Background

The Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) is a regional, non-hierarchical, multi-stakeholder forum initiated by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in 2005 to coordinate a regional approach to Internet Governance (IG), initially focussed on the proceedings of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).  The CIGF has since met annually and has delivered significant and pioneering benefits to the region including formulation of a Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework; the proliferation of Internet exchange points (IXPs); capacity building in IG principles and best practices; and growth in Caribbean influence in international IG fora. The CIGF is the longest running Internet Governance Forum in the world.

The Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF) is a regional multi-stakeholder forum, also initiated by the CTU and designed by youth for youth, to coordinate the views, interests and challenges of young people across the Caribbean and to strengthen their participation in regional and global Internet governance. First staged virtually in 2022 by Caribbean youth who had attended the ITU Generation Connect Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, the forum sparked the formation of the Caribbean ICT Youth Network (CIYN), which now independently coordinates the event under the auspices of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF). Thus far, successive editions have been co-located with the CIGF and in July 2024 the CYIGF was formally recognised as a National and Regional IGF Initiative (NRI) by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum.

This year the 22^nd CIGF and the 5^th CYIGF will be collocated in Grenada. They will both be staged in-person but with remote participation via online videoconferencing under the auspices of the CTU and the Government of Grenada. In addition to reviewing achievements over the years, the Fora will address various facets of Internet Governance of current import to the Caribbean. Convened under the theme “Connectivity to Capability: Shaping a Resilient, Trusted, and Innovative Digital Caribbean“ the 22^nd CIGF arrives at a pivotal moment for the region, as the conclusion of the WSIS+20 review and the implementation of the Global Digital Compact reshape the global digital agenda and call for a coordinated Caribbean response. Discussions will examine how the region can close its cybersecurity maturity gap, harness and govern the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and advance development in ways that are effective, inclusive and sustainable. Central to these conversations is the continued strengthening of the region’s policy architecture, including the review and updating of the Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework, so that it remains relevant to emerging technologies and evolving threats. Recognising that the next generation must help shape their digital future, the Forum places particular emphasis on the meaningful participation of Caribbean youth in governance processes. Therefore, the 5^th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (5^th CYIGF) will also be hosted within the agenda of the 22^nd CIGF.

Objectives

• Consider Internet governance policies and initiatives for priority attention and regional consensus to facilitate accelerated digital transformation in the Caribbean
• Elicit the voices and develop the capacity of Caribbean youth in Internet governance by facilitating the 5^th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum
• Build national and regional capacity and systems in IG to enable, support, strengthen and sustain socio-economic development and effective Caribbean participation and representation at regional and global Internet Governance for a
• Identify technological trends, opportunities and challenges and examine their implications for building a secure, inclusive and future-ready Caribbean Internet
• Facilitate productive networking linkages and collaborations among national, regional and international IG processes and initiatives to promote coherence across the IG ecosystem, avoid duplication of efforts and translate global commitments into coordinated regional action.

Target Audience

• Academia
• Civil society 
• Government policy makers and IT Managers
• Internet users, including young professionals and entrepreneurs
• Internet service providers and Telecommunications operators
• International organisations
• ICT Regulators 

DRAFT PROGRAMME OUTLINE AT A GLANCE