From July 6- 10 2026, Paradigm Initiative (PIN ) will join stakeholders at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 and at the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance, which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland. The WSIS Forum is hosted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and will be hosted at the ITU headquarters and at Palexpo. The event is a United Nations (UN) process on digital governance and cooperation with a vision of fostering people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information and knowledge societies. PIN will also join stakeholders at the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, which will happen on July 6-7, 2026, in Geneva, Switzerland. The UN AI Dialogue will be a critical time to engage with this forum, presenting our core priorities in Africa and the Global South around AI design, deployment and governance. 

Through the Shaping Inclusive and Human Rights-Respecting Digital Technology Governance project, this engagement is a key priority for our work, reinforcing our AI footprint in Africa and our engagements with the process leading to the adoption of the Global Digital Compact. Assessing our core priorities in the Global South, this will be a follow-up to submissions on multistakeholder participation and priorities for the respect, promotion and protection of human rights, presenting core priorities aligned with critical needs for our communities. Having engaged in the WSIS+20 process and made several submissions leading to the Outcome Document in December 2025, this WSIS Forum will be an opportunity to reflect on the challenges in bridging digital divides and connectivity for the Global South through specific engagements that will showcase our research from Africa and voices from the Global South. This engagement will, among other things, present an opportunity to outline core priorities in AI governance for the Global South, engage with African governments on their priorities, address connectivity and digital inclusion gaps, and make critical recommendations for the adoption of rights-respecting AI governance. 

At WSIS, PIN’s mission will highlight our main priorities for digital rights and digital inclusion in the Global South, unpack the extent of the digital divide and present tangible steps on how the Global South can operationalise the WSIS outcomes. Represented by PIN’s Senior Manager Partnerships and Engagements, Thobekile Matimbe in Geneva, and PIN’s Partnerships and Engagements’ Officer, Bridgette Ndlovu, PIN will contribute to the two global processes by tracking progress on WSIS outcomes for the region, elevating local experiences at the global stage, presenting country assessments on digital inclusion and presenting solution-oriented strategies for AI governance to governments, the private sector and civil society.  On the sidelines of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, PIN is collaborating with the Global Digital Rights Coalition (GDRC) to host a side event to engage critical governments on their priorities. In addition, we will promote meaningful implementation of WSIS action lines, in line with the WSIS+20 Outcome Document. 

To connect with us in Geneva during the engagements, please email partners@paradigmhq.org. 

PIN Sessions at WSIS

PIN Sessions at the Global AI Dialogue