IGF 2025 Parliamentary Track

In recent years, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has sought to strengthen the participation of parliamentarians in discussions on some of the most pressing issues related to the use, evolution and governance of the Internet and related digital technologies. Since 2019, the IGF Secretariat, together with the Interparliamentary Union and other stakeholders, have developed the Parliamentary Track, which included a series of activities for parliamentarians in the lead-up to and at the annual IGF meeting. 

The track will continue its global activities, with sessions being held at the various regional and annual IGF meetings, while expanding partnerships with various stakeholders. With the aim to continuously improve the track activities and adjust to Parliamentarians' needs, the preparation of the Parliamentary Track in 2025 will incorporate the feedback collected from IGF 2024 Members of Parliaments, speakers and moderators.

To help shape the IGF 2025 Parliamentary Track, Members of Parliaments will be invited to respond to a call for thematic input in AR | EN | FR | SP and express their interest in participating at the regional and annual IGF Parliamentary Track.

Parliamentary Track at the European Dialogue on Internet Governance | May 2025 | Strasbourg, France

EuroDIG 2025 took place from 12 to 14 May in Strasbourg, France. It hosted by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Interested Parliamentarians are welcome to join this regional IGF. 

Parliamentary Track at the West Africa IGF | May 2025 | Nigeria

Context

As a multistakeholder initiative, the West Africa Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF) brings together policymakers, civil society, academia, the private sector, and technical communities from across the sub-region to shape Internet governance and digital policy frameworks. The 2025 edition, under the theme “Digital Governance for a Resilient, Inclusive and Safe Digital Future for West Africa”, continues WAIGF’s tradition of promoting inclusive dialogue and regional collaboration.

Since 2019, WAIGF has recognized the vital role of parliamentarians in shaping the digital landscape. Through dedicated Parliamentary Tracks, legislators across the region have contributed to key conversations on data protection, cybersecurity, digital rights, and technological transformation.
In 2025, the Parliamentary Track seeks to deepen this engagement by offering a platform to:

  • Explore legal and policy frameworks for digital resilience;
  • Strengthen inter-parliamentary collaboration;
  • Exchange ideas with stakeholders on addressing pressing digital challenges;
  • Build capacity for evidence-based policymaking and legislative innovation.

Topical Overview

In close collaboration with sub-regional partners, including ECOWAS and representatives from the private and technical sector, civil society and government, the West African Parliamentary Track 2025 will identify the most pressing digital governance issues in the region and guide discussion to help further harmonize legislation across borders. More specifically, the Track will address topics around:

  • the governance of data and emerging technologies in the region, including Artificial Intelligence
  • the implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) adopted at the Summit of the Future in September 2024
  • the upcoming review and implications of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20)

Participation

The Parliamentary Track is open to:

  • Members of national and regional parliaments;
  • Parliamentary staff and committee representatives;
  • Representatives from the private sector, academia, civil society, and development partners;
  • Youth leaders engaged in digital policy.

Participation is hybrid: both in-person and online. Registered participants will receive session links and access credentials before the forum.

Output

The Track will culminate in a Parliamentary Declaration on Digital Governance in West Africa, summarising key outcomes, priorities, and proposals for legislative action. This document will be shared with ECOWAS institutions, national governments, and development partners to support cohesive regional approaches.

Calendar of Activities

 Wednesday, 21 May 2025
18:00 - onwardsWest African IGF 2025 Welcoming Cocktail
 Thursday, 22 May 2025
09:00 - 10:00

[Parliamentary Track Opening] Opening of the West African IGF 2025 Parliamentary Track

  • Opening by Chair of the ECOWAS Parliament ICT Committee
  • Remarks by Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chair of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cyber Security and Chair of the West African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (WAPNIG) 
  • Remarks by Chengetai Masango, Head of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Secretariat (Online)
  • Remarks by Mary Uduma, Coordinator of the West African IGF  (WAIGF) 
10:00 - 10:30Coffee Break

10:30 - 11:30

Main Hall

[Opening] West African IGF 2025 Opening Ceremony
12:00 - 13:30

[Parliamentary Session 1] Roundtable discussion with Members of Parliament on Digital Governance

The WAIGF Parliamentary Track will start with a roundtable discussion amongst all Members of Parliament to explore the most pressing digital issues in the sub-region. Members of Parliaments will share insights of existing regulatory frameworks in their countries, as well as current trends and prospectives legislations. These priorities and insights will guide the discussions of the sub-regional Parliamentary Track and will inform deliberations at the African and global IGF Parliamentary Track, held shortly after in Tanzania and Norway, respectively.

Speakers

  • Tour de table of West African Members of Parliament
  • Partners of the WAIGF Parliamentary Track

Moderator

  • ECOWAS Representative
13:30 - 14:30Lunch Break
14:30 - 16:00

[Parliamentary Session 2] Legislative Frameworks for Digital Development

This session will examine the role of African parliaments in crafting policies that drive digital transformation and technological growth. It will provide a platform for legislators, civil society representatives, and tech industry stakeholders to discuss challenges, opportunities, and strategies for fostering a dynamic and inclusive digital ecosystem. More precisely, the session will highlight current policies shaping Africa’s digital ecosystem, the impact of digital rights protection on economic and social progress, challenges in aligning regulatory frameworks with technological advancements, and explore a strengthened multistakeholder engagement in the policy-making process. 

