Background
As part of the preparatory process for the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) 2026, the AfIGF Secretariat will convene an Open Consultation to engage the broader multistakeholder community on key priorities, emerging digital governance issues, and strategic directions for the upcoming Forum.
The Open Consultation serves as an inclusive platform to gather community input and recommendations that will help inform the overall thematic focus, programme priorities, session formats, and stakeholder engagement approach for AfIGF 2026.

The consultation is further informed by the outcomes of the WSIS+20 Review process, which reaffirm the importance of inclusive, transparent, and meaningful multistakeholder participation within digital governance processes and the wider Internet Governance Forum ecosystem. In this context, the Open Consultation seeks to strengthen stakeholder engagement and ensure that the Africa IGF process remains community-driven, inclusive,
and responsive to emerging digital governance priorities across the continent.

Objective of the Open Consultation
The objective of the Open Consultation is to provide an open and inclusive multistakeholder platform for the African Internet Governance community to contribute to shaping the Africa IGF 2026 process, including its thematic priorities, programme focus areas, session formats, and strategic direction.
The consultation further aims to:
● Strengthen community participation, inclusive multistakeholder engagement, and stakeholder ownership of the AfIGF process;
● Keep stakeholders informed of ongoing preparatory, coordination, and logistical arrangements for AfIGF 2026;
● Provide a platform for participants to share concerns, recommendations, and expectations related to the Forum organization and programme development;
● Ensure that the Forum reflects evolving digital governance priorities, opportunities, and challenges across the African continent.