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How Can African Stakeholders Increase Their Meaningful Participation In Icann Policy-Making Processes?Submitted by Editor on 7 November, 2005 - 10:57.
[Eighth of eight commentaries in a sub-series on ICANN and Internet governance] The last few years have seen a growing consensus that international institutions need to be more transparent and inclusive, and they must engage with stakeholders as part of their policy-making processes. Since its inception, ICANN has been the subject of much criticism (some of it deserved), including its failure to include African stakeholders in its work in a real way. Several organizations -- ICANN among them -- have responded by opening their doors to civil society groups and disseminating their work more openly to reach a wider audience. And ICANN has recently made a concerted effort to elevate African participation in its work, in particular at its annual meeting in Cape Town last year. Because of new technologies there is an unprecedented opportunity for widespread stakeholder participation: websites, online discussion lists and other ICT tools are ushering in this new era, and raising the bar for the kind of stakeholder engagement that is possible. But two conditions are necessary: (1) stakeholders must be informed and interested, and (2) they must be able to use the technology to participate. These pre-conditions do not currently exist in most African countries. In addition, many funders have stepped up with financial resources to support stakeholder groups to send representatives to international meetings. But getting stakeholders to show up at a meeting is not enough. In order for African stakeholders to influence policies concerning the management of the Domain Name System (DNS) and its related functions, their representatives need to be better prepared on the issues, with depth of knowledge about how the Internet works, how the DNS is structured, who the main players are, and where the political tensions lie. And African representatives must participate consistently, so they can build their expertise along with their network of contacts. Some commentators argue that the lack of capacity and resources to participate in technical and political policy-making processes is the most critical issue for Africa in the discussion of ICANN and Internet governance more generally. ICANN tends to be dominated by big companies and powerful governments that are represented at the meetings by leading experts in the field who know how to lobby effectively for their interests and views. Practical limitations make it difficult for African stakeholders to participate in meaningful ways in existing policy-making systems: from a lack of technical expertise, time, and the financial resources needed to participate in policy-making processes, to the fact that so much international policy-making takes place in Northern-based institutions. There is no quick fix for these issues. Improving African participation is something that needs to be accomplished across all sectors (government, business, civil society, academic institutions, and technical community), through education and awareness-raising on the one hand, and better funding mechanisms on the other. These are systemic issues that require a long-term view in solutions. Initiatives like the Catalyzing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) program have taken up this issue, including through support to efforts like CIPESA and others that are aimed at helping to give stakeholders the information they need to take advantage of the increasing opportunities to participate. [NB: This issue has been under discussion for a long time, and was perhaps best articulated by the Louder Voices report in 2002, which looked at strengthening developing country participation in international ICT decision-making. What Do You Think?
Please share your views with us via email or post them in the "comments" box under this commentary. (Email responses will be posted to the website too.) Want to know more about ICANN and Africa?See the CIPESA public briefing on ICANN, Internet governance and Africa, 7 October. Acronyms Used Here
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I think ICANN is doing this work efficiently and there is no need to involve UN for centralized work.
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The objective is to spark thinking and dialogue around the topic, rather than just to present expert opinions in an authoritative way.
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CANNY has recently made a concerted effort to elevate African participation in its work, in particular at its annual meeting in Cape Town last year
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The IIC plan does not address the growing risk that ICANN could be captured by governments and multi-governmental organizations. Private sector innovation and investment is the reason why more than a billion people have access to the Internet. It will take more private sector investment to reach the next billion people, so ICANN needs to maintain the confidence of the private sector. Alpinestars Jackets
Nice plans. Practical limitations make it difficult for African stakeholders to participate in meaningful ways in existing policy-making systems: from a lack of technical expertise, time, and the financial resources needed to participate in policy-making processes.
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This site conforms to the following standards:
- As the ex-Member of the ccNSO Council (to represent Africa Region 2004/5), I noticed that lack of capacity and resources to participate is exacerbated by lack of political will by majority African countries (at the moment) which would encourage and support participation by the Private Sector (main drivers), NGOs and Voluntary Groups (Internet Societies).
- There is an increase in the number of governments which perceive that Internet-based economy is the way forward and invest in the move. In addition, the developement of and recognition of the power of the Internet is going to be effective if; a) There will be effective lobbying to make decision makers and policy managers in individual countries buy in the idea that the Internet is no longer a purely technological development but a necessity, b) The legislators were informed of the emergence of the Internet phenomenon that is changing peoples lives and that there is a need to Regulate Internet-based activities and, c) Govt systems should be made to recognise that Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic (the 3R's) are no longer enough, there is a 4th "R" which is the inte Rnet and need to be integrated in Planning and budgeting since the Internet economy is the best opportunity to have a valid Public-Private-Partnership in Infrastructure Dev and Poverty alleviation (MDG number 8?)
- CIPESA can be instrumental if its membership engaged in the process to influence and take lead in the management of the implementation of issues raised in the 2nd bullet point above. We can plan for a series of activities that would make it possible to realise the ideas above in a diplomatic and inclusive manner.
Thank you for the opportunity to air my opinion.Regards
Dr Yassin Mshana