @UNDESA @ITU @UNCTAD @GAC_Corporate @BrazilWTO @Ofcom @SAfrPMUN_Geneva @intgovforum @NTRAEG @AgidGov @isabeldesola @YuPing_Chan @David_Fairchild @avri @jorgecancio @ChristineArida #WSIS #IGF #GlobalDigitalCompact #DigitalCooperation #DigitalInclusion #InternetGovernance

9:17 am on November 8, 2024 · diplo (32), GDC (10)

WEBCAST 8 NOV – Unpacking Global Digital Compact | Book launch

November 8, 2024 by ISOC Live

On Friday 8 November 2024 at 15:00 CET (14:00 UTC) the Diplo Foundation will hold a webinar to launch ‘Unpacking Global Digital Compact‘, a new publication written by Sorina Teleanu, an expert on digital governance. Over the past 18 months, Sorina has meticulously followed the Global Digital Compact (GDC) process, anchoring it within the broader digital and internet governance landscape.

LIVESTREAM https://youtu.be/PiYQOn9a3ag

PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM https://bit.ly/4fgfhY4

REAL TIME TEXT https://bit.ly/40y5ZlD

TWITTER #GDC @DiplomacyEdu

#GDC MASTODON | BLUESKY | INSTA

2:04 am on October 16, 2024 · citi (45), GDC (10), un (40)

WEBCAST OCT 24 – Digital Multilateralism After the UN Summit of the Future

October 24, 2024October 16, 2024 by ISOC Live

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 11:00-12:30 EDT (15:00-16:30 UTC), the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, as part of its Global Digital Governance series, presents a webinar ‘Digital Multilateralism After the UN Summit of the Future‘.

Governments assembled at the United Nations’ September 2024 Summit of the Future adopted a Pact for the Future that pledges “a new beginning in multilateralism” and to “transform global governance.” Annexed to the Pact is a Global Digital Compact intended to apply these general aspirations to global digital governance. The Pact and its digital annex have been described by the UN and some others as achieving desperately needed reforms that strengthens the UN’s ability to help manage both longstanding global challenges and new issues raised by the information revolution. In the digital sphere, this includes nods to the importance of multistakeholder input, the launch of new collaborations on artificial intelligence and other issues, and the creation of a New York office charged with leading UN system-wide coordination of digital cooperation.

The time is ripe to assess what was achieved by the Pact and its digital annex, how the agreement may be implemented, and what it could mean for the future. Does it point to a transformative new beginning for digital multilateralism? Can its institutional innovations overcome the geopolitical tensions and rivalries that have confounded so many previous digital governance efforts in the UN? How will the new arrangements mesh with the digital policy work underway in UN specialized agencies and other intergovernmental organizations? How might they impact key processes that have more multistakeholder support, like the upcoming reviews of the World Summit on the Information Society agreements and the Internet Governance Forum’s mandate? Will the UN New York begin to accommodate meaningful multistakeholder participation in its efforts?

This webinar will facilitate open dialogue on these and related questions. A panel of expert participants in global digital governance processes will lead off. The rest of the session will be devoted to a conversation among all interested attendees.

The session is simulcast live under the auspices of the Internet Society New York Chapter (ISOC-NY).

INTRODUCTION
Eli Noam, Director, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, Columbia Business School.

PANEL
Fiona M. Alexander – Distinguished Policy Strategist in Residence,School of International Service / Distinguished Fellow, Internet Governance Lab, American University
Anriette Esterhuysen – Senior Advisor for Internet Governance, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Wolfgang Kleinwächter – Professor Emeritus of International Communication Policy and Regulation, University of Aarhus.

MODERATOR
William J. Drake, Director of International Studies, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information

LIVESTREAM http://livestream.com/internetsociety/citi-multilateralism

PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM https://bit.ly/48aJJQt

REAL TIME TEXT https://bit.ly/3BUwQy7

TWITTER #digitalmultilateralism @wjdrake @Elinoam Wolfgang Kleinwächter @fionamalexander Anriette Esterhuysen @Columbia_Biz #internetgovernance #gdc

MASTODON #digitalmultilateralism

SIMULCASTS
https://www.twitter.com/ISOC_Live/
https://www.twitch.tv/isoclive
https://www.facebook.com/liveisoc/ (AI Captions)

ARCHIVE
https://archive.org/details/citi-multilateralism

5:11 am on April 17, 2024 · GDC (10), wsis (34)

WEBCAST APR 17-18 – WSIS+20 Outreach Network Interactive Webinars on GDC Zero Draft

April 19, 2024April 17, 2024 by ISOC Live

On Wednesday/Thursday April 17-18 2024 the WSIS+20 Outreach Network will host two interactive webinars to discuss the zero draft of the Global Digital Compact and its implications. The webinars will provide a space for stakeholders to share information and engage in discussions on how to preserve and continue to evolve the multistakeholder model of Internet governance.

