[Community-Discuss] Cotonou Meeting

Mon Jun 18 11:57:58 UTC 2018

Noah,

Thank you, I didn't know AFRINIC was listing the events attended or supported and then precise specification of which ones are sponsored.
For anyone interested, it seems there was 8 sponsored external meetings in 2017 which is quite a good amount.

https://www.afrinic.net/images/doc/annual-report-2017.pdf
Page 29 for anyone interested to actually double check the information.

Do you by any chance know where does this type of sponsoring fall on page 33?

I guess it is either one or both of the following categories:

Outreach initiatives
39,893 US$ out of a planned budget of 101,000 US$
Community Support
247,147 US$ out of a planned budget of 262,000US$

I would guess "Outreach initiatives" since page 29 calls it "outreach and Internet governance"
We have a list of 8 events sponsored so that average at just about 5000 US$ per event.

Seems fairly reasonable.

But is then what is community support?
Because if that is used to sponsor internet meetings as well, then we are at around 31,000 US$ per event on average out of that community support budget.
That starts to be a lot of money per sponsoring agreement, but I guess could be considered reasonable for larger events.

Or is "community support" for the transport, hotel and per diem of community members who get invited and financially compensated to attend AFRINIC meetings and AFRINIC related events?

17.06.2018, 15:51, "Noah" <noah at neo.co.tz>:
> Hi Adiel
>
> Yes indeed history is important and no progress anywhere in the world has ever been possible and successful without  challenges and indeed some celebration is worthwhile as its through reflection that history can be used as bench mark for more anticipated success.
>
> I personally  dont see what the fuss is. AfriNIC has an outreach program in place and they often support and sponsor different events time after time where they see relevance and I tend to believe this is one of those similar events.
>
> I have been involved with capacity building organisations that have in the past requested for some sort of support from AfriNIC and they manage to send some funding whenever possible based on I believe a budget they always set aside for the same.
>
> We once requested AfriNIC for some funding support for a capacity building event in Dar es salaam a year ago and even though AfriNIC had not planned for it, they did manage to support us with some little funding and from the 2017 annual report I see a mention of the organisation as one of the many AfriNIC supported.
>
> My 2 bit coins
>
> Noah
> On 15 Jun 2018 19:43, "Adiel Akplogan (akp.com)" <adiel at akplogan.com> wrote:
>> Andrew,
>>
>> I try to keep myself out of the AFRINIC’s community discussion over that past few years, but with all due respect, I would like you to please show a little bit of consideration to the history related to how thing happened in this region (even if you do not respect the people, respect the history).
>>
>> First of all, the event in Cotonou in 1998 was not only about AFRINIC, but the whole internet technical governance landscape. That is where discussion about other AF* initiatives such as AFNOC, AfTLD, AfREN … started. There were people who spent their time and resources to get the community together to discuss these initiatives, and set the ground principles that brought the ecosystem where it today. Even if you have your view and opinion on AFRINIC, I think many of other organizations are working and growing achieving the goal in mind then, which is to build a strong, vibrant, and engaged real African community on Internet governance topics. Have we succeeded to have every single people or Operators engaged? No, and that is not case anywhere in the world!! But we have to be proud and celebrate the achievement while learning from the mistakes along the road to improve and aim at a brighter future.
>>
>> Talking about AFRINIC, let’s not forget that it has been created, it has grown, and is able support the development of other groups to ensure a diverse ecosystem. Over 10 years, AFRINIC has made progress and found its seat within the global Internet community (while preserving its unique specificities). If unfortunately lately politics and personalization of its work is hampering its progress, we shouldn’t try to scrap all the work that many have done to get us where we are, where you can have a platform to express your view in the way you want as you do. Since 1998 the African community has grown, as has Internet penetration and its use. Let's recognize that.
>>
>> I am not saying this because, like many others on this list, I was in Cotonou[1], but for preserving something deep and dear to our African culture which is called RESPECT.
>>
>> I really call us all to remember something fundamental: anything we do here will not be possible if there is no community behind it. That is how the internet is technically governed. We need to focus on continuing to build and strengthen our community, nurturing its diversity and creating an environment that encourages open, candide but respectful exchange of ideas that can positively impact us all. Our diversity should be our strength not our weakness. Franche, English, Portuguese, Arabic, North, South, West, East, Central, Indian Ocean, does not define the Internet. The value it bring us does.
>>
>> Pausing and taking stock over what has happened over the past 20 years is not a bad thing and if any I* or Af* organization decides to contribute and share its experience that should be appreciated.
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>> - a. (Speaking in my personal capacity as an African, an AFRINIC member and member of the global community who still believe in a bright future for the organization as a catalyst for the regional community).
>>
>> [1] - While I contributed to the discussion, I had no idea that my professional path would cross over with a hypothetical AFRINIC organization. I already had a very rewarding job at the time :-). I got engaged/involved then because as managing a small ISP, I felt the pain of getting IPv4 addresses from RIPE-NCC.
>>
>>> On Jun 14, 2018, at 23:55, Andrew Alston <Andrew.Alston at liquidtelecom.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi AfriNIC Community and AfriNIC Board,
>>>
>>> I have a number of questions around the upcoming meeting in Cotonou on the 6th of July this year – what is being termed as a celebration of Africa IG 1998 – 2018.
>>>
>>> Firstly – can AFRINIC tell us, just how much money they are contributing to this event – keeping in mind that funds that AFRINIC spend are contributed by members, I think the community may be interested to hear an answer to this.
>>> Secondly – can AFRINIC tell us if they truly believe this event if appropriate at this point in time – when the community has shown a total lack of faith in the board – when the company sits with a legal problem of being unable to elect directors or form quorum for another AGMM – coming on the back of a report that has to be commissioned into the conduct of AFRINIC board and management – which has never yet been shared with this community, is it really appropriate to be spending money on, partnering with, or having anything to do with a “celebration” of this nature.
>>>
>>> What is being celebrated?  20 years of us slowly moving towards complete collapse while the current board continues to bluntly ignore the questions about how they plan to solve the quorum issue for AGMM’s and election of new directors – despite it having been raised time and again?
>>>
>>> Please – I think we as a community deserve some answers – because that event – smacks of the AFRINIC saying “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche”
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Andrew
>>>
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