We are pleased to share the Asia Pacific (APAC) Regional Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2021-2025. We welcome continuous feedback from the APAC community via email, at APAC Space sessions, and at local ICANN readouts. The APAC Regional Plan will be updated annually based on your valuable inputs. This page will share the latest version. 

Please visit the following page for our annual achievements and highlights based on the APAC Regional Plan.


Proposed Focused Strategic Goal (per ICANN Strategic Plan)

Proposed Focused Engagement Areas/Activity

Envisioned Outcomes 

Examples of Outcomes 

Strategic Objective 1: Strengthen the security of the DNS and the DNS Root Server System

1.1

Improve the shared responsibility for upholding the security and stability of the DNS by strengthening DNS coordination in partnership with relevant stakeholders

Partner the APAC community to participate in and raise awareness of technical projects such as:  

Greater APAC representation in listed projects

  • List of APAC community members that participated in technical projects
    • E.g. DAAR - TWNIC joined in Dec 2019. They are the first ccTLD to partner in DAAR 
  • Opportunities to inform relevant stakeholders at key regional fora as well as established channels

Explore other technical partnerships with the APAC community

Partnerships contribute to the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems within its scope

  • List of established technical partnerships 
    • E.g. Partnered India’s NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies) to establish a project on technical research (Jun 2019)

1.2

Strengthen DNS root server operations governance in coordination with the DNS root server operators

Communicate through established channels and participate in key platforms such as regional/local fora to raise awareness on the evolving root server system and how the DNS works

Regional community informed of the evolving root server system and how the DNS works

Opportunities to inform relevant stakeholders at key regional fora as well as established channels

Grow a network with relevant stakeholders in the region, such as partnering members of the Root Server System Governance Working Group, to contribute to the governance and technical evolution of DNS root server operations and services

Network of relevant stakeholders is informed, and where possible, participate in discussions of the RSS Governance Working Group

  • Number of interested stakeholders who are part of the network 
  • Opportunities to actively inform network on discussions

1.3

Identify and mitigate security threats to the DNS through greater engagement with relevant hardware, software, and service vendors

Communicate through established channels and participate in key platforms to enhance knowledge about DNS operations and security, raising awareness of security threats and to promote higher adoption of global open Internet standards

Relevant stakeholders are informed, and thus gain awareness and knowledge about DNS safety and security, as well as global open Internet standards 

Opportunities to inform relevant stakeholders on aforementioned topics at key regional fora as well as established channels

Through capacity development, encourage and promote the deployment of DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC)

  • Increased DNSSEC signing in the region as a result of capacity development efforts
  • Increased collaboration with network operators, particularly ISPs to enable DNSSEC validation
  • Number of capacity development activities 
  • Number of operators signing DNSSEC 
  • Number of operators deployed DNSSEC validation  

Install ICANN Managed Root Server (IMRS) instances 

Increased number of IMRS instances in the APAC region, resulting in greater resiliency of the DNS root server system within the region

Engage with and support APAC IMRS instance hosts on reported incidentsAddress security incidents related to IMRS, and irregular/ unplanned downtimeAddress IMRS incidents flagged on ICANN org's monthly incidents reports

Strategic Objective 2: Improve the effectiveness of ICANN’s multistakeholder model of governance

2.2

Support and grow active, informed, and effective stakeholder participation




Grow stakeholder participation at the APAC DNS Forum, and support the APAC community at events such as ICANN readouts, APAC Space, and China Space

  • Regional community participates actively and regularly at the APAC DNS Forum
  • Established a network of stakeholders regularly participating in ICANN readouts, APAC Space, and China Space
  • Opportunities to engage with relevant stakeholders at the APAC DNS Forum
  • Regular ICANN readouts, APAC Space, and China Space held (list where and when)
  • Number of interested stakeholders who are part of the network 

Develop a regional mentorship program

  • Established mechanism that enhances the knowledge and skill levels of ICANN regulars
  • Greater APAC representation in ICANN leadership roles
  • Number of mentees going on to participate in ICANN including taking up leadership positions 

