WSIS Forum 2026: From commitments to measurable implementation

The WSIS Forum 2026, co-hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Switzerland in Geneva from 6 to 10 July, marked a shift from documenting commitments to demonstrating measurable implementation of the WSIS framework, following the WSIS+20 Review. UN agencies are developing consolidated resources and results-oriented roadmaps aligned with Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Digital Compact, with Action Line facilitators expected to complete roadmaps by 2027.

World Summit on the Information Society WSIS Forum 2026 https://www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/55382982039 ” by ITU Pictures https://www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/ , CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en The World Summit on the Information Society WSIS Forum 2026 https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2026/en , co-hosted by the International Telecommunication Union ITU and Switzerland was held in Geneva from 6 to 10 July alongside the AI for Good Summit https://aiforgood.itu.int/summit26/ and the inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance https://www.un.org/global-dialogue-ai-governance/en . As the first WSIS Forum since the completion of the WSIS+20 Review https://unctad.org/topic/commission-on-science-and-technology-for-development/wsis-20-year-review in 2025, it marked the beginning of a new phase for the global digital development agenda. While discussions covered a broad range of digital policy issues, one theme stood out throughout the week — the shift from documenting commitments to demonstrating measurable implementation. Following the WSIS+20 Review, the international community reaffirmed its commitment to the WSIS framework through to 2035. Across sessions https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2026/Agenda , speakers highlighted the continuing value of the multistakeholder model, with governments, the technical community, civil society, academia, and industry all contributing to digital development outcomes. The WSIS+20 outcome document https://www.itu.int/en/itu-wsis/Pages/WSIS+20-Overall-Review.aspx , adopted in December 2025, provides the roadmap for the next phase of work. A key outcome was a request for all WSIS Action Line facilitators to develop results-oriented implementation roadmaps aligned with relevant Sustainable Development Goals SDGs and Global Digital Compact GDC commitments. This represents an important shift. For much of the past two decades, WSIS has focused on documenting activities, partnerships, and commitments. The focus is now moving towards targets, indicators, and metrics that can demonstrate real-world outcomes. Building implementation roadmaps A recurring theme during the Forum was the difficulty of tracking and assessing WSIS-related activity across the United Nations system and wider stakeholder community. To improve visibility and coordination, UN agencies are developing a consolidated resource that will bring together information on WSIS Action Lines, including responsible agencies, activities, outputs, and stakeholder contributions. This consolidated platform is expected to reflect a growing emphasis on accountability and coordination. The UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development CSTD , which oversees annual WSIS implementation reviews, emphasized that future reporting should focus on: - Evidence of implementation - Analysis of gaps and unmet needs - Policy recommendations - Targets, indicators, and metrics This focus on measurable outcomes marks a departure from previous reporting cycles, which often concentrated on activities rather than impact. Developing implementation roadmaps will not be easy. Some Action Lines, such as C1, ‘The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development’, are broad and difficult to operationalize. Several speakers at the WSIS Forum this year suggested breaking large commitments into more focused workstreams with tailored implementation plans and metrics. Action Line facilitators are expected to complete their roadmaps by 2027, making the next year critical for shaping how WSIS commitments are translated into action. From representation to participation Multistakeholder participation remained a central theme. However, discussions increasingly focused on the quality of participation rather than simply ensuring diverse stakeholder groups were represented. Speakers emphasized that effective digital cooperation requires engagement at local and regional levels, not just participation in global forums. Communities affected by policy decisions need meaningful opportunities to contribute to their development and implementation. This discussion featured prominently in conversations about the future of the Internet Governance Forum https://intgovforum.org/ IGF . Participants consistently argued that any new mechanisms for government engagement should remain integrated within the broader multistakeholder model rather than evolve into a separate intergovernmental process. The São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines https://www.diplomacy.edu/blog/sao-paulo-multistakeholder-guidelines-a-breath-of-fresh-air-into-digital-governance-debates/ , developed through the NetMundial+10 https://netmundial.br/ process, were frequently referenced as a practical framework for implementing multistakeholder governance principles. Their recognition in the WSIS+20 outcome document was widely regarded as a significant achievement. What’s next for the IGF? The recently secured permanent mandate for the IGF was another major topic. Despite ongoing discussions about the Forum’s future, there was little appetite for major reform. Instead, participants favoured strengthening existing mechanisms and focusing on a successful global IGF in Nairobi later this year. Many speakers highlighted national, regional, subregional, and youth IGFs as one of the model’s strongest achievements. At the same time, stronger links are still needed between National and Regional Initiatives NRIs and the global IGF to ensure local experiences more effectively inform global policy discussions. This year’s WSIS Forum placed significant emphasis on the IGF, underscoring the growing connection between the two forums. From regional success to global recognition One highlight of the week was the recognition of APNIC Foundation’s Building Capabilities in the Asia Pacific BCAP project https://apnic.foundation/our-impact/building-capabilities-in-the-asia-pacific/ , which won the 2026 WSIS Prize in the Capacity Building category. The award demonstrates the value of practical, community-led initiatives that deliver tangible outcomes and support digital development across the region. Looking ahead WSIS Forum 2026 signalled the start of a new implementation phase. The challenge is no longer defining commitments but demonstrating results. As implementation roadmaps are developed over the next year, attention will increasingly shift towards evidence-based reporting, measurable outcomes, and accountability. The success of the next phase of WSIS will depend on whether stakeholders can turn broad commitments into actions that deliver meaningful impact at local, regional, and global levels. If the first 20 years of WSIS were about building consensus, the next decade may be defined by the community’s ability to deliver on it. The views expressed by the authors of this blog are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of APNIC. Please note a Code of Conduct /?p=395 applies to this blog.