[NCUC-DISCUSS] NCUC Fellow to the IGF 2018

Wed Oct 31 13:19:09 CET 2018

I completely agree, James. We spend a disproportionate amount of time discussing the NCUC's travel policy relative to the amount of time we spend discussing policy matters. While I think the points raised about how we fund travel on a reimbursement-only basis are valid, I would like to propose something else: maybe we shouldn't be using our precious and limited resources to primarily fund travel. Perhaps we should be funding other activities instead. I say this because the NCUC is not resource-rich and our funding this fiscal year is substantially reduced over previous years. I'm afraid I do not see the 'business case' for us to be using our resources engaging in the IGF this year, even if it is just $2,000 at play here. Which of our policy objectives or campaigns will IGF participation advance? I think the IGF has lost its relevance and I am not convinced our participation in this forum will support in any way our DNS policy objectives. I do think that Bruna's point about 'carrots-and-stick' is valid, but there might be other ways to reward more of our members for their work at a lower overall cost to the NCUC. That's a discussion for another time, however.

Best wishes, Ayden Férdeline

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
On Monday, 29 October 2018 13:47, James Gannon <james at cyberinvasion.net> wrote:

> I think one topic that is not being covered here is that travel is not policy work. The policy work gets done in the working groups, any travel should be to support members who are already working for NCUC in working groups.
> Unless people start actually taking up more real policy work at ICANN NCUC is at serious risk of becoming a tourist agency which is a huge reputational risk.
>
> We need people to stop worrying about travel and perks and get down to helping NCUC on the policy issues that ICANN deals with. We need to have the same amount of engagement on the policy topics posted to this list as we do to the travel support topics that are posted to the list.
>
>> On 29 Oct 2018, at 08:26, Tomslin Samme-Nlar <mesumbeslin at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Gita,
>> I am not sure I understand your message regarding regional mentors. Could you please explain further?
>>
>> I agree there is inherent disadvantage for many members who have no means of covering such upfront costs to participate in community activities. Not considering this fact in travel support policy will only grow the participation disparity and regional imbalance in the community. But if the current policy was put to avoid cases where people have taken the money and not show up (I might be wrong), then we also need suggestions and proposals of ways the policy can tackle issues of mistrust and still be be fair to members who can't afford to cover the upfront costs.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Tomslin
>>
>> On Mon., 29 Oct. 2018, 17:43 Gita Bamezai, <gitabamezai at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks Mfikwe. You have certainly put an issue upfront which has been of concern for many from the global South.
>>> Lack of opportunities in participation is one of the many things which prevent effective forward movement in our region.
>>>
>>> We need mentors for the regions who could address some of the pivotal issues and their implications for the region rather than situating them in the global perspective.  Considering that some of us have been in this group for long but have remained on the margins, the discussions and policy imperatives should be contextualised and made meaningful. I appreciate the  efforts to provide links and policy papers for pulling in people with more substantive construct of the discussion. But some of us require building bridges at the local level, with our own efforts as much as with some support at the regional level as well.
>>> Best
>>>
>>> On Mon, Oct 29, 2018, 9:44 AM Thato Mfikwe <thatomfikwe at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks Bruna,
>>>>
>>>> But I think this travel support policy position needs to be adjusted because not all community members, especially from the global south, are unable to cover any form of personal expense, not only for the IGF but also for ICANN meetings. This will eventually further minimise opportunities for participation for disadvantaged individuals. Just a comment for the future. Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> Thato Mfikwe.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from [Mail](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986) for Windows 10
>>>>
>>>> From: [AMADU YUSIF](mailto:yamadu at ug.edu.gh)
>>>> Sent: Monday, 29 October 2018 00:40
>>>> To: [Bruna Martins dos Santos](mailto:bruna.mrtns at gmail.com); [NCUC Discuss](mailto:ncuc-discuss at lists.ncuc.org)
>>>> Subject: Re: [NCUC-DISCUSS] NCUC Fellow to the IGF 2018
>>>>
>>>> Thanks Bruna for the information but it is too late for some if us to apply looking at the circumstances surrounding visa aquision in Africa. I suggest this announcement cone in early.
>>>>
>>>> Thank you once again
>>>>
>>>> Yusif
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
>>>>
>>>> -------- Original message --------
>>>>
>>>> From: Bruna Martins dos Santos <bruna.mrtns at gmail.com>
>>>>
>>>> Date: 27/10/2018 23:57 (GMT+00:00)
>>>>
>>>> To: NCUC Discuss <ncuc-discuss at lists.ncuc.org>
>>>>
>>>> Subject: [NCUC-DISCUSS] NCUC Fellow to the IGF 2018
>>>>
>>>> Dear all,
>>>>
>>>> The executive committee decided to allocate one travel slot for the IGF 2018 for a member to carry out outreach.
>>>>
>>>> NCUC Fellowship to the IGF (up to 2000 USD):
>>>>
>>>> To Apply:
>>>>
>>>> -
>>>>
>>>> -
>>>>
>>>> - Send your statement of interest, laying out your outreach plans for NCUC during the 13th IGF, your activities in various working groups, the workshops
>>>>
>>>> - you will take part in, a paragraph in your own words about what the NCUC does, and how much funding you are seeking to Maryam Bakoshi <maryam.bakoshi at icann.org>
>>>>
>>>> - and chair at ncuc.org
>>>>
>>>> -
>>>>
>>>> -
>>>>
>>>> Scope:
>>>>
>>>> - We particularly encourage applications from confirmed workshop panelists, in order to encourage professional development. If you are a confirmed panelist, please include a link to your workshop in the proposal.
>>>> - Priority will be given to candidates FROM THE IGF2018 REGION to maximise the NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES.
>>>> - Priority will be given to candidates seeking PARTIAL FUNDING (Airfare only, hotel only, bus, train etc.) if that allocation might allow us to support multiple candidates. If you are seeking partial funding, please let us know where the remainder of your funding is coming from, and why you need a top-up.
>>>> - The applicant should be an active NCUC member (mailing list, working groups, drafting materials etc.)
>>>> - The applicant should work with the leadership team in supporting preparations for the  IGF, in particular for NCUC outreach activities (tweets, booth..), as well as activities onsite.
>>>> - The applicant should have enough knowledge about what the NCUC does and how ICANN works represent the constituency at our booth at IGF and answer any questions that might come up.
>>>> - In receiving funding for a meeting, travellers agree to write daily reports during the meeting to update the membership on the proceedings. At her discretion, the NCUC Chair may choose to publish these reports as a blog post, or may request that the representative convert their report into a blog post. If a representative receives support, and does not meet their commitments as outlined above, they will be ineligible to receive further NCUC resources (see Travel Policy).
>>>>
>>>> Please apply by 13h UTC, 1st November 2018, and results will be announced on the list on 3rd of November.
>>>>
>>>> We do understand that the timeline is short we found it important to offer our members the opportunity to join and participate at the IGF as a constituency representative.
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Bruna Martins dos Santos
>>>>
>>>> Skype ID: bruna.martinsantos
>>>>
>>>> @boomartins
>>>>
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>>>
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