Speakers

  • ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative 
  • Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, Chairman of the Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, House of Representatives, Nigeria
  • Technical community representative/Private Sector

Moderator

  • Kadijah El-Usman, Senior Programmes Officer, Paradigm Initiative
16:00 - 16:30Coffee Break
16:30 - 17:30

[Parliamentary Session 3] Dialogue with Members of Parliament on AI Governance

Moderator
Sorina Teleanu, Director of Knowledge, DiploFoundation

 Friday, 23 May 2025
09:00 - 10:00

Recap of Day 1 and Setting the Tone for the Day 

  • Short summary and recap from Day–1, provided by Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chair of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cyber Security and Chair of WAPNIG
  • Short overview of Day-2 programme, provided by Mariam Jobe, WAPNIG Secretariat 
  • Open Floor discussion on any pending questions and answers
10:00 - 10:30Coffee Break
10:30 - 11:45

[Parliamentary Session 4] Amplifying African Voices: The Role of Parliaments in Global Digital Governance Processes

Members of Parliament are key actors who can help implement global digital policies into local realities. Considering the regional discussions of the WAIGF Parliamentary Track from Day-1, this session will provide an overview of the global digital governance landscape, also inviting young leaders to the deliberation. It will explore how Members of Parliament can shape the global discourse, contribute to the implementation of international digital norms on a local level and collaborate with international partners.

Introduction

  • Sorina Teleanu, Director of Knowledge, DiploFoundation

Speakers 

  • Hon. Lydia Akvanbari, Member of Parliament, Ghana
  • Jimson Olufuye, AfICTA Chairman 
  • Adebiyi Oladipo, Financial Secretary of NIRA 
  • Osei Kagyah, West Africa Youth IGF

Moderator 

  • Sorina Teleanu, DiploFoundation
11:45 - 12:00Break
12:00 - 13:00

[Parliamentary Session 5] Drafting Session: Declaration on Digital Governance

The Secretariat and the West African IGF and the West African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance will share inputs and outcomes resulting from the sub-regional Parliamentary Track discussions. Members of Parliament will be invited to work in clusters and contribute to the Parliamentary Declaration on Digital Governance in West Africa. This document, summarising key outcomes, priorities, and proposals for legislative action, will be shared with ECOWAS institutions, national governments, and development partners to support cohesive regional approaches.

Session Lead:

  • Sorina Teleanu, Director of Knowledge, DiploFoundation
  • Mariam Jobe, WAPNIG Secretariat 
13:00 - 14:00Lunch Break
14:00 - 14:30

[Parliamentary Session 6] West African IGF 2025 Parliamentary Track:  Review & Closing

  • Presentation of session summaries
  • Agreement on action points and parliamentary commitments
  • Closing remarks by WAPNIG Chairman & Secretariat
Facilitator
  • WAPNIG Secretariat (Benjamin Ikibah & Mariam Jobe)
15:00 - 15:30Coffee Break
15:30 - 16:00[WAIGF Closing] West African IGF 2025 Open Microphone and Closing Ceremony

For more information, please visit the website of the West African Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF). 

Parliamentary Track at the Africa IGF | May 2025 | Tanzania

The African IGF will take place from 29 to 31 May 2025 in Dar Es Salaam.

More information will be provided in due time.

Parliamentary Track at the annual IGF | June 2025 | Oslo, Norway

The 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2025) takes place from 23 to 27 June 2025 in Oslo (Norway). Within IGF 2025, a dedicated Parliamentary Track takes place from 23 to 24 June.

Parliamentarians from relevant parliamentary committees and parliamentarians who work on digital affairs and Internet policy issues will engage in dialogue with the private sector, the technical community and civil society, including youth, on challenges and potential solutions for in creating an inclusive, risk-free, ethical, and sustainable digital space.

To participate in the Parliamentary Track, participants need to register for IGF 2025 via the registration link dedicated to Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff. For any questions or information regarding the Parliamentary Track at IGF 2025, please contact [email protected]

The Parliamentary Track at IGF 2025 is jointly organized by the Internet Governance Forum Secretariat from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Storting, the Norwegian Parliament. 

Parliamentary Track at the Pacific IGF | July 2025 | Apia, Samoa

More information will be provided in due time. 

Parliamentary Track at the Asia Pacific Regional IGF | October 2025 | Kathmandu, Nepal

More information will be provided in due time. 

Parliamentary Track at the Latin America and Caribbean IGF | Date and Location TBC

More information will be provided in due time. 

Quick Links

Annual IGF Parliamentary Track Output Documents

Toolkit for parliamentarians on key Internet and digital policy issues

Parliamentarians can learn more by using this guide to key digital policy issues and related processes and organizations: Towards a Global Digital Compact. This is a living document and will be updated accordingly. 

Common Principles for Support to Parliaments

Based on more than four decades of experience on parliamentary development, the IPU Common Principles for Support to Parliament offer clear guidelines for those receiving or providing support to parliaments. They aim to improve the quality of the support available to parliaments and to encourage the parliamentary community to work together more effectively when planning designing and providing support. 

(العربية | English | Français | Español)

IPU Content on Artificial Intelligence

Parliamentary Track recordings

Parliamentary Track activities can be viewed here on our IGF YouTube channel.

Podcasts with Members of Parliament