WSIS+20 Review: From Global Commitments to National Action
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York for the twenty-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), where Member States adopted the WSIS+20 Outcome Document (A/80/L.41) by consensus.
Having been engaged in the WSIS process for several years through regional and global Internet governance initiatives, this was my first experience attending a UN General Assembly session. It was both a professional milestone and an invaluable learning experience.
While the formal plenary sessions reflected the positions of Member States, some of the most meaningful insights came from observing the diplomacy behind the scenes. The consultations, informal negotiations, coalition building, and continuous dialogue between delegations demonstrated how global digital policy is shaped long before decisions are formally adopted. It was equally encouraging to see many African countries and representatives from our region playing an increasingly active role in these discussions, contributing perspectives that are essential to building a more inclusive digital future.
Over the past year, I also had the privilege of contributing to the WSIS+20 process through my work with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). From regional consultations to technical discussions and policy coordination, ECA played an important role in ensuring that African priorities and recommendations were reflected throughout the review process. This demonstrated the value of sustained regional engagement in global digital governance and the importance of ensuring that Africa's voice is present where international digital policy is being shaped.
The adopted Outcome Document reaffirms several principles that remain fundamental twenty years after the original WSIS. Most importantly, it recognises that the Internet is a shared global resource whose governance depends on an inclusive, multistakeholder approach. Governments, the private sector, civil society, the technical community, academia, and international organisations all have distinct and complementary roles in shaping an Internet that remains open, accessible, secure, stable, and interoperable.
The document also reaffirms that multistakeholder cooperation is not simply a feature of the WSIS process—it is one of its defining characteristics. At a time when discussions around digital governance, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital public infrastructure are becoming increasingly complex, preserving inclusive participation will be critical for maintaining trust and legitimacy in global digital cooperation.
Another important message from the review is the recognition that the digital divide remains one of the world's greatest development challenges. Despite significant progress over the past two decades, approximately 2.2 billion people remain offline, limiting access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and public services. Closing this gap will require more than connectivity alone. It demands sustained investment in digital infrastructure, affordable access, digital skills, enabling policy environments, and stronger institutional capacity to ensure that digital transformation benefits everyone.
One of the most significant outcomes of WSIS+20 was the decision to grant the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) a permanent mandate. This marks an important milestone for the global Internet governance ecosystem. For nearly two decades, the IGF has served as the world's most inclusive platform for dialogue on digital policy, bringing together governments and non-governmental stakeholders on equal footing. A permanent mandate provides greater certainty for long-term planning, strengthens institutional continuity, and reinforces the importance of multistakeholder dialogue in addressing emerging digital challenges.
As discussions concluded in New York, one thought remained clear: adopting an outcome document is only the beginning. The real measure of success will not be found in negotiated text, but in implementation.
For Africa, and for many developing countries, the challenge now is translating these global commitments into national strategies, regulatory reforms, institutional capacity, and practical initiatives that improve people's lives. International agreements establish direction, but meaningful progress ultimately depends on the actions taken by governments, regional organisations, civil society, the private sector, and local communities.
WSIS+20 has renewed a shared global commitment to an inclusive digital future. The responsibility now belongs to all of us to ensure those commitments become tangible outcomes that leave no one behind.