In 2003 and 2005, the United Nations organized the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). One of the most critical outcomes from this landmark summit was the creation of the Internet Governance Forum, or the “IGF”.
IGFs happen around the world throughout the year. Once a year participants gather for the global IGF.
Each event offers a unique space for a an amazing range of people to share information and develop solutions. It was designed not to be a decision-making body, which allows people to speak freely, on an equal footing. What comes out of the IGF, however, plays an essential role in decisions made by people creating a bigger and stronger Internet.
Apply for the Internet Society Foundation’s IGF Funding Programme
For more than a decade, the Internet Society has supported multi-stakeholder Internet governance processes around the world by providing funding to the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF) as well as a number of National and Regional Initiatives (NRIs), and Schools of Internet Governance (SIGs). We remain strongly committed to this important initiative and are proud of the partnerships we have formed to help ensure the success of IGFs worldwide.
In 2020, the Internet Society’s funding commitment to this important work will continue through the Internet Society Foundation’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF) funding programme. This programme supports the organization of IGF events at the local, national, regional and global levels, as well as Schools of Internet Governance.
Take Action Where You Live.
Local IGFs focus on issues that face a city, town or country and help people to bring solutions forward to a global level
Anyone who has a stake in the future of the Internet can go and be heard. It was founded and operates on the principles of being bottom-up, transparent, and inclusive.
Find out if an IGF is happening where you live.