91�鶹������Ʒ����

UNESCO developed the Internet Universality Indicators (IUI) as a framework for voluntary assessment of Internet environment and formulation of actionable recommendations to inform policy, strategies and actions for advancing Internet development, access and rights.

The framework is applied at national level through a multistakeholder approach by which various interested, concerned and impacted parties come together to reflect on various dimensions of Internet environment covered by the indicators under the interdependent Rights, Open, Accessible to All, Multistakeholder participation (ROAM) principles. Over the past years, Multistakeholder approach has been slowly getting momentum in the region. The West Africa IGF (WAIGF) at its 14th session called on Member States to 1)“ increase stakeholder representation by encouraging bottom-up approaches and revitalizing multistakeholder arrangements” and 2) “encourage multistakeholder involvement in policy making processes”.

The application of the IUI at national level steers discussion and exchanges between involved stakeholders on, among other issues and themes ‘policy, legal and regulatory framework’ which is assessed under the four principles or core categories: Rights, Openness, Accessible to all, and Multistakeholder participation (ROAM). Such discussions are likely to inform and advance policy debate on online platforms regulation and the effectiveness of multiple stakeholders’ engagement to such regulation.

Since the launching of the IUI Framework, 91�鶹������Ʒ���� supported national assessment in many countries around the world and in West Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Niger and Senegal have completed, started or have it on-going. As required by the IUI methodology, each of the country has established a Multistakeholder Advisory Board to oversee the assessment as well as the implementation of the recommendations.

• exchange on how to advance or promote ROAM principles and a multistakeholder approach to regulating, co-regulating and self-regulating digital platforms, through assessing Internet Universality Indicators (IUI) and implementing the outcome at national level
• reflect on the opportunities and challenges of multistakeholder approach to regulating, co-regulating, and self-regulating digital platforms from Africa (or West Africa) perspective