A regional multistakeholder governance model
WAIGF brings together public institutions, civil society, the private sector, academia, the technical community and young people to discuss Internet governance and digital development priorities affecting West Africa.
The WAIGF Secretariat provides the day-to-day coordination of this work. It collaborates with the ECOWAS Commission, national hosts, the Multistakeholder Advisory Group and the wider community to prepare the programme, support participation, coordinate the annual forum and carry forward follow-up activities.
This collaborative model reflects the multistakeholder character of the Internet Governance Forum process. WAIGF is a platform for dialogue and coordination; its outcomes are consultative and do not replace the mandates of governments or regional institutions.
Governance bodies and relationships
WAIGF Secretariat
The active coordinating organ of WAIGF. The Secretariat manages communications, programme preparation, stakeholder coordination, practical arrangements and follow-up across the forum’s activities.
Multistakeholder Advisory Group
The MAG contributes stakeholder perspectives to programme development, outreach and the identification of issues for regional dialogue.
ECOWAS collaboration
The ECOWAS Commission provides regional institutional collaboration and support to the WAIGF process. The Secretariat works with ECOWAS while retaining the forum’s open multistakeholder character.
National IGFs and the regional community
WAIGF complements the work of national Internet Governance Forum initiatives across West Africa. National processes create spaces for country-level discussion; WAIGF provides a regional forum where common challenges, experiences and priorities can be exchanged across borders.
The regional forum also connects West African perspectives to the wider Internet governance ecosystem, including the Africa IGF and the global UN Internet Governance Forum.
Explore WAIGF editions and regional outcomes →
Participation and accountability
Participation is open across stakeholder groups. Calls for sessions, registration opportunities and other engagement mechanisms are published on the WAIGF website. Participants can contribute to programme development, attend the forum and associated tracks, and share feedback with the Secretariat.
Reports, communiqués and other published outcomes provide a record of the discussions and support transparency and continuity between annual editions.
Leadership and coordination team
The published WAIGF team and MAG roster is maintained as a shared institutional roster so the same governance information is used across the website rather than creating separate, conflicting lists.
Governance through participation
WAIGF’s strength comes from sustained participation across institutions, communities, countries and generations.