About the Global Internet Governance Forum
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) serves to bring people together from various stakeholder groups as equals, in discussions on public policy issues relating to the Internet. While there is no negotiated outcome, the IGF informs and inspires those with policy-making power in both the public and private sectors. At their annual meeting delegates discuss, exchange information and share good practices with each other. The IGF facilitates a common understanding of how to maximize Internet opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise.
History & Purpose — Liberia Internet Governance Forum (Liberia IGF)
Our purpose
The Liberia Internet Governance Forum (Liberia IGF) is Liberia’s national, multistakeholder platform for open, non-commercial dialogue on Internet policy, technology and governance. The Forum brings together government, regulators, the private sector, the technical community, civil society, academia, youth and media to discuss policy options, share technical expertise, build capacity, and produce practical, consensus-based recommendations that inform national policy and implementation.
Liberia IGF is among the few recognized NRI in the West Africa Region and operates in accordance with the UN IGF National as well Regional Initiatives (NRI) principles of openness, inclusiveness, transparency and bottom-up agenda development.
How we started & how we’ve evolved
The Liberia IGF was established to create a national space for Internet governance discussion and to link Liberia’s conversations to the regional and global IGF ecosystem. Over successive editions the Forum has grown in scope and impact — convening national leaders, technical experts and civil society; running youth and women-focused tracks; and supporting technical capacity building (e.g., DNS/DPI and cybersecurity workshops).
The Liberia IGF is formally recognized within the IGF community and has participated in UN IGF processes, including hosting remote-hub activities and listing its national meeting details on the UN IGF NRI pages.
Key milestones (timeline)
Year Milestone
2019–2020 (Founding period) Liberia IGF established as a national multistakeholder forum for digital policy dialogue. (See archive of early activities.)
2023–2024 Continued annual national forums; published reports and expanded participation across stakeholder groups, including stronger engagement of regulators and ministries.
2025 Liberia hosted and participated actively in regional IGF activities (MRU IGF); Liberia IGF secured program support from the Internet Society Foundation for 2025 activities.
2026 (ongoing) Liberia IGF is convening a strengthened national programme focused on Trust, Inclusion & Resilient Digital Public Infrastructure, including dedicated Youth and Women in Tech tracks and technical CIIP sessions.
What we do (core activities)
· Convene an annual national forum to set priorities, exchange evidence and produce outcomes for policymakers and implementers.
· Host technical labs and capacity workshops on DNS, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure and related topics.
· Run Youth and Women in Tech tracks to build leadership pipelines and ensure inclusive participation.
· Publish a final report and policy outputs after each edition, and submit these to the UN IGF Secretariat as part of the NRI reporting process.
· Promote regional cooperation through MRU IGF links and peer learning across West Africa.
Recognition & partnerships
Liberia IGF is recognized under the UN IGF NRI framework and collaborates with national institutions (e.g., Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications, Liberia Telecommunications Authority) and international partners including the Internet Society Foundation, regional IGF initiatives, technical organizations and civil society networks. These partnerships support funding, technical assistance, and wider dissemination of outcomes.
How to engage
· Submit input to the Call for Input (link) — help shape the agenda.
· Join the MAG: learn about membership and Terms of Reference (link).
· Volunteer or apply for bursaries: youth and under-represented participants can request support (link).
· Access past reports: download final reports and session outputs (link).
Contact
For enquiries about the Forum, participation, partnerships or media, contact the Liberia IGF Secretariat at: liberiaigf@gmail.com /info@liberiaigf.org | +231 886749030 /0775733484 . The Secretariat is hosted within the Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications, Republic of Liberia and operates in a multistakeholder, neutral capacity.
For more information on IGF please refer to the following documents:
- Background paper
- The “IGF Brochure”
