IGF 2024 Youth Track Workshop IV hosted at African IGF
20 November 2024 | 09:00 UTC
AI, Innovation, and Governance: Youth at the centre of multistakeholderism
Hosted at UN Commission for Africa (ECA), Room CR4
For onsite and online participation, registration is mandatory at https://indico.un.org/event/1013524/
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This workshop is part of a series of capacity development workshops organized as part of the IGF 2024 Youth Track. The multistakeholder organizing group, composed of the UN IGF Secretariat, several Youth IGFs and international youth-focused initiatives, works collaboratively to develop and implement the structure of the track. |
The proposed session will centre on the theme of digital inclusion, focusing on how young people can harness the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) while addressing key challenges related to access, skills development, and collaboration.
As we witness the rapid advancement of AI and increasing calls for regulation, it is essential to ensure that no one is left behind in this digital revolution. A primary challenge is ensuring digital inclusion, which means creating equitable access to the digital processes for all young people. This requires significant investment in digital infrastructure to bridge the existing digital divide, particularly in underserved and marginalized communities. Moreover, digital literacy must be promoted to enable young individuals to participate meaningfully in the digital world, laying the foundation for them to develop AI competencies that are crucial for their future careers. Equally important is the development of AI skills among youth. To drive innovation and position young people at the forefront of AI development, there must be a concerted effort to invest in AI education and training. Mentorship programs, technical education, and hands-on training opportunities will be key to empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators in the AI space. Collaboration is another critical aspect of this effort. Effective multistakeholder cooperation and partnerships will be essential to ensuring that AI is developed and deployed responsibly.
Through a multistakeholder, intergenerational dialogue, this session aims to contribute to a global conversation about how AI can be harnessed for economic growth, social progress, and a more equitable future.
FORMAT: Interactive roundtable exchange among youth and senior stakeholders.
DRAFT AGENDA and POLICY/GUIDING QUESTIONS:
- Welcome and introduction
- Setting the scene by expert speaker around the following policy questions (5 min per speaker):
- How can all stakeholders promote AI adoption among youth to drive both innovation and economic development?
- How can multistakeholder collaboration, supported by effective policies and incentives, be leveraged to enhance equitable access to sustainable digital education and AI skills for youth in underserved regions?
- What are the risks of not adequately addressing digital skills gaps, and how can governance frameworks prevent from being left behind in the global AI economy? How do we engage in skill-building?
- How can stakeholders use AI to foster inclusion in every part of society? What infrastructure and frameworks are essential to achieve this goal?
- Open discussion (20 min)
- Closing remarks by the speakers (1 min each)
SPEAKERS:
- Mr. Franz von Weizsäcker, GIZ African Union, Ethiopia
- Ms. Susan Dossi, Member of Parliament, Malawi
- Mr. Gustavo Ribiero, Internet Society Youth Ambassador, Brazil
- Mr. Innocent Adriko, ISOC Foundation, Uganda
- Ms. Nnenna Nwakanma, Independent expert, Côte d'Ivoire
ONSITE MODERATORS: Ms. Saba Tiku, Member of the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group, Ethiopia
ONLINE MODERATORS: Mr. Athanase BAHIZIRE, Youth DR Congo IGF
RAPPORTEURS: Ms. Afi EDOH, Togo IGF; and Ms. Noha Ashraf, Arab IGF community
In support of
