Cade report baseline study: Mapping civil society organisation engagement in multilateral and multistakeholder internet governance processes

Executive Summary

This study examines the engagement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in multilateral and multistakeholder internet governance processes, emphasising their critical role in advocating for a just and inclusive digital future. CSOs are instrumental in addressing key issues such as internet accessibility, affordability, human rights, and the protection of marginalised communities. CSOs actively participate in prominent internet governance forums, including the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)-related forums. Despite their contributions, CSOs, particularly those from the Global South, face significant challenges that hinder their full participation.

This research examines barriers to CSO engagement in internet governance, identifies gaps and offers recommendations for more inclusive and equitable processes. The study employed a multi-faceted methodology, combining a comprehensive literature review of documents related to various internet governance forums, a baseline survey, and key expert interviews. The survey and interviews gathered responses from 91 CSOs and key experts across different regions, with a focus on the Global South, to assess participation levels, challenges, and opportunities.

The study revealed that while CSOs are increasingly engaging in internet governance forums, participation from the Global South remains disproportionately low due to systemic, financial, procedural, and language-related barriers, making it difficult for CSOs to navigate and contribute meaningfully to discussions.

Furthermore, this study shows a lack of diversity and inclusivity in internet governance forums which results in the underrepresentation of marginalised groups, particularly from the Global South, resulting in policies that fail to address the needs of all stakeholders. This weakens the legitimacy and effectiveness of decision-making process. Gender and inclusivity gaps persist, particularly in conservative societies, where women and marginalised groups are often excluded from decision-making.

Power imbalances favour large tech companies and government, limiting CSO influence in public interest issues such as human and digital rights, while silos within organisations like ICANN hinder collaboration. At the national level, restrictive political and legal environments further constrain CSO engagement, leaving their perspectives underrepresented in national policy discussions.

The increasing number of internet governance forums and processes has created a fragmented and overwhelming landscape for CSOs, particularly those with limited resources. Navigating multiple forums and keeping up with diverse agendas can strain the capacity of CSOs, reducing their ability to engage meaningfully in any single process.

The results align with the trends identified in the literature review, in addition to a shift of key digital policy discussions from traditional internet governance forums to other spaces, like trade forums, which often lack the inclusivity and accessibility needed for effective CSO participation. Additionally, the growing trend of regional and context-specific internet governance initiatives led by CSOs reflects a positive move toward localised approaches. It highlights the need for more significant support and collaboration. 

These findings confirm the underrepresentation of marginalised voices in internet governance processes, particularly from the Global South, and emphasise the need for a more inclusive and equitable internet governance process that ensures diverse perspectives are adequately represented. Underscoring persistent disparities in CSO engagement, the study calls for targeted interventions to address these issues.

The study recommends increasing funding opportunities, capacity building and technical support for CSOs in the Global South, promoting inclusivity and diversity in internet governance forums and fostering collaboration among CSOs, governments, technical experts and the private sector to strengthen policy influence. It also recommends developing localised approaches to address region-specific challenges and opportunities, and exploring innovative approaches and methods to enhance CSO participation in internet governance.