[AfriNIC-rpd] New Policy Proposal on AfriNIC Website

[Mukom Akong TAMON]

On behalf of the PDP-MG

Dear Colleagues,
  As you are all aware,  a policy proposal was submitted to the mailing 
list on the 9th Dec. 2009. It is now available on the website as a 
policy proposal under discussion. It can be accessed at 
http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/AFPUB-2009-GEN-001.htm

In line with the AfriNIC PDP, AfriNIC members are now invited to 
continue to review and discuss this policy. Note that this policy 
affects an existing policy (Policy Development Process) which is 
available at http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/AFPUB-2008-GEN-001.htm

The AfriNIC Policy Development Process can be found at: 
http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/AFPUB-2008-GEN-001.htm

AfriNIC Mailing Lists subscription information can be found at: 
http://www.afrinic.net/mailinglist.htm

Regards,

Vincent Ngundi
Chair, PDP-MG


+++++++++++++++Policy Development Process in the AfriNIC service 
region+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Name: S. Moonesamy
Organisation:
Policy Affected: AFPUB-2008-GEN-001
Date: 9 December, 2009

Proposal: Policy Development Process in the AfriNIC service region

Incentive:

The objective of this proposal is to create a policy development process 
in the AfriNIC service region based on three principles: openness, 
transparency and fairness.

The procedures described in this document are designed to be fair, open 
and objective and are intended to:

(i) provide ample opportunity for participation and comment by all
    interested parties;

(ii) establish widespread community consensus.

These procedures adopt generally accepted practices and provide the 
flexibility to adapt to a variety of circumstances that can occur in a 
process.

1. Introduction

This document describes the AfriNIC Policy Development Process (PDP).

The policies are documented community decisions that directly determine 
the rules by which AfriNIC manages and administers Internet number 
resources.

2. Scope

Internet number resource policies are distinctly separate from AfriNIC 
general business practices and procedures. General business practices 
and procedures are not within the purview of the Policy Development 
Process.

3. Policy Development Principles

All policies are developed by the Internet community following three 
principles: openness, transparency and fairness.The community initiates 
and discusses the proposals.  Once the draft policy has the consensus of 
the community, it is recommended to the AfriNIC Board of Directors for 
adoption as a policy.

3.1 Openness

All policies are developed in an open forum in which anyone may 
participate. There are no qualifications for participation.

3.2 Transparency

All aspects of the Policy Development Process are documented and 
publicly available via the AfriNIC website. The discussions are publicly 
archived.  All procedures that are developed to implement the policy are 
documented by AfriNIC and are publicly available.

3.3 Fairness

The policies are to ensure fair distribution of resources and 
facilitating the operation of the Internet.

Actions are taken within a reasonable period of time.

4. Policy Development Working Group

The Policy Development Working Group (PDWG) discusses about the 
proposals.   Anyone may participate via the Internet or in person.   The 
work is carried out through the Policy Development Process mailing list 
(PDPML) and the Public Policy Meeting (PPM).

The Policy Development Working Group may have two or more Chairs to 
perform the administrative functions of the group.  The Working Group 
Chairs will be chosen by the community during the Public Policy Meeting 
for a two-year term.  The term ends during the first Public Policy 
Meeting meeting corresponding to the end of the term for which they were 
appointed.   At the time this policy is adopted, one of the Working 
Group Chairs will be appointed for a one-year term.

If the Working Group Chair is unable to serve his or her full term, the 
AfriNIC Board of Directors may, at its discretion, immediately select a 
replacement to serve the remainder of the term.  If the Working Group 
Chairs are unable to attend the Public Policy Meeting, the Working Group 
shall nominate a Chair for the session.

5. Policy Development Process

Policy proposals can be submitted to the Policy Development Working 
Group Chair or the Policy Development Process mailing list.  AfriNIC 
will provide administrative support and assist the author(s) in drafting 
the proposal, if requested.  AfriNIC shall also provide relevant facts 
and statistics.

