[Icann-aswg] comment and recommendation on ICANN- ASWG

[meshack emakunat]

Name:
Meshack Emakunat Oriama
Diplofoundation
Alumni: IGCBP
Country:
Kenya
Comment
to: ICANN ASWG
Bertrand
de la Chapelle argues in his paper “Principles and Challenges of an
Innovative Political Paradigm” that features in the co:llaboratory
discussion paper MIND, that1
 the recent way of governance is through the Westphalian model
whereby  policy  making is conducted on the basis of a fundamental
distinction between state regulated activities inside national
borders on the one hand and on the other hand trans border
interaction governed by international arrangements negotiated between
governments only. In my view the ICANN for Africa can have a
political paradigm shift in the governance of the internet through
having centralized governance for the internet affairs of Africa. The
launch of the AFRICAN Internet Governance Forum in Cairo 3rd
and 4th
October may serve as an indicator that Africa is off the idea for
centralized governance rather than having sub regional forums that
discuss policies that are border limited. On the other hand
cooperation between the IGF’s especially the upcoming African IGF
and the ICANN should work hand in hand and hence through this
cooperation the AFIGF will get a way of authority through the ICANN
since it is argued that the IGF’s is a non decision making
mechanism (Waudo Siganga in his response Bertrand’s paper in MIND
series no. 1).  The ICANN can benefit from such a relationship since
the IGF’s have a well established network in the sub regional
Africa. Through this the ICANN can benefit from the relationship
through capacity building program.
Arguing
on the basis of participation, the historical disinclination of
private sector players to participate in public policy formulation
needs to be considered.Waudo Siganga argues that bringing such
players to participate will require a culture shift and in my own
view this is shifting from a principle of representation to principle
of participation and constituencies were the  most common
representatives are from the governments and very little from the
private sector. Therefore through the participation of Africans in
ICANN (IGF’s) constituencies meeting and stepping up outreach
programs in the continent will create the much needed   awareness
among the technical and business people in Africa. Although to
achieve this the organization will have to show reason for
participation of the private sector especially the SME’s who are
the major contributor to the gross domestic product of any particular
economy in Africa i.e. the SME’s is one of the key economic driver
in Africa, through the provision of employment and market for locally
produced goods and utilization of information communication
technology (ict). It was recently reportedthat the economies of sub
Saharan African  countries wee experiencing the best period of
sustained growth in Africa since their independence . A contributing
factor to this growth lies in information communication technology
(ICT) so argues Daryl Blundell of the sage pastel international.
Africa was rated fourth for broadband expansion, ahead of Latin
America and Asia Pacific, among six regions that were sampled by the
economist’s intelligence unit in 2007. We can only positively guess
the growth that Africa has had since 2007. The African connectivity
landmarks2
has fundamental changed over the past 10 years with over 3000% users
growth with 1000% internet users growth in 4 years, over 500% IPV4
address distributed200% growth in gTLD and ccTLD registration. It’s
not just big business that’s driving the growth-a new generation of
free- thinking 3African
entrepreneurs is taking the lead. (It’s clear that the desire is to
get ahead and compete, not only in Africa but also in the global
economy add to this the increasing requirements for all businesses,
including SME’s to be complaint with new financial regulations and
with corporate governance). Hence the evolvement issue of mobile
banking in africa-most Africans do not have credit card and therefore
m banking has made it possible to access services similar to PayPal
on the internet. Through IGF’s and the ICANN   working hand in hand
in Africa will and address the policies proposed through the regional
IGFs in the continent then encourage or facilitate the establishment
of active sub regional IGF hubs where ICANN and IGF involves the
business community from a grass root level and build capacity from a
ICT consumer level rather than from a provider level. This will also
address the economic development of African region in a more devolved
way i.e.:




Through
	suggesting homegrown solutions to African reality and issues as they
	may rise within ICANN processes.
	Development
	of a permanent communication platform on ICANN policies with
	Africans. 
	
	Present
	ICANN to African governments and more particularly business and
	hence participate effectively in all ICANN constituencies working
	groups and contribute to the work of ICANN.

WSIS
in Tunis in November 2005 defines the IG as the development and
application by governments, the private sector and civil society in
their respective roles, of shared principles, norms rules, decision
making procedures and programs that shape the evolution and use of
the internet new approach to policy making for a global community of
billions of people: a political paradigm shift known as
multi-stakeholder governance.  The idea of ICANN setting up camp I a
particular  African country is not of the for the best considering
that the African continent is on the ICT revolution and that
therefore every country would want to have this camp set up in their
backyard. ICANN can still utilize the positive relationship it has
with the regional IGF’s and use these forums to conduct its affairs
in Africa. 






	
	1
	MIND Multistakeholder Internet Dialog, Co:llaboratory Discussion
	Paper Series No. 1, a publication by the Internet & Society
	Co:llaboratory 
	


	
	2
	Adiel .A. Akplogan CEO, Afrinic ICANN ASWG retreat, Mauritius, 27
	August 2012,Fact about Africa in relation with ICANN mission.


	
	3
	Daryl Blundell, September 2009, Africa continent of opportunity,
	not despair, The Accountant Journal of the Institute of
	Certified Public Accountants of Kenya ,Nairobi Kenya, Institute of
	Certified Public Accountants Kenya  p23


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/icann-aswg/attachments/20120927/77e603ec/attachment-0001.htm