Description

The At-Large Operations, Finance and Budget Working Group (OFBWG) is an At-Large Working Group within the Operations section of the At-Large Organisation,  tasked with preparing statements and requests related to ICANN finance and budget, strategy, and operational initiatives. The Chair of the OFBWG has been delegated by the ALAC Chair who is in charge of At-Large Operations. 

The Operations Finance and Budget Working Group (OFBWG) arose out of a noticeable increase in the weekly workload of the Consolidated Policy Working Group (CPWG).  The CPWG recommended that any  ICANN Operating Initiative (non-policy) public comments should be considered by another group.  The Finance and Budget Subcommittee within the Operations section of the At-Large Organisation was the logical place, as ICANN's Operating Initiatives are coordinated by ICANN's Finance  section . 

However, the role of the Finance and Budget Subcommittee (FBSC) is quite specific.  It coordinates the annual additional budget requests from the ALAC and RALOs to go into the yearly ICANN budget. Because of this specific task on behalf of the ALAC, the membership of the FBSC consists of one ALAC member and one community member from each of the five RALOs to vote on any financial matters relating mainly to Additional Budget Requests (ABRs).  While most decisions by the FBSC are by consensus, should a vote be required, this vote is coordinated by the ALAC Chair. The FBSC committee and its purpose will continue.

The Operations, Finance and Budget Working Group (OFBWG) is a separate and open membership group that will consist of Participants from the geographically diverse At-Large community,  who will contribute to the decision-making of the FBSC, public comments and other matters related to ICANN's Operating Budget and any Operating Initiatives that impact on the At-Large community.  The focus document of the OFBWG is ICANN's Strategic Plan 2021-2025, ICANN Org's F22-FY26 Operating and Financial Plan (and the current FY22 Operating Plan and Budget which is included in it.

The objectives of the group are:

Prioritisation: To study the operating initiatives of the five priority areas identified by the OFBWG at the beginning of FY22 which were:

1. 1. Strengthen MSM - facilitate diverse and inclusive participation
   2. Strengthen ICANN Community’s Decision making processes
   3. Universal Acceptance (tied with 2)
   4. Planning at ICANN
   5. Monitor legislation, etc that may impact on ICANN’s mission

At Working group level: To identify within each of the operating initiatives

1. 1.  a lead group for each initiative  to investigate what ICANN Org is focusing on within that initiative and within the FY22 timeframe
   2. what areas within the operating initiative specifically impact At-Large 
   3. provide a statement that may comment on these impacts for consideration by the specific section of ICANN Org (bring staff in to discuss these issues)
   4. and develop a plan of action for At-Large that will support that initiative across the At-Large community, for example,  
      1. how we as a community can support the Org's MSM, community decision-making, UA, planning or legislative initiatives  
      2. how can we help to strengthen each of these initiatives within our regional communities
      3. what ABR support might we need to request to help us implement these initiatives at the grassroots level

At Task level: Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• • Contributing to the coordination of annual Additional Budget Requests from the ALAC and RALOs, to go into the yearly ICANN budget
  • Drafting any statement related to the ICANN strategic plan and processes
  • Drafting any statement regarding ICANN's operational initiatives
  • Drafting any statement related to the ICANN budget process

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Contact

Staff Support Lead: Silvia Vivanco and Heidi Ullrich

Main mailing list: ofb-wg@icann.org

For Member votes:  finance-sc@atlarge-lists.icann.org 

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At-Large Operations, Finance and Budget Working Group Action Items

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Prioritization Activities:

OFB-WG Recommendation Prioritization Sub-Group 

ICANN73 At-Large Policy Session 2: Prioritisation Framework : ALAC Prioritisation Assessment Tool Review

Upcoming OFB WG Activities 2023

FY25 (Timeline and Activities during 2024-2025):

At-Large Operations, Finance and Budget Working Group Past Fiscal Year Activities

Members

The participants of the Operations, Finance and Budget Working (OFBWG), organized by regional affiliation, are noted below. 

*Please note that the RALO appointed Members have voting rights only for the annual ICANN Additional Budget Request (ABR) process. All other OFBWG Activities will aim to work by consensus of both Member and Participants. 

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Meetings

Next Call: 05 October 2023

Last Call: 07 September 2023

Previous Calls

Policy Advice and Comments Workspaces

• At-Large Policy Advice Development Page

OFB-WG Recommendation Prioritization Sub-Group 

• OFB-WG Recommendation Prioritization Sub-Group Workspace

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References

ALAC Subcommittee on Finance and Budget 

The ALAC Subcommittee on Finance and Budget (FSBC) coordinates the annual additional budget requests from the ALAC and RALOs to go into the yearly ICANN budget.

Because of this specific task on behalf of the ALAC, the membership of the FBSC consists of one ALAC member and one community member from each of the five RALOs to vote on any financial matters relating mainly to Additional Budget Requests (ABRs). 

While most decisions by the FBSC are by consensus, should a vote be required, this vote is coordinated by the ALAC Chair. The FBSC committee and its purpose will continue. The FSBC is a diverse group geographically, which requires at least one member from the ALAC representing an Regional At-Large Organisation (RALO), and at least two At-Large members from each RALO. However, all FBSC calls are open to observers. 

The FBSC is supported in its work by the Operations, Finance and Budget Working Group (OFBWG), an open membership group from within the At-Large Community who register as participants in the discussions about Operational Finance and Budget matters related to At-Large and the drafting of public comments relating to ICANN's Operating Initiatives.