Across Africa, women and young people are increasingly participating in Internet governance discussions, yet they remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles. Participation alone is not enough—we must intentionally create pathways that enable emerging leaders to influence digital policy, shape governance processes, and contribute to Africa's digital future.
This lightning talk explores how Internet governance schools, mentorship, fellowships, community organizations, and multistakeholder partnerships can help bridge the gap between participation and leadership. Drawing on practical experiences from capacity-building initiatives across Africa, the session will demonstrate how investing in diverse leadership strengthens digital inclusion, improves policy outcomes, and builds a more resilient Internet ecosystem.
The discussion will emphasize that meaningful inclusion goes beyond attendance at conferences. It requires sustained investment in leadership development, mentorship, and opportunities for women and youth to take active roles in national, regional, and global Internet governance processes. Participants will learn practical approaches that governments, civil society, academia, the technical community, and the private sector can adopt to cultivate the next generation of Internet governance leaders.
The session will conclude with a call to action for stakeholders to collaborate in creating inclusive leadership pathways that ensure Africa's digital future is shaped by diverse voices and lived experiences.