These sessions will be simulcast via ISOC.LIVE

WEBINAR 1 Wednesday, 17 April 2024 | 14:00 UTC
Participate via Zoom https://go.icann.org/3JrjJog
Welcome (Carlos Reyes)
Level setting (Elizabeth Oluoch)
Observations
Jordan Carter, .auDA
Amrita Choudhury, CCAOI
Fiona Alexander, American University
Veni Markovski, ICANN
Discussion (Carlos Reyes)
Adjournment (Carlos Reyes)

WEBINAR 2 Thursday, 18 April 2024 | 01:00 UTC
Participate via Zoom https://go.icann.org/3vWn8Zi
Welcome (Carlos Reyes)
Level setting (Elizabeth Oluoch)
Observations
Annaliese Williams, .auDA
Joyce Chen, APNIC
Amrita Choudhury, CCAOI
Veni Markovski, ICANN
Discussion (Carlos Reyes)
Adjournment (Carlos Reyes)

LIVESTREAM https://livestream.com/internetsociety/wsis+20-gdc

TRANSCRIPTS: WEBINAR 1 | WEBINAR 2

TWITTER #GlobalDigitalCompact #WSIS @WSISprocess @ICANN @UN

MASTODON #GlobalDigitalCompact

SIMULCASTS
https://twitter.com/ISOC_Live
https://www.twitch.tv/isoclive
https://www.facebook.com/liveisoc/

ARCHIVE
https://archive.org/details/wsis20-gdc_202404

5:24 pm on April 15, 2024 · citi (45), GDC (10), un (40)

WEBCAST APR 16 – The UN’s Global Digital Compact: Considerations on the Zero Draft

April 16, 2024April 15, 2024 by ISOC Live

On Tuesday April 16, 2024, at 11:00-12:30 EDT (15:00-16:30 UTC), the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, as part of its Global Digital Governance series, presents a webinar ‘The UN’s Global Digital Compact: Considerations on the Zero Draft‘.

On April 1st, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology released the ‘Zero Draft’ of the proposed United Nations Global Digital Compact (GDC). The final text will be annexed to the Pact for the Future to be adopted at the Summit of the Future in New York on 22-23 September 2024. The preparatory process involved multiple UN reports, proposals and consultations about global digital governance and cooperation. Some of these proposals got support, while others have proven to be highly controversial forays into sensitive policy spaces in which the international community is often deeply divided. The resulting Zero Draft reflects these dynamics. It includes proposals for new organizational structures and policy processes on such issues as artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, digital human rights, connectivity, information integrity, crossborder data flows and the system-wide coordination of UN digital work. On April 5th, the UN commences a series of intergovernmental and stakeholder consultations to help evolve a final text that can serve as a consensus landing zone.

How are the hot button issues reflected in the Zero Draft? Does the document suggest a different interplay between intergovernmental decision-making and multistakeholder participation? How might the proposed enhanced roles of the Secretariat in New York impact existing UN organizations and processes, including the Internet Governance Forum? Are the proposed new mechanisms likely to be fit for purpose and serve as effective responses to the rapidly evolving global environment? Or could these mechanisms be hobbled by the same international political differences and dynamics that have confounded previous global digital governance initiatives?

This webinar assembles a panel of leading experts from the private sector, Internet technical community and civil society stakeholder groups to consider these and other questions. As always, the panelists’ conversation will be followed by an open dialogue among all webinar participants.

The session is simulcast live under the auspices of the Internet Society New York Chapter (ISOC-NY).

INTRODUCTION
Eli Noam, Director, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, Columbia Business School.

PANEL
Chris Buckridge – IGF MAG
Anriette Esterhuysen – Senior Advisor for Internet Governance, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Timea Suto – Global Digital Policy Lead, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

MODERATOR
William J. Drake, Director of International Studies, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information

LIVESTREAM http://livestream.com/internetsociety/citi-gdc

REAL TIME TEXT https://bit.ly/3w1NUiP

TWITTER #GlobalDigitalCompact @wjdrake @Elinoam @_buckr Anriette Esterhuysen @APC_News Timea Suto @iccwbo @Columbia_Biz #netgov

MASTODON #GlobalDigitalCompact

SIMULCASTS
https://twitter.com/ISOC_Live/status/1780249918357012529
https://www.twitch.tv/isoclive
https://www.facebook.com/liveisoc/ (AI Captions)
https://www.linkedin.com/video/live/urn:li:ugcPost:7186015876049948672/

ARCHIVE
https://archive.org/details/citi-gdc

ADD TO CALENDAR https://calndr.link/event/BKdIht7dPa