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The accelerating digital transformation of our societies has revealed a simple truth: coordination alone is no longer enough. As countries—particularly in the Global South—navigate an increasingly complex technological landscape, the United Nations must evolve from convening discussions to enabling delivery. Strengthening the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) is therefore not a bureaucratic adjustment; it is a strategic necessity for ensuring that digital cooperation becomes a driver of equitable development and measurable progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, collaboration has never been more important. As the work of UN agencies becomes increasingly intertwined with the technologies shaping daily life—from digital public infrastructure to artificial intelligence—and as multistakeholder governance models mature, no single institution can deliver the WSIS vision on its own. The ecosystems we have built demand shared stewardship. Achieving the WSIS targets in this new era requires deeper cooperation across agencies, across regions, and across sectors—governments, civil society, the technical community, academia, and the private sector. A strengthened UNGIS must become the connective tissue that enables these actors to work together with coherence, speed, and purpose. This document proposes a reframing of UNGIS—from an inter-agency coordination table to a systemic enabler of digital public goods, rapid crisis response, and accountable support to Member States. It argues for a UNGIS that is architectural rather than administrative: a federated network of regional hubs, anchored by a light central secretariat, capable of translating WSIS action lines into region-specific solutions and SDG accelerators. Such a model broadens ownership, strengthens local relevance, and ensures that digital cooperation is shaped not only in Geneva or New York but across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Arab States. Central to this vision is an uncompromising commitment to inclusivity. Structural Global South majorities, youth and gender representation, and meaningful roles for civil society and the technical community are not symbolic gestures—they are essential design choices for legitimacy and effectiveness. A stronger UNGIS must leverage new operational tools: incubators for digital public infrastructure, open policy sandboxes, capacity credits that fund participation from low-income countries, and rapid technical support during moments of digital crisis. These mechanisms bridge the gap between high-level commitments and practical outcomes on the ground. This transformation also requires a predictable, blended, and transparent funding model, with safeguards to prevent capture and ensure that resources flow to where they are most needed. Maintaining ITU as the administrative host—paired with stronger governance, dual reporting, and independent audits—offers a stable foundation while reinforcing neutrality and accountability. Above all, the strengthened UNGIS outlined here is guided by a simple principle: measure results, not meetings. Success should be reflected in expanded connectivity, deployed digital public goods, improved national policies, empowered local institutions, and measurable advances in SDG indicators. The steps proposed—adopting a charter addendum, piloting a regional hub and DPI incubator, and formalizing a co-secretariat arrangement—are concrete, achievable, and designed to build confidence through action rather than rhetoric. By embracing these reforms, UNGIS can become the collaborative, accountable delivery engine the UN system needs: one that elevates Global South leadership, operationalises WSIS commitments, and ensures that digital cooperation becomes a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development. You can read the proposal below. Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document. Comments are closed.
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