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SUMMARY:May 2025 online courses | Diplo Academy
DESCRIPTION:Diplo Academy is excited to announce the start of four online courses on 5 May 2025: \n\n21st Century Diplomacy\nDiplomatic Theory and Practice\nE-Diplomacy\nTech Diplomacy\n\nFor further information or to apply\, please click on the course titles above or visit our course catalogue. \n*** \nSubscribe to Diplo Academy Newsletter for updates on our courses\, programmes\, and workshops.
URL:https://diplo.us/event/may-2025-online-courses-diplo-academy/
LOCATION:Online
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250507T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250507T090000
DTSTAMP:20260415T214747
CREATED:20250506T134245Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250506T134245Z
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SUMMARY:WSIS+20 review: What’s in it for Africa?
DESCRIPTION:An expert-guided dialogue among diplomats | Dedicated exclusively to African Permanent Missions to the UN in Geneva. \nCo-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania and the EU Delegation \n*** \nThis is an invitation-only event. For details\, please contact us at geneva@diplomacy.edu. \n\nAbout the dialogue \nThe World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)\, held in two phases in 2003 (Geneva) and 2005 (Tunis)\, was the first policy response by the international community to the fast-growing internet and the expanding impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on economies and societies worldwide. The summit outlined a shared vision and an action framework for building an inclusive and development-oriented information society. It also established key mechanisms – such as the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the UN Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) – that continue to shape global digital cooperation. \nTwenty years on\, the WSIS+20 review process offers an opportunity to assess what has been achieved\, where challenges remain – such as in closing digital divides and promoting meaningful access – and how the WSIS framework can be strengthened to better respond to today’s evolving digital landscape. This process will culminate in a high-level meeting at the UN General Assembly in December 2025. A key milestone along the way was the 28th session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)\, which took place in April 2025 and discussed a comprehensive report and a draft resolution on the implementation of WSIS outcomes. \nAt the same time\, 2025 has welcomed the start of the implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC)\, an initiative adopted in 2024 by UN member states to guide cooperation on digital governance. There is recognition of the need to ensure coherence and complementarity between WSIS and GDC processes\, particularly as both aim to promote an inclusive\, safe\, secure\, and human-centred digital society. This convergence opens new opportunities – but also poses coordination challenges – for all stakeholders\, including African countries. \nAgainst this backdrop\, the WSIS+20 review is a timely opportunity to reflect on Africa’s digital development progress\, contribute to shaping the global narrative on digital development and governance\, and advocate for policies that address persistent digital policy challenges. \nThe dialogue on 7 May\, to be guided by Diplo experts\, is intended to: \n\nProvide African Permanent Missions with a concise briefing on the WSIS+20 review process and the broader context of digital governance developments at the UN.\nFacilitate an informal exchange among diplomats on Africa’s interests\, expectations\, and potential contributions to the WSIS+20 review.\nExplore how African countries can engage effectively in shaping the outcomes of the review\, including through enhanced coordination.\nDiscuss the future of multilateral processes in matters of AI and ICTs: WSIS Action Lines; GDC commitments\, and the respective follow-up processes.\n\n\nProgramme \nOpening remarks | 13:00 – 13:15 \nBy high-level representatives of the two co-sponsors: Permanent Mission of Tanzania and the Delegation of the European Union. \nBriefing on the WSIS+20 review process | 13:15 – 14:00 \nAn overview of the WSIS+20 process\, with a focus on issues such as: \n\nKey WSIS outcomes and their relevance today\nInstitutional mechanisms for WSIS implementation\, follow-up\, and review\nRoles\, responsibilities\, and next steps in the WSIS+20 review process\nHighlights from the April 2025 CSTD session\nKey issues under discussion and expectations for the General Assembly outcome\nPotential interplays between WSIS and GDC processes\n\nDialogue: African interests and priorities in WSIS+20 | 14:00 – 15:00 \nA moderated dialogue on the relevance of the WSIS+20 process for African countries and on ways and means to ensure that African interests and priorities are meaningfully represented in the process. Guiding questions may include: \n\nHow has the WSIS vision of a ‘people-centred\, inclusive\, and development-oriented information society’ progressed in Africa? What gaps remain?\nWhat WSIS action lines are most relevant for Africa today (e.g. infrastructure\, access\, capacity building\, cybersecurity)?\nWhat challenges do African countries face in these areas\, and how can global cooperation mechanisms better address them?\nWhat concrete steps can be taken to ensure that African interests and priorities are reflected in the WSIS+20 process?\nWhat expectations do African countries have from the WSIS+20 process? Are there specific elements that African countries want to see reflected in the WSIS+20 review outcome document (to be adopted by the UN General Assembly)?\nHow can the interplay between WSIS and GDC processes be shaped to best respond to today’s realities and serve Africa’s digital development needs?\n\n*** \n\nAbout Knowledge Hub Digital \nThe Knowledge Hub Digital (KHD) is a Technical Assistance Facility funded by the European Union to provide technical assistance\, policy advice\, and capacity development in a wide range of digital-related sectors\, from digital connectivity to e-governance. Under this framework\, DiploFoundation delivers capacity building activities in Geneva\, with a focus on supporting the engagement of missions of African countries in global digital governance debates.
