MRU IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG)

MRU IGF MAG

About the MRU IGF MAG

The Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) of the Mano River Union Internet Governance Forum (MRU IGF) plays a critical role in shaping the annual forum’s agenda, guiding its processes, and ensuring inclusive stakeholder representation. The MAG is composed of experts and leaders from government, civil society, the private sector, the technical community, academia, and youth groups from the four MRU member countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Inspired by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF) and consistent with best practices across African regional IGFs such as WAIGF, the MRU IGF MAG serves as a deliberative and planning body to uphold multistakeholderism, transparency, and bottom-up participation.

MAG Mandate and Functions

  • Guide Agenda Development: The MAG reviews submitted issues and proposals, and sets the thematic tracks of the annual MRU IGF.
  • Ensure Inclusivity: Guarantee gender balance, youth engagement, and equitable participation from all MRU countries and sectors.
  • Promote Collaboration: Support regional synergies with WAIGF, national IGFs, and global IGF processes.
  • Facilitate Engagement: Provide oversight for session organization, speaker curation, and outreach to underrepresented communities.
  • Encourage Capacity Building: Recommend learning opportunities through MRU Schools of Internet Governance (SIG) and youth programs.
  • Coordinate with UN IGF and MRU IGF member states IGF : Ensure the MRU IGF aligns with global Internet Governance dialogue priorities.

Term and Composition

  • Term Duration: MAG members are appointed for a two-year term, renewable once.
  • Rotation: Membership rotation ensures new perspectives while maintaining institutional memory.
  • Nomination Process: Members are nominated through an open call and selected based on expertise, experience, commitment, and regional balance.

Why the MRU IGF MAG Matters

The MAG ensures that the MRU IGF process is inclusive, transparent, and reflective of regional priorities such as:

  • Affordable and secure Internet access
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Youth and women’s digital empowerment
  • Digital economy growth
  • Infrastructure gaps
  • Human rights online
  • Cross-border digital cooperation

The MAG helps elevate community voices from across the MRU region and contributes to shaping regional policy dialogues that connect to continental and global IGF processes.

Current MAG Members (2024–2026 Term)

Name Country Stakeholder Group Role/Expertise Area
D. Nolan Kaine Liberia Government Project – Data Governance, Cybersecurity & Digital Policy Advocacy
Mariama Diallo Guinea Private Sector Tech Innovation & Digital Entrepreneurship
Dr. Victor Monino Sierra Leone Academia Internet Infrastructure & Community Access
Fatou Diarra Côte d’Ivoire Government Cybersecurity & Data Governance
Dr. Agnes Reeve-Taylor Liberia Academia Digital Rights & Internet Freedom
Augie Barry Guinea End-User Community Gender & Digital Inclusion
Mohamed Jalloh Sierra Leone Private Sector Fintech & Digital Economy
Blessing Kutubu Sierra Leone Youth – Sierra Leone Youth in IGF
Dennis Kromah Liberia Youth – Liberia Youth in IGF
  Guinea Youth – Guinea Youth in IGF
Fanny Salou Côte d’Ivoire Technical Community Telecom & Internet Governance

Note: The MAG also includes non-voting observers from regional bodies and technical partners to ensure knowledge sharing and institutional coordination.

Secretariat

Name Country Role Stakeholder Group
Peterking Quaye Liberia Regional Coordinator & Head of Secretariat Academia & Civil Society / Liberia IGF
Ajara Marie-Bomah Sierra Leone Member Civil Society / Sierra Leone IGF
Edward Williams Sierra Leone Member Academia / Sierra Leone IGF
Fanny Salou Ivory Coast Member Ivory Coast IGF / Technical Community
Sankomah Kromah Guinea Member Guinea IGF / Technical Community
Dennis Kromah Liberia Member Youth
Etta Antoinette Morlu Liberia Member Youth

For questions or nominations, please contact the MRU IGF Secretariat:
secretariat@mruigf.org | www.mruigf.org/mag

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Importance within MRU Region

The MRU School on Internet Governance is of paramount importance within the MRU region because.

Capacity Development

It addresses the critical need for skilled individuals who can shape and implement effective internet governance policies within the MRU countries.

Knowledge Dissemination

By offering educational programs, it disseminates crucial internet governance knowledge and best practices.

Empowerment

It empowers participants to take an active role in shaping the digital policies and strategies of their nations.

Youth Inclusion

The school actively engages and trains young leaders, ensuring that the next generation is equipped to lead in the digital era.

Together, the MRU IGF and the MRU School on Internet Governance form a dynamic partnership that advances digital inclusion, fosters collaboration, and empowers MRU countries to shape their digital destinies. They stand as a testament to the MRU region’s commitment to embracing the digital age and ensuring that the benefits of the internet are accessible to all.

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