Support regional and local Internet Governance (IG) fora

  • Regional community is informed about how the Internet works, as well as ICANN and its role in the ecosystem amongst the wider APAC community
  • Newcomers participate in APAC regional network 
  • Opportunities to communicate to relevant stakeholders at regional  and local IG fora 
  • Number of newcomers joining the regional network

Develop youth leaders through the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA)

ICANN newcomers demonstrate basic knowledge of the DNS as well as ICANN policy and advisory processes, and increase skill levels by continuing to participate in ICANN and other Internet Governance fora

  • Number of newcomers that continue to participate actively in the Internet Governance space, including the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF), ICANN, APNIC, the IETF, and APrIGF
    • E.g. 1 in 4 APIGA alumni continue to participate actively
2.3Sustain and improve openness, inclusivity, accountability, and transparencyReport on APAC community’s participation focusing on leadership positions and participation in PDPs (including Public Comments)Meaningful stakeholder participation increases, either through being actively informed or by other demonstrable means such as participation in PDP working groups, taking on leadership positions, or submitting public comments
  • Number of community members that participate regularly in ICANN policymaking and/or take on leadership roles
  • Number of contributions to public comments

Strategic Objective 3: Evolve the unique identifier systems in coordination and collaboration with relevant parties to continue to serve the needs of the global Internet user base

3.1

...Encourage readiness for Universal Acceptance (UA), IDN implementation and IPv6

Support UA activities in the region, particularly the UASG and UA Local Initiatives

  • Target audience of initiatives informed and gain awareness and knowledge about UA
  • Increased UA readiness
  • Progress of local initiative in China and India
  • Development of local initiatives in region
  • Appointment of UA ambassadors from the region

Partner APAC community to support IDN policy work in these focus areas:

  • Integrate APAC scripts into the Root Zone Label Generation Rules (LGR)
  • Review of the second level reference LGRs by IDN LGR Generation Panels
  • Participation in the PDPs being initiated by ccNSO and GNSO on IDNs and their variant TLDs
  • Remaining APAC scripts are integrated into the Root Zone Label Generation Rules (LGR)
  • APAC representation in the listed projects

Progress of listed projects

Partner regional RIRs (i.e. APNIC) to promote IPv6 deployment

Increased cooperation with APNIC leading to greater awareness of IPv6 deployment

Update on cooperation mechanism with APNIC

3.2

Improve assessment of, and responsiveness to, new technologies which impact...the Internet’s unique identifier systems...

Partner the APAC community to participate in regional dialogue/fora to develop an awareness of new technologies and their potential impact on the DNS. Examples:

Increased communication across community groups of the DNS and the potential impact of new technologies

Opportunities to participate at key regional fora as well as communicate through established channels

3.4

Support the continued evolution of the Internet’s unique identifier systems with a new round of gTLDs

Promote IDNs and Universal Acceptance in preparation for a new round of gTLDs

Increased communication of new gTLDs and IDNs in the wider APAC community

Opportunities to inform the wider APAC community IDNs and UA

Strategic Objective 4: Address geopolitical issues impacting ICANN’s mission to ensure a single and globally interoperable Internet

4.1

...further developing early warning systems such as ICANN org’s Legislative and Regulatory Development Reports

Partner the APAC community to detect and monitor legislative initiatives that could impact ICANN’s mission or operations

Established (formal or informal) network of relevant stakeholders share information on legislative initiatives that could impact ICANN’s mission or operations

  • Opportunities to facilitate dialogue on legislative initiatives in the region (with potential impact to ICANN’s mission)
  • Opportunities to contribute to detecting and monitoring legislative initiatives that could impact ICANN’s mission or operations

4.2

Continue to build alliances with the region’s Internet ecosystem and beyond to raise awareness of and engage with global stakeholders about ICANN’s mission and policy making

Foster relationships with industry, regulators/policy makers, and end-users to inform about the Internet’s unique identifier systems, and ICANN’s role in the Internet ecosystem

Relevant stakeholders are informed on how the Internet works, and ICANN’s remit amongst relevant stakeholders, resulting in increased understanding and trust in ICANN and its ability to coordinate the Internet unique identifiers system

Opportunities to inform relevant stakeholders on aforementioned topics at key regional fora as well as established channels

[Past FY21-25 APAC Regional Plan Versions]

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