<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:13px"><div id="yiv1591991950"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_12618" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div style="" class="yiv1591991950" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Hi all,
</div></div><div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11474" style="" class="yiv1591991950"><br></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11472" style="" class="yiv1591991950"> </div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11340" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11339" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">ICANN's 52nd Public
Meeting is taking place in Singapore from 8 -12 February at the <strong style="" class="yiv1591991950"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-family:Cambria;font-weight:normal;">Raffles City
Convention Centre,</span></strong><strong style="" class="yiv1591991950"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-family:Cambria;"> </span></strong>Strategically
located in the heart of Singapore. This meeting comes at a critical time
especially considering the recent developments since the historic </span><a rel="nofollow" id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11471" style="" class="yiv1591991950" target="_blank" href="http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2014/ntia-announces-intent-transition-key-internet-domain-name-functions"><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11470" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">NTIA announcement</span></a><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11464" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> to transition stewardship of the IANA
functions to the multistakeholder community way back on March 4, 2014. As
usual, the ICANN Africa team will also be hosting not one, but two critical
meetings during ICANN 52 namely:</span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11463" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11462" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><b class="yiv1591991950" style=""><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="">1)<span class="yiv1591991950" style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span></b><b id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11488" class="yiv1591991950" style=""><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11487" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">Africa Strategy 2016 – 2020</span></b></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11434" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">As you may
recall, in </span><a rel="nofollow" id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11490" style="" class="yiv1591991950" target="_blank" href="https://www.icann.org/news/blog/taking-stock-of-our-africa-strategy"><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11489" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">November 2014</span></a><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11439" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">, and as a response to requests from
the African community to further review and evolve the Africa Strategy and make
it more responsive to Africa while aligning it to the new ICANN 2016 – 2020
Strategic Plan, The ICANN African team convened a special consultative session
with the community during </span><a rel="nofollow" style="" class="yiv1591991950" target="_blank" href="http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/1187"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">AFRINIC 21</span></a><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11440" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> in Mauritius. This meeting was attended by representatives
from SO / AC leaders, AFNOG, AFRINIC, AFTLD, GAC, AFRALO, AFICTA, NEPAD and
African Registrars associations who came up with a reviewed </span><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11443" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">draft
0 of the <b id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11442" class="yiv1591991950" style=""><i id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11441" class="yiv1591991950" style="">Africa Strategic Plan ver 2.0 (2016 - 2020). </i></b>This draft is
currently under public comments and the session scheduled for </span><a rel="nofollow" id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11446" style="" class="yiv1591991950" target="_blank" href="http://singapore52.icann.org/en/schedule/tue-africa-strategy"><b id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11445" class="yiv1591991950" style=""><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11444" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">Tue,
10 February 2015 - 11:15 to 12:45 SGT</span></b></a><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> will be used to </span><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11433" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">present the new
plan for final inputs before approval and adoption by the community.</span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11435" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11436" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><b class="yiv1591991950" style=""><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="">2)<span class="yiv1591991950" style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span></b><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_13123" class="yiv1591991950" style=""><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_13122" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">Enhanced Engagement With Africa</span></b></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11438" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11437" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">One of the
outstanding challenges observed by the community is the limited meaningful and
consistent participation of the African community in most Supporting
Organizations and Advisory Committees in ICANN and the wider IG ecosystem
especially by governments. Africa’s is yet to make her voice and influence
heard in the global policy making processes on issues affecting the Internet
and there is need to proactively and progressively change this scenario.</span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11461" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11460" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11459" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">In this
regard, the Africa Strategy Review team again sitting alongside AFRINIC 21
meeting deliberated and came up with a list of four projects expected to
enhance ICANN’s Engagement in Africa leading to ICANN 55 meeting in Marrakech
Morocco. These special projects focusing on reaching out mainly to African governments
and regulators include:</span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11573" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11492" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="">a)<span class="yiv1591991950" style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11491" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">Active
participation in African regional and continental ICT ministerial meetings</span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11501" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="">b)<span class="yiv1591991950" style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11500" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">ICANN
High Level Governmental Meeting (HLGM), During ICANN 55</span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11493" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="">c)<span class="yiv1591991950" style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11574" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">NewGen
Program during ICANN 55</span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11447" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="">d)<span class="yiv1591991950" style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11494" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">Workshop
for Africa Telecom regulators during ICANN 55</span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11495" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11497" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11496" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">The ICANN
Africa team has organized a briefing session scheduled for </span><a rel="nofollow" style="" class="yiv1591991950" target="_blank" href="http://singapore52.icann.org/en/schedule/wed-africa-engagement"><b class="yiv1591991950" style=""><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">Wed, 11 February 2015 - 10:30 to 11:45 SGT</span></b></a><b class="yiv1591991950" style=""><span class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"> </span></b><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11498" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">to share with
you details of these projects and seek your further input. We take this
opportunity to welcome you, our community, to these 2 Africa sessions as we
endeavor to deliver collectively on the Africa Strategy. We shall also provide
remote participation details for both sessions as well as share recordings
after the meeting.</span></div><div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11499" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><br><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11498" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"></span></div><div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11575" dir="ltr" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11498" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">Thanks</span></div><div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11580" dir="ltr" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><br><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11498" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;"></span></div><div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11581" dir="ltr" class="yiv1591991950" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;"><span id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11498" class="yiv1591991950" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">Yaovi<br></span></div>
<div id="yiv1591991950yui_3_16_0_1_1422950601043_11604" style="" class="yiv1591991950" dir="ltr"><br style="" class="yiv1591991950"></div></div></div></div></body></html>