NCUC Trip Assessment 2

1) Engagement/Outreach:  At ICANN65 , I participated at the ICANN Africa GSE public presentation of the AfrICANN Strategic document presentation and I used the opportunity to canvass for NCUC position on ICANN  strategy in Africa, as well as NCUC engagement in the region and I also invited members of the African region to join NCUC.

During the At-Large AFRALO session on the Effective Evolving ICANN Multistakeholder model of governance, the need for a process that ensures regulatory frameworks, capacity building, financing and easy payment system were identified to boost the Africa DNS market. Also increased investment by ICANN in multiple regions of the continent beyond Kenya and Egypt.

2. I reached out to a number of new ICANN attendees especially among the ICANN fellows and the Next gen program, who eagerly signed up to become NCUC members. I also received a couple of complaints by prospective members who signed up to members however were yet to receive the membership acknowledgement from NCUC.

It was a delight showing Peter Akinremi around a typical ICANN policy meeting, and  providing necessary guidance for a productive guidance.

I also received guidance from Louise Marie Dias, Antonelli Perini and Bruna Santos on sessions and activities for a successful experience at ICANN65.

3. ICANN 65 provided me an opportunity to interact with NCUC veterans like Milton Mueller, Amr Elsadr and Rafik Dammak. At this meeting also interacted with Farell Folly and Stephanie Perrin among others.

The journey to ICANN 65 started a week before the event proper, in my case, I have just contributed to the NCUC Africa strategic document and made input to the NCSG comment on the evolving effective ICANN Multistakeholder model and finally the announcement of the NCUC election of 2019/2020 year. This is was the height of my engagement in NCUC or ICANN.

Contrary to my delight I arrived at Marrakesh, a day into the ICANN65 Policy Forum, I had no trouble selecting sessions to attend, with help from NCUC EC and my previous constituency activities, I narrowed down my choices to the following sessions described hereafter

The GNSO - Cross Community Working Group on the Evolving the Effectiveness of ICANN Multistakeholder Model of governance session.

The session reviewed some of the many issues raised from the previous three ICANN meetings and a couple of calls of the WG.

The Chair of the WG was clear to identify that the community has reiterated the concern about excessive workload. And hence asking the community to make suggestions on the way to develop a more effective way to handle policy development processes without encumbering the community.

Also this session, discussed the process of prioritizing the issues raised by the community on the issues list. It was a rich discussion that needs the need the full attention of the NCUC to ensure the interest of the non-commercial stakeholders is adequately protected in the process.

Subsequently, I joined the AFRALO-ICANN discussion on the same topic, the engagement in the forum, took a different dimension as the Africa continent wanted the Multistakeholder the model that provided re-enforcement to proper regulatory frameworks, capacity building, improved financing and reliable payment system on the continent in order to see an evolving effective ICANN multistakeholder governance model.

A communique was released to communicate these views, the document highlighted the need for a more inclusive engagement of all, limit of terms by individuals, a metrics to measure ICANN investments and engagement.

Also I participated in the GNSO new gTLD Subsequent Procedures (SubPro) PDP WG (WT5)

The WG Focused on Work Track 5 (WT5) of the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures PDP WG, the purpose of this session is to facilitate dialogue on the topic of geographic names at the top-level.

WT5 is a sub team of the working group and they are to review the 2007 guidebook of new gTLD application process the 2012 round policy and  if there is need for any amendment.

There have been call to the community and recommendations have been made. The WG group is to review the recommendation as it pertains to the ICANN handles geographic names in relations to country and territory names in the Applicant Guide Book.  This working group has advanced in its discussion and it will require extensive reading to catchup.

This WG is open to all and it will conclude its deliberations in the nearest future, and their task is to see the recommendations given on how to hand geographic and territory names in the new guide book that will decide future applications of top level domains. Items like Country name, city names, rivers, mountains, etc.

Following the activities of this group is important as it protects the interest of noncommercial stakeholders who may not have equal resources as business who want to register names that may infringe their rights.

The other sessions I attended included Atlarge Capacity Building on Policy Writing session and the CCWG on Universal Acceptance.

Both sessions were resourceful and I believe it will enhance my participation in my constituency.

First to engage more in policy writing processes.

I will create more awareness about the UA as means to enhance the stability of the Internet by allowing the new gTLD based emails are accepted by more software applications, Internet browsers, etc. 

I encourage more NCUC members to join the Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) Discussion list and other initiatives to drive it improved adoption.