[Aftld-members] Fwd: [IGF] IGF NEWSLETTER MARCH 2026
barrack at aftld.org
barrack at aftld.org
Mon Mar 23 09:19:03 EAT 2026
Dear Members,
This might be of interest to you
Best Regards
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [IGF] IGF NEWSLETTER MARCH 2026
Date: 2026-03-19 18:22
From: IGF Secretariat via Info <info at intgovforum.org>
To: Intgovforum Info <info at intgovforum.org>
Reply-To: info at intgovforum.org
đIGF Monthly Newsletter
March 2026
Your monthly update on IGF news, activities, and upcoming events.
Dear IGF Community,
Welcome to this monthâs newsletter! Below youâll find updates on new
publications, IGF Secretariatâs activities, NRI highlights,
intersessional work, capacity development, and upcoming events.
đ New Publications
UN appoints Joseph Gordon-Levitt as first Global Advocate for
Human-centric Digital Governance
We are thrilled to announce that Joseph Gordon-Levitt, actor, filmmaker
and founder of HitRecord, has been appointed the first United Nations
Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance. In his new role --
affiliated with the IGF and designated by UN DESA -- Mr. Gordon-Levitt
will help advance a people-centred approach to digital governance and
connect global policy discussions with everyday experience.
Read the press release HERE [1], and watch his interview HERE [2].
đ Secretariat Updates
New interns at the IGF Secretariat
The IGF Secretariat is pleased to introduce our brilliant new interns,
Moumen Fennira (Tunisia), and Krisna Diastama (Indonesia). Moumen and
Krisna are already making great contributions, from technical website
updates to improving visual quality of outputsâall driven by a passion
to strengthening the IGFâs multistakeholder approach.
AI Impact Summit in New Delhi
At the Summit, the IGF Secretariat engaged in a discussion on the future
of AI and responsible innovation in a multistakeholder panel on
âBuilding a Trusted and Resilient AI Infrastructure Ecosystemâ.
the Secretariat also met with the new cohort of the Bundesministerium
fĂźr Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS) International Digital
Policy Fellows for an engaging exchange on Internet and digital
governance.
RIPE NCCâs Annual Roundtable
On 3 March, the IGF Secretariat participated in the RIPE NCC annual
roundtable in Brussels, contributing to discussions on the WSIS+20
Resolution and the role of multistakeholder cooperation in shaping the
Internetâs future. The exchange underscored the importance of
collaboration between the technical community and all other stakeholders
to advance open standards, strengthen Internet resilience and security,
and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
ICANN85 in Mumbai
On 9 March, the IGF Secretariat was pleased to participate at the
ICANN85 Community Forum in Mumbai. One of the important discussions took
place during the âWSIS+20 Lessons Learned & Next Stepsâ panel, where
Chengetai Masango, Head of the IGF Secretariat, contributed inputs on
the continued importance of open, inclusive, and community-driven
dialogue across the global digital cooperation landscape.
State Secretary Mr. Markus Richter visits IGF Secretariat in Geneva
Thank you to State Secretary Markus Richter and the Bundesministerium
fĂźr Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung team for your continued
partnership and support of the IGFâs mission!
We discussed the constructive cooperation over the years and the shared
dedication to keeping the IGF a stable, inclusive, bottom-up platform
for addressing key digital policy challenges.
Freedom Online Coalition Diplomatic Network Kick-off Meeting
Last week, the IGF Secretariat took part in the Freedom Online Coalition
(FOC) Geneva Diplomatic Network Kick-off Meeting, bringing together FOC
Members, the Advisory Network, and key Geneva-based stakeholders.
The meeting featured a rich dialogue on the 2026 Programme of Action and
strategic engagement opportunities ahead of several international
initiatives hosted in Geneva and other parts of the world.
IGF 2026 Fellowship Programme
The IGF Secretariat invites applications for the 2026 IGF Fellowship
Programme, offering professionals from developing countries the
opportunity to contribute to global Internet governance while gaining
hands-on experience within the IGF Secretariat at the United Nations
Office in Geneva.
* Deadline: 31 March 2026
* Read more and apply HERE [3]
IGF 2026 Thematic Input and Intersessional Work Proposals
* All thematic input for IGF 2026 can be found HERE [4].
* All proposals for IGF 2026 intersessional work can be found HERE [5].
đ Intersessional Work, National & Regional Initiatives (NRIs), and
Capacity Development
National & Regional Initiatives (NRIs)
The NRIs network is developing visual materials to raise awareness of
their work across countries and regions, including within local UN
offices. These will highlight the value of NRIs in advancing inclusive,
multistakeholder digital governance, with finalization planned for 30
March.
Briefing on Internet Governance and the IGF
Last week, the IGF Secretariat briefed the Bundesministerium fĂźr
Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS) International Digital Policy
Fellows on Internet governance, the IGFâs evolution, and its new
permanent mandate. The session sparked engaging discussions on global
digital policy.
The Fellowship, an initiative of the Bundesministerium fĂźr Digitales
und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS) and implemented by the Deutsche
Gesellschaft fĂźr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, supports
youth engagement and leadership in shaping our shared digital future.
IGF Co-organizes Session at ECOSOC Youth Forum April 2026
The IGF Secretariat is co-organizing a session on SDG 9 at the ECOSOC
Youth Forum 2026 (14 April, UNHQ), highlighting youthâs role in
shaping innovation, digital infrastructure, and governance.
IGF youth contributed through consultations, inputs, and speaker
nominationsâensuring strong representation and meaningful engagement
in the dialogue. Read more about ECOSOC Youth Forum HERE [6].