URL:https://diplo.us/event/wsis20-review-whats-in-it-for-africa/
LOCATION:Geneva\, Geneva\, Switzerland
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250509T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250509T090000
DTSTAMP:20260415T214747
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SUMMARY:Decoding the UN CSTD Working Group on Data Governance online series
DESCRIPTION:Date: 9 May 2025\nTime: 14.00 CEST | 12.00 UTC\nLocation: Online \nAt the United Nations Summit of the Future in 2024\, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future\, which includes the Global Digital Compact (GDC). One of GDC’s central pillars is data governance\, marking the first time this issue has been formally placed on the UN’s global agenda\, with concrete commitments expected to materialise.​ \nAs a follow-up\, the United Nations General Assembly requested the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) to establish a dedicated Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Data Governance at all levels as relevant for development. This group has been convened to meet for the first time on 1-2 May 2025. \nThis online event\, orgnised by the Open Knowledge Foundation\, Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform\, will discuss this important milestone. Speakers will provide an overview of the group’s mandate\, discuss the main outcomes of its first meeting\, and the expected next steps. In particular\, they will assess the potential contribution of the WG to the establishment of a community and public-good centred data governance regime. \nModerator: \nMarilia Maciel\, Director of Digital Trade and Economic Security\, Diplo \nSpeakers:  \nRenata Avila\, CEO\, Open Knowledge Foundation \nLinnet Taylor\, Professor\, Tilburg Institute for Law\, Technology\, and Society (TILT) \n\n\nRegister
URL:https://diplo.us/event/decoding-the-un-cstd-working-group-on-data-governance-online-series/
LOCATION:Online
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250514T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250514T093000
DTSTAMP:20260415T214747
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SUMMARY:The cost and benefits of using digital technology for elections in Africa
DESCRIPTION:Background and rationale\nIn recent years\, the adoption of digital technology in electoral processes has gained momentum across Africa. Countries have increasingly turned to digital solutions to enhance the efficiency\, transparency\, and credibility of elections. Technologies such as biometric voter registration\, electronic voting\, and digital platforms for voter education and election monitoring have been implemented with varying degrees of success. However\, the use of digital technology in elections also raises concerns\, including the financial costs\, cybersecurity risks\, and the potential for disenfranchisement. \nAs African nations continue to explore and implement digital technologies in their electoral processes\, it is crucial to assess both the costs and benefits to ensure that such innovations contribute positively to the democratic process. This webinar aims to bring together experts\, policymakers\, and stakeholders to discuss the impact of digital technology on elections in Africa\, weighing its advantages against the challenges it presents. \nObjectives\n\nAssess the costs: Discuss the financial implications of adopting digital technologies in elections\, including the initial investment\, maintenance costs\, and potential hidden expenses.\nExamine the benefits: Explore the advantages of digital technology in enhancing election transparency\, reducing electoral fraud\, improving voter access\, and streamlining electoral processes.\nIdentify challenges: Highlight the challenges and risks associated with digital elections\, including cybersecurity threats\, the digital divide\, and the potential disenfranchisement of marginalized communities.\nShare best practices: Provide a platform for sharing successful case studies and lessons learned from African countries that have implemented digital technologies in their electoral processes.\nFoster collaboration: Encourage dialogue and collaboration among African countries\, international organizations\, and tech companies to support the effective and equitable use of digital technology in elections.\n\nKey discussion topics\n\nCost analysis of digital elections: Understanding the financial burden of implementing and maintaining digital election systems.\nTechnological benefits: Evaluating how digital technology can improve voter registration\, voting processes\, and election monitoring.\nCybersecurity and data protection: Addressing the risks of cyberattacks and the importance of protecting voter data.\nDigital inclusion: Ensuring that all citizens\, including those in rural and underserved areas\, have access to digital voting technologies.\nCase studies: Learning from the experiences of African countries that have successfully integrated digital technology into their electoral processes.\nFuture trends: Exploring emerging technologies and their potential impact on future elections in Africa.\n\nExpected outcomes\n\nIncreased awareness and understanding of the costs and benefits of using digital technology in elections.\nIdentification of key challenges and potential solutions to ensure secure and inclusive digital elections in Africa.\nEnhanced collaboration among stakeholders to support the effective implementation of digital technologies in electoral processes.\nA set of recommendations for policymakers and election officials on best practices for adopting digital technology in elections.\n\nContact information\nFor more information\, please contact Mwende Njiraini\, African Initiative Coordinator\, at mwenden@diplomacy.edu. \nRegister
URL:https://diplo.us/event/the-cost-and-benefits-of-using-digital-technology-for-elections-in-africa/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://diplo.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Digital-Diplomacy-and-Tourism-in-Africa_2560x400px-blanco.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250515T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250515T090000
DTSTAMP:20260415T214747
CREATED:20250506T133801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250506T133825Z
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SUMMARY:Cybersecurity meets Hydrodiplomacy | Geneva Cyber week 2025
DESCRIPTION:Crossing perspectives on challenges related to sharing and protecting strategic infrastructures\nDate: Thursday\, May 15\, from 14:00 to 15:00 \nVenue: Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG)\, room 4\, on level -1 \nCurrent geopolitical events and tensions have put shared critical infrastructure under a new spotlight with attacks on pipelines\, energy lines and underwater communication lines. Likewise\, water infrastructures have undergone a worrying trend of weaponisation in armed conflicts. \nWith water-related tensions globally on the rise\, it’s important to recall that water\, as a vital and irreplaceable resource\, is also a source of peace and cooperation. It has historically been a convening theme\, inducing dialogue between stakeholders to agree upon its management. Such a strategic vision has been spearheaded by the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace\, launched in Geneva 10 years ago to promote a Blue Peace. \nThe session will explore how the experience of hydrodiplomacy in devising water governance frameworks to share benefits over water could inform current reflections on shared digital infrastructures. It will also dive into challenges in protecting water infrastructures and emerging trends in cybersecurity. \nThis event is co-hosted by DiploFoundation & the Geneva Water Hub
URL:https://diplo.us/event/cybersecurity-meets-hydrodiplomacy-geneva-cyber-week-2025/
LOCATION:Geneva\, Geneva\, Switzerland
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