As part of the WSIS+20 review process under the auspices of the United Nations, Member States have reaffirmed the importance of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) by supporting the continuation of its mandate as a key platform for advancing the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. In a significant step toward strengthening the Forum’s future, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced a USD 1 million contribution to the IGF.
The funding will support the work of the IGF Secretariat, enhance administrative sustainability, expand capacity-building initiatives and encourage greater participation from governments in developing countries.
According to ICANN, the contribution reflects the organization’s commitment to the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the IGF.
“By approving this financial contribution, the ICANN Board seeks to support the IGF’s long-term sustainability, operational continuity and broader global participation. Stable funding will enable the IGF to plan its activities more effectively and continue serving the global Internet community,” the organization stated.
For more than two decades, the IGF has served as the leading global platform where governments, the private sector, civil society, the technical community, academia and Internet users come together to discuss public policy and technical issues related to the development and governance of the Internet.
Commenting on the announcement, Kristina Hakobyan, Board Vice Chair of the Internet Society NGO, described the decision as an important political and institutional milestone.
“This contribution demonstrates ICANN’s commitment to supporting international platforms that foster global digital cooperation. For Armenia, it is another encouraging signal to remain actively engaged in global Internet governance processes,” she said.
Hakobyan noted that a more financially sustainable IGF will help make such participation more meaningful and effective. She emphasized that the Internet Society NGO, as the manager of Armenia’s .am and .հայ country-code top-level domains, has long benefited from engagement within ICANN, the IGF, EuroDIG, WSIS and other international forums.
Through active participation in multistakeholder Internet governance processes, Armenia’s professional community contributes to discussions that shape the technical and policy frameworks governing the future of the Internet. In doing so, it advances national interests, shares local expertise and strengthens the country’s position within the global digital ecosystem.
