Fwd: [council] A New Approach to Africa

[Alain Berranger]

Dear All,

This is a very welcome initiative in principle and the fact that the new
CEO has African roots is a plus for ICANN.

However, many interested people present in Prague - I am one - have been
excluded of this early thinking and, as a result their inputs, knowledge
and network were also missed. So we need to increase participation by all
already in ICANN who wish to see much more African participation in ICANN
and can help in the process. I for one have spent 5 years of my life in
Africa - as a consultant, an engineer, a fundraiser and a grantmaker at
various time -  and had the chance to carry-out short-term assignments in
31 countries in the process on that continent (and yet I feel I know very
little about Africa!). I would like to help as much as I can.

Also, we need to think of increased participation beyond the usual ICANN
arms' length folks, who are necessary of course and even critical but very
far from being sufficient. Much increased and broader African participation
will be a key asset for ICANN to continue its drive and succeed in
 becoming a global organization. Without a fully engaged Africa, it will be
difficult for ICANN to becoming truly international, diverse and global.

A dimension that also comes to mind are the new relations between China and
Africa, for better and for worse. That must be understood and leveraged for
ICANN to succeed in both Asia and Africa.

Alain

On Sat, Aug 11, 2012 at 5:06 AM, Rafik Dammak <rafik.dammak at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi Bill,
>
> there was discussion (quite heated) in Africann list about the initiative
> to setup WG which will provide a strategy plan for toronto meeting since
> many people  were unaware about the meeting in prague with the ICANN CEO
> and the board chair and also about the composition of the WG (a kind of
> self-appointment.. understood because ad hoc approach and short-time) , I
> think that Baudoin also expressed some concerns and he can probably give
> his point of view.
>
> one of issue with that WG, acknowledging that is ad hoc is not ensuring
> yet regional balance (I heard that they will ask for representative from
> sub-region in africa) and more concerning representation from users, civil
> society and academics. I guess for NCSG we can intervene and comment when
> the strategy proposal will be send and then we must request a real
> cross-community work to be done within ICANN and calling for open
> consultation hopefully to have more african participation, I also
> understood that some people want to take the opportunity given by the CEO
> but they should follow more inclusive process.
> for the appointment of Dr Kamel, I don't want to comment,
>
> Best,
>
> Rafik Dammak
> @rafik
> "fight for the users"
>
>
>
> 2012/8/11 William Drake <william.drake at uzh.ch>
>
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> *From: *Glen de Saint Géry <Glen at icann.org>
>> *Date: *August 11, 2012 12:03:01 AM GMT+02:00
>> *To: *"council at gnso.icann.org" <council at gnso.icann.org>
>> *Subject: **[council] A New Approach to Africa*
>>
>> http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-10aug12-en.htm***
>> *
>> A New Approach to Africa****
>> 10 August 2012****
>>
>> With the support of AFRINIC, Africa's Regional Registry for Internet
>> Number Resources, ICANN and leading members of its community are today
>> announcing an initiative aimed at increasing African participation and
>> influence within ICANN.****
>>
>> This initiative is the result of a June meeting involving Steve Crocker,
>> Chairman of ICANN's Board of Directors, ICANN's CEO-Designate Fadi Chehadé
>> and its Interim CEO Akram Atallah with African community members at ICANN's
>> 44th Public Meeting, in Prague, Czech Republic.****
>>
>> The goal is to develop a framework for ICANN's Africa strategy and to
>> announce an initial plan at the October 2012 Public Meeting in Toronto,
>> Canada. The strategy will aim both to support a stronger presence for ICANN
>> in Africa and to increase African participation in ICANN. It will also
>> foster the promotion of the multi-stakeholder model in Africa at the
>> government, civil society and private sector levels.****
>>
>> This effort is a step toward stronger global engagement for ICANN, with a
>> special focus on developing countries.****
>>
>> To contribute to the development of the new strategy, a working group was
>> created and endorsed by the African community members meeting in Prague,
>> including key players in Internet governance from different regions in
>> Africa. The working group has selected Nii Quaynor of Ghana, a
>> well-respected Internet leader in Africa, to lead its efforts.****
>>
>> ICANN has appointed Tarek Kamel of Egypt to serve as a Senior Advisor to
>> its President and CEO on global issues, and to work with the group to
>> develop the initial strategic plan that will be announced in Toronto. The
>> working group unanimously endorsed this choice. Tarek is well known for his
>> long record of achievements in promoting the Internet and its
>> multi-stakeholder model in developing countries.****
>>
>> For further information or to submit ideas, please contact
>> ICANN-ASWG at Afrinic.net.****
>>
>> Journalists should contact Brad White, ICANN's Director of Global Media
>> Affairs, at brad.white at icann.org.****
>> ** **
>> ** **
>> Glen de Saint Géry****
>> GNSO Secretariat****
>> gnso.secretariat at gnso.icann.org****
>> http://gnso.icann.org****
>> ** **
>>
>>
>>
>


-- 
Alain Berranger, B.Eng, MBA
Member, Board of Directors, CECI,
http://www.ceci.ca<http://www.ceci.ca/en/about-ceci/team/board-of-directors/>
Executive-in-residence, Schulich School of Business, www.schulich.yorku.ca
Treasurer, Global Knowledge Partnership Foundation, www.gkpfoundation.org
NA representative, Chasquinet Foundation, www.chasquinet.org
Chair, NPOC, NCSG, ICANN, http://npoc.org/
O:+1 514 484 7824; M:+1 514 704 7824
Skype: alain.berranger
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