5.1 Draft Policy

During the development of a policy, draft versions of the document are 
made available for review and comment by publishing them on the AfriNIC 
website.  The document shall include the information mentioned in 
Appendix A.  Each draft policy is assigned a unique identifier by 
AfriNIC.  The website shall also contain the version history and the 
status of all proposals.

The draft policy shall be available for review for at least four weeks.  
The author(s) shall make the necessary changes to the draft policy 
according to the feedback received from the community.  The Working 
Group Chair(s) may request AfriNIC to provide an analysis, technical, 
financial, legal or other, of the impact of the draft policy.

5.2 Public Policy Meeting

The draft policy is placed on the agenda of the next Public Policy 
Meeting.  The agenda of the meeting shall be announced on the Policy 
Development Process mailing list at least two weeks prior to the 
meeting.  No change can be made to a draft policy within one week of the 
meeting.  This is so that a stable version of the draft policy can be 
considered at the meeting.  The Chair(s) determines whether rough 
consensus has been achieved.  The draft policy may be sent back to the 
Policy Development Process mailing list for discussion if there are  
objections to the proposal.

The Chair(s) shall publish the minutes of proceedings of the Public 
Policy Meeting not later than three weeks after the meeting.

5.3 Last Call

A final review of the draft policy is initiated by the Working Group 
Chair(s) by sending an announcement to the Policy Development Process 
mailing list.  The Last Call period shall be at least two weeks.  The 
Working Group Chair(s) shall evaluate the feedback received during the 
Public Policy Meeting and during this period and decide whether 
consensus has been achieved.

5.4 Approval

The Working Group Chair(s) shall recommend the draft policy to the 
AfriNIC Board of Directors for approval if it has the consensus of the 
Policy Development Working Group.  The recommendation shall include a 
report of the discussions during the Public Policy Meeting and the Last 
Call.  The AfriNIC Board of Directors may not disapprove a draft  
policy, but if it has concerns about a draft policy, it may refer it 
back to the Policy Development Working Group, together with an 
explanation, for further work.

5.5 Implementation

The adoption and implementation date of the policy is announced on the 
Policy Development Process mailing list.

6. Conflict Resolution

A person who disagrees with the actions taken by Chair(s) shall discuss 
the matter with the Working Group Chair(s) or with the Working Group.  
If the disagreement cannot be resolved in this way, the person may file 
an appeal with the AfriNIC Board of Directors.  The appeal must be 
submitted within two weeks of the public knowledge of the decision.  The 
AfriNIC Board of Directors shall issue a report on its review of the 
complaint to the Working Group.  The AfriNIC Board of Directors may 
direct that the Chair(s) decision be annulled if the Policy Development 
Process has not been followed.

Anyone who has attended at least two of the last ten AfriNIC meetings 
may request the recall of a Working Group Chair at any time, upon 
written request with justification to the AfriNIC Board of Directors.  
The Board shall appoint a Recall Committee comprising five persons from 
the Working Group, excluding the person requesting the recall and the 
Working Group Chairs, using a random selection process.  The Recall 
Committee shall investigate the circumstances of the justification for 
the recall and determine the outcome.

7. Varying the Process

The process outlined in this document may vary in the case of an 
emergency.  Variance may be requested by the AfriNIC Board of Directors 
and is for use when a one-time waving of some provision of this document 
is required.  There must be an explanation about why the variance is 
needed.  The review period, including the Last Call, shall not be less 
than four weeks.  If the AfriNIC Board of Directors adopts the policy, 
it must be presented at the next Public Policy Meeting for reconsideration.

Appendix A: Draft Policy Template

The Draft Policy shall include:

1. Unique identifier (assigned by AfriNIC)

2. Draft Policy Name

3. Author(s)
  (a) Name
  (b) Email address

4. Draft Policy Version
5. Submission Date
6. Changes to existing policies (updates, obsoletes)
7. Summary of proposal
8. Proposal

+++++++++++++++Policy Development Process in the AfriNIC service 
region+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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________________________________________________________
Mukom Akong TAMON
AfriNIC Ltd | Phone: +230 466 6616   |   Fax: +230 466 6758