Abidjan: The Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has announced the registration for the 2026 Edition of Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF26), a bilingual global gathering set to convene hundreds of delegates in Abidjan, C´te d'Ivoire. PIN is a leading Pan-African social enterprise and non-profit organisation that advocates for digital rights and promotes digital inclusion, aiming to improve livelihoods for underserved youth.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement issued by Giyo Ndzi, PIN's Communication Officer, detailed that the four-day event will take place between April 14 and April 16, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Abidjan Airport Hotel. The Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) is a platform where digital policy conversations in Africa are shaped, policy directions debated, and partnerships forged for action.
This year's DRIF, the first in a Francophone country, will be themed 'Building Inclusive and Resilient Digital Futures.' This theme responds to ongoing digital expansion, uneven internet access, rising surveillance, shrinking civic space, and funding challenges across the Global South. It builds on the 2025 theme, 'Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology,' which emphasized inclusive and collaborative approaches to advancing digital rights and inclusion.
The 2026 forum will be hosted by Paradigm Initiative in collaboration with its partner, Coalition Ivoirienne des D©fenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH). Sponsors include Ford Foundation, International Development Research Centre, Human Rights Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Mott Foundation, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Wikimedia, and individual supporters.
Originally known as the Internet Freedom Forum (IFF) since 2013, the event has brought together almost 3,000 delegates from over 70 countries. It was renamed in 2019 to encompass digital inclusion aspects. Previous editions were held in Lusaka, Zambia (2025), Accra, Ghana (2024), and Nairobi, Kenya (2023).
DRIF covers thematic areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Trust and Accountability, Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity, Digital Inclusion and Marginalised Groups, Digital Security, Human Rights and Freedoms. PIN has received 449 session proposals for this year, up from 346 in 2025. Sessions will include workshops, tech demos, product launches, and panel discussions, with feedback expected by February 28, 2026.
Delegates will include representatives from civil society, non-governmental organizations, academia, media, funding partners, the United Nations, the technical community, government, and the private sector. The forum provides a platform for tackling global issues on digital rights and inclusion, fostering dialogue among a wide range of stakeholders.