Our History
The MRUSIG is a regional capacity development initiative established by the Mano River Union Internet Governance Forum (MRU IGF) Secretariat in 2024 to strengthen knowledge, leadership, and meaningful multistakeholder participation in Internet Governance and digital policy across the Mano River Union region. The School was created in response to the growing need for structured, high-quality capacity development that prepares current and future leaders to engage effectively in national, regional, continental, and global Internet Governance processes.
MRU SIG serves the four Mano River Union Member StatesLiberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoirewhile fostering collaboration with the wider African and global Internet Governance communities. The programme promotes dialogue among governments, academia, civil society, the private sector, the technical community, media, and youth, recognizing that effective Internet Governance depends on inclusive and collaborative decision-making.
Our Purpose
MRU SIG provides a unique learning platform where participants gain practical knowledge of Internet Governance, emerging technologies, and digital public policy while engaging with experts, policymakers, academics, the technical community, civil society, and the private sector.
The School is inspired by the global network of Schools on Internet Governance (SIGs) and is designed to reflect the realities and priorities of the Mano River Union region. Through interactive learning, policy dialogue, and regional collaboration, MRU SIG prepares participants to contribute to national, regional, continental, and global digital governance processes.
MRU SIG is guided by the principles of openness, inclusion, diversity, transparency, collaboration, and capacity development, consistent with the multistakeholder model of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF) and the global Schools on Internet Governance community. By investing in people and strengthening regional cooperation, the School aims to develop a sustainable network of digital leaders who will help shape an open, secure, resilient, and inclusive Internet that supports sustainable development throughout the Mano River Union region and Africa.