Parliamentary Track
Outcome documents published | 3rd Parliamentary Summit
The 3rd Parliamentary Summit (CĂłrdoba, 2025) brought together
legislators and stakeholders to advance a shared vision for a digital
future that is inclusive, ethical, sovereign, and grounded in human
rights.
Read more and access the summary and outcome documents HERE [7].
Parliamentary Summit | Montevideo, Uruguay, March 2026
The Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay, in collaboration with the Internet
Governance Forum Parliamentary Track, will host the 4th Regional
Parliamentary Summit: âAnticipating the Digital Future: Strengthening
Parliamentary Governance and Democratic Innovation.â
* 24 March 2026
* Montevideo, Uruguay & online
Read more and register HERE [8].
* Visit the IGF 2026 Parliamentary Track page [9].
* Subscribe to the Parliamentary Track mailing list [10].
Judiciary Engagement
The Internet Governance Forum is collaborating with the AI Committee of
the Judicial Council of the City of Buenos Aires to deliver a workshop
on 26 March in Buenos Aires. The session is part of the ongoing AI
training program on the Guidelines for the use of AI, including
Generative AI in judicial work, approved at the end of 2025.
* Visit the IGF 2026 Judiciary Engagement page [11]
* Subscribe to the Judiciary Engagement mailing list [12]
IGF Session at Geneva Cyber Week May 2026
At Geneva Cyber Week 2026 (4â8 May, Geneva), the IGF will host a
60-minute roundtable under its Best Practice Forum on Cybersecurity,
focusing on securing Internet access and protecting core Internet
resources in contexts of conflict and crises.
Building on 2025 work, the session will examine gaps in emergency
response, legal and policy considerations, and the need for coordinated,
pre-crisis cooperation to strengthen Internet resilience. Read more
about Geneva Cyber Week HERE [13].
Dynamic Coalitions
Preparing the DNS for the Post-Quantum Cryptography Transition | 18
March
This week, the IGF DC on Internet Standards, Security and Safety
(DC-IS3C), in collaboration with Afnic and the IGF Secretariat, hosted
its second webinar on post-quantum cryptography (PQC), focusing on the
DNS transition and the broader challenge of securing digital
infrastructure, data, and services in the era of quantum computing.
AI â Environment as an Ethical Dimension | 27 March, 12:30 UTC
The IGF DC on Environment, in collaboration with the Commonwealth
Secretariat and the Centre for Science and Environment, will host an
upcoming webinar exploring the environmental dimensions of artificial
intelligence. The session will bring together global leaders to examine
the sustainability challenges of AIâfrom energy demands to data
infrastructureâand discuss how to shape a more responsible digital
future.
* 27 March 2026, 12:30 UTC.
* Read more and register HERE [14].
Preparing RPKI for the Post-Quantum Cryptography Transition | 2 April,
12:00 UTC
A key challenge for ICT organizations is preparing for the post-quantum
era in a timely and coordinated way; as quantum computing advances,
protecting critical data becomes increasingly urgent. In this final
webinar, DC-IS3C and Afnic focus on securing the Internetâs routing
layer, outlining key actions, challenges, and solutions for the
transition to post-quantum cryptography.
* 2 April 2026, 12:00 UTC
* Read more and register HERE [15].
đ
Upcoming Events
Date
Event
Location
January 2026
23 March 2026
Virtual MAG Meeting XV
Online
24 March 2026
4th Regional Parliamentary Summit [8]
Montevideo, Uruguay & Online
27 March 2026
Webinar: DC on Environment [14]
Online
30 March 2026
NRIs Meeting III
Online
2 April 2026
Webinar: DC-IS3C [15]
Online
Connect with us
[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]
Visit our website: www.intgovforum.org [23]
Links:
------
[1]
https://www.un.org/en/desa/un-appoints-joseph-gordon-levitt-as-global-advocate
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSyrVdNgKRo
[3] https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-fellowship-programme
[4] https://www.intgovforum.org/en/igf-2026-proposed-issues
[5]
https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-intersessional-work-proposals
[6]
https://ecosoc.un.org/en/what-we-do/ecosoc-youth-forum/about-youth-forum/ecosoc-youth-forum-2026
[7]
https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/parliamentary-summit-shaping-digital-futures-in-the-southern-cone-ai-innovation-data-and
[8]
https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/parliamentary-summit-anticipating-the-digital-future-strengthening-parliamentary-governance
[9] https://intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-parliamentary-track
[10]
https://mail.intgovforum.org/mailman/listinfo/parliamentarians_intgovforum.org
[11] https://intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-judiciary-engagement
[12]
https://mail.intgovforum.org/mailman/listinfo/judiciary_intgovforum.org
[13] https://genevacyberweek.com/en
[14]
https://intgovforum.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__5B-8LiyTvWxXprSLFvELw#/registration
[15]
https://intgovforum.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hp1HQB8TRXebF-2Xuj3H2A#/registration
[16] https://www.linkedin.com/company/internet-governance-forum-igf/
[17] https://x.com/intgovforum
[18] https://bsky.app/profile/intgovforum.bsky.social
[19] https://www.facebook.com/IntGovForum
[20] https://www.instagram.com/intgovforum/
[21] https://www.youtube.com/@igf/videos
[22] https://www.tiktok.com/@intgovforum
[23] http://www.intgovforum.org/
_______________________________________________
Info mailing list
Info at intgovforum.org
To unsubscribe or manage your options please go to
http://intgovforum.org/mailman/listinfo/info_intgovforum.org
More information about the Aftld-members
mailing list