Global Partners Digital is a small team based in Shoreditch in London working with civil society groups, governments, international institutions and businesses to protect and promote human rights values online. Much of their work is carried out with partner organisations in the global South. They also work through their associates – consultants and individuals with whom they have long-term relationships.

Global Partners Digital started off in 2005 as Global Partners and Associates (GPA) which was set up to work in the areas of democracy, governance and human rights. As a team within GPA, they initially worked on human rights and traditional media issues.

Since then, their work in this field has developed substantially. With the unprecedented growth of the internet and mobile phone technologies – and the challenges and opportunities that these bring – they have become increasingly focused on human rights and digital communications. Recognising their stronger focus and growing reputation, they rebranded and became Global Partners Digital in 2013.

Focus
Global Partners Digital want to increase the number of civil society groups engaging with internet policy and governance, and especially from the global South and the broader human rights movement. As the internet becomes more and more politicised, with governments and businesses dominating the space, it is important to broaden the dedicated but small civil society movement that currently exists and to build a broad and effective movement to protect the public interest. This means ensuring that these groups are well resourced, well connected, and have the necessary technical, political and advocacy know-how. It also means engaging the traditional human rights movement with their strong advocacy knowledge and networks.

They also want to build the knowledge of governments, public authorities, international institutions and businesses so that they fully understand the benefits of internet governance and policies that protect and promote human rights and in doing so promote development and economic growth. This is new territory, and there is a plethora of competing priorities and interests that make this a significant challenge. Its aim is to influence policy by introducing creative thinking and ideas to progressive forces within governments, public authorities, institutions and businesses.