CADE Newlsetter – August/September 2025

CADE Newsletter – August/September Edition

Dear CADE friends and partners,

Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! Here we shine a spotlight on one of CADE’s key contributions: our comprehensive mapping and baseline study on CSO engagement in internet governance processes.

From global debates on digital rights to decisions that affect everyday internet access, CSOs are often the bridge between policy and the people. Yet too many voices, notably from the Global South, remain unheard. Dive into this newsletter to explore how CADE is working to change that, and how CSOs can influence digital policy, focusing on emerging technologies.

Alongside the main story, you will also find CADE partner updates on digital governance and rights from across the globe, upcoming events, and ways you can get involved in shaping a more inclusive and rights-based digital future.

Mapping Civil Society Organisation Engagement in Multilateral and Multistakeholder Internet Governance Processes

Baseline and Recommendations: Civil Society Organisation Engagement in Multilateral and Multistakeholder Internet Governance Processes

Who really gets to shape the future of our digital world? CADE’s new mapping and baseline study reveals that too many civil society voices are still missing from the table.

The study shows how CSOs push for internet accessibility, affordability, human rights, and the protection of marginalised communities in spaces like ICANN, the IGF, ITU, and the IETF. Yet, they continue to face systemic challenges such as limited funding, language barriers, political restrictions, and processes designed in ways that are difficult for smaller, but often even more established organisations to navigate.

What stood out most?

Structural barriers keep CSOs out: Participation from the Global South remains disproportionately low and difficult, while governments and big tech dominate decision-making.
Diversity gaps: Women and marginalised groups are still underrepresented, meaning their perspectives rarely shape policy.
Fragmentation overload: With too many internet governance forums and shifting agendas, CSOs with fewer resources struggle to keep up and may lack crucial information.

But it’s not all obstacles. The research also highlights emerging opportunities. Remote participation and regional forums are opening new doors for CSOs. Innovative coalitions are forming, amplifying civil society voices. And there’s a growing recognition that without inclusive governance, digital policy will fail to serve communities.

Download the full report here: https://cadeproject.org/cade-report-baseline-study/

📅 Register now to reserve your seat at the launch and access the report in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese!

When: Thursday, 2 October 2025
13:00–14:30 UTC (Click here to see your local time)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

CADE partners highlights

A quick look at what our consortium partners are up to this month:

SMEX: Civil society plays a central role in advocating for better internet governance and better policies for the protection of cybersecurity. Their role has become even more critical in the context of increasing crackdowns on freedom of expression and civic engagement. This case study explores how CSOs in the Arab region, particularly in Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, have engaged in the development of cybercrime legal frameworks. You can read the paper here. SMEX is also excited to host a training on internet governance during Bread&Net in collaboration with the Internet Society (ISOC). We’ll also present their regional case study and hold a multilateral session to discuss internet governance concerns in the Middle East and North Africa region. Additionally, two organisations from the region will join the CADE team at this year’s ICANN General Annual Meeting in Dublin, where they’ll be introduced to ICANN’s activities, events, and advocacy work.

Forus: The CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights programme has officially launched! The initiative brings together young advocates from around the world to build skills, connect globally, and make their voices heard in digital policy spaces. Selected by a civil society committee including Diplo, Forus, and Karisma, participants will develop a Youth Manifesto on Digital Rights and showcase multimedia projects highlighting diverse perspectives and priorities on digital governance and rights. Learn more here.

CIPESA: CIPESA, together with partners, has submitted several reports to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process for Rwanda and Liberia, highlighting concerns around digital rights and civic space. For Rwanda, submissions were prepared with the Pan African Lawyers Union, APC, Small Media Foundation, ARTICLE 19, and the University of Birmingham. For Liberia, CIPESA collaborated with the West Africa ICT Action Network. These reports, available online, form the basis for advocacy ahead of the UPR Pre-sessions in Geneva in November 2025.
KICTANet: KICTANet and CADE have been at the forefront of shaping Kenya’s digital policy and rights agenda. From policy harmonisation and AI governance to digital inclusion and freedoms, here’s a snapshot of our joint milestones: Africa Tech Policy Summit 2025, East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF 2025), Kenya School of Internet Governance Fellows (KeSIG 2025).

Fundación Karisma: Preparations are underway for two major internet governance events. The upcoming ICANN84 Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 25–30 October in Dublin, is expected to feature intense discussions on key issues. In parallel, Fundación Karisma is also contributing to the Colombia IGF 2025 with two activities: a panel within the official IGF agenda and a side event with LGBTIQ+ advocacy organisations.

📅 What’s Next / Upcoming Events

CADE Mapping and Baseline Study Report Launch. The mapping and baseline studies shed light on the current landscape, challenges, and opportunities surrounding CSO participation in key internet governance spaces – such as the IGF, ICANN, ITU, and IETF – with a special focus on underrepresented voices from the Global South. Click here to register.
Bread&Net 2025 – Registration for West Asia and North Africa’s oldest digital rights gathering is open until 30 September! Head to their website to register.
Forum on Internet Freedoms in Africa (FIFA25) – The 12th edition will take place in Windhoek, Namibia, on 24–26 September 2025, bringing together policymakers, journalists, civil society, and private sector actors to debate today’s most pressing digital rights issues. From AI governance to internet shutdowns and digital inclusion, the Forum will spotlight African perspectives and shape the continent’s voice in global digital governance processes. Learn more and get involved.

Stay tuned for upcoming advocacy calls and CADE initiatives where your participation can help amplify CSO voices in internet governance.

Call to Action

Want to shape the future of inclusive internet governance?
👉 Share and download our Mapping and Baseline Studies and contribute to CADE initiatives that push for equitable digital policy.

This publication was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of CADE and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.