[rpd] New draft policy proposal PPM Dates AFPUB-2026-GEN-003-DRAFT01

Sun Oct 4 10:27:59 UTC 2026

Hi Zamaphathwa,

Sorry for the late reply. I just discovered this email with the wrong subject (I’ve replaced it).

The bottom-up approach is precisely in order to allow the community to change any aspect of the resource management and *all* associated with it. There are tons of paragraphs in the CPM that aren’t about resources, including the PDP itself and the ability to modify it by means of the PDP itself!

Moreover, the PPM dates are an administrative task, which according to the PDP is taken to the co-chairs. Of course, the co-chairs are a representation of the community and elected by the community. What is absolutely wrong, and doesn’t happen in the other RIRs is that the bylaws provide the board with the mandate over a community function (the PDP, the PPM, setting policies, etc.). As I said many times, I understand that a proposal that reach consensus, need to be ratified by the board, because this is the last resort the board has in order to protect themselves and the organization.

The proposal is actually very soft, as it is not *enforcing* that the co-chairs or the community choose the dates for a PPM, but instead, the proposal only use a “should” for avoiding a clash of the PPM (not the full Afrinic or AIS meeting week) with “sister evens”.

Even if the proposal reach consensus and becomes ratified, in extreme cases, I could understand that the board choose a date that create a clash, but at least, then it becomes clear that the board is ignoring the community mandate.

So never mind if we call this an operational or administrative or “whatever” matter. The point is that this is part of the PDP function, and the PDP is owned by the community, nobody else, not the board, not Afrinic as an organization.

The 4 questions you raise, are already answered in the current proposal text, as well as this email and previous ones:

1) The problem is that clashes can be created impairing the ability for the community to participate in other “sister events”. I think it is clear that we don’t want the people needing to choose and then (probably) choosing not to participate in the PPM. There are sufficient dates available in the calendar, every year, to avoid that, and the confirmation of this objective fact, is that this never happened before in all the years of the RIRs history.

2) The existing mechanism can’t avoid this, because there is no mechanism that even mentions the choice to avoid the clash.

3) Because the bottom-up approach means the PPM is a PDP matter, and administrative matter, which is delegated by the PDP to the co-chairs.

4) The PDP is owned by the community. The proposal uses a *should*. It is a very simple way to avoid a clash with the bylaws or any other organization documents, which in any case, are wrong and must be modified to avoid encroaching on the community PDP. Otherwise, they are against the bottom-up approach.

Once more, I want to remark that ON-PURPOSE the proposal language use a *SHOULD* so with this proposal the community can clearly show if they are interested or not in avoiding clashes of the PPM dates with the dates of other RIRs, IETF, ICANN and ISOC events, but still want to provide AFRINIC with a last resort final decision to repeat the clash.

The community has the choice. Objecting to this proposal will mean that the community believes that either it is not important at all the PPM, or the participation, for example, of people in IETF (especially African folks that should aim to participate as much as possible as they are currently the region with less participation), and so allow clashes.

Regards,
Jordi

@jordipalet

> El 18 sept 2026, a las 15:35, Zamaphathwa Phathwa <zamaphathwaphathwa at gmail.com> escribió:
> 
> 
> Dear PDWG,
> I have been following the discussion regarding the PPM Dates proposal, particularly the differing views on whether meeting dates constitute an operational matter or fall within the scope of the Policy Development Process.
> From a governance and legal perspective, I think the distinction between policy-making authority and operational authority is important here.
> The bottom-up model is fundamental to the RIR system, and the community must have a meaningful opportunity to develop and amend policies within the applicable PDP framework. However, that does not necessarily mean that every operational or administrative decision concerning the functioning of the organisation must be converted into a policy.
> The key question, in my view, is therefore not simply whether the community can discuss PPM dates, but whether prescribing PPM dates through a policy is necessary, appropriate, and consistent with the existing governance framework and allocation of responsibilities between the community, the Board and AFRINIC staff.
> If the proposed policy is intended to establish a predictable and transparent framework that protects meaningful community participation and prevents arbitrary or inconsistent scheduling, there may be a legitimate policy rationale for considering it through the PDP.
> However, if the proposal merely seeks to regulate administrative arrangements that can be addressed through existing governance procedures, it risks unnecessarily expanding the PDP's scope into operational management.
> I would therefore suggest that the proposal should clearly establish:
> What specific problem is being addressed.
> Why the existing governance and operational mechanisms are insufficient.
> What authority the PDP has to prescribe the proposed arrangements; and
> How the proposal preserves the respective roles of the community, Board and AFRINIC staff.
> The principle of bottom-up policy development should certainly be protected. At the same time, good governance also requires clear institutional boundaries and accountability.
> Ultimately, the proposal's effectiveness should be assessed not only by whether it increases community participation, but also by whether it creates a clear, legally coherent, and workable framework without unnecessarily turning operational functions into policy.
> Kind regards,
> <image.png>
> From: rpd-request at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd-request at afrinic.net> <rpd-request at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd-request at afrinic.net>>
> Sent: Friday, September 18, 2026 1:35 PM
> To: rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net> <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>>
> Subject: RPD Digest, Vol 224, Issue 17
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Re: New draft policy proposal PPM Dates
>       AFPUB-2026-GEN-003-DRAFT01 (jordi.palet at consulintel.es <mailto:jordi.palet at consulintel.es>)
>    2. (no subject) (princess mariam zawu)
>    3. Re: (no subject) (ben.roberts at frinic.net <mailto:ben.roberts at frinic.net>)
>    4. Re: (no subject) (Hendrik Visage)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:58:01 +0200
> From: "jordi.palet at consulintel.es <mailto:jordi.palet at consulintel.es>" <jordi.palet at consulintel.es <mailto:jordi.palet at consulintel.es>>
> To: rpd List <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>>
> Subject: Re: [rpd] New draft policy proposal PPM Dates
>         AFPUB-2026-GEN-003-DRAFT01
> Message-ID: <C2F92772-35C8-4DA2-A612-407D3F5A2A0F at consulintel.es <mailto:C2F92772-35C8-4DA2-A612-407D3F5A2A0F at consulintel.es>>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> Hi Christian,
> 
> The PDP scope includes (in all the 5 RIRs), the PDP itself. If something is not working, the community has the right to address it: This is part of the bottom-up approach.
> 
> Ideally, and I agree on that, operational details should not need a policy. However, when something is not working in a way that avoids danger to the community, different views from the community one, etc., the community has the full right to discuss it, address it by means of proposals, and get them implemented if consensus is reached. This is objective, not subjective at all, and needs to be well understood by everybody, not just the community, but the staff and the board.
> 
> The only thing the community is not able to do, obviously, is anything that creates danger for AFRINIC as an organization. This is why, and only in those specific cases, it is acceptable that the board decides not to ratify a policy proposal. We have already seen the board recently, to say that a proposal that reached consensus is an encroachment and can?t be ratified: Really sad to argue that and against the bottom-up approach. I just hope it was a lack of proper understanding of what it means bottom-up and we don?t need to call the new ICP-2 to fight against the board in the future, because it is clearly unaceptable.
> 
> Regards,
> Jordi
> 
> @jordipalet
> 
> > El 17 sept 2026, a las 13:43, Bope Domilongo Christian <christianbope at gmail.com <mailto:christianbope at gmail.com>> escribi?:
> > 
> > Hello PDWG,
> > 
> > Why are we turning every single operational or administrative issue into a policy development problem?
> > 
> > Not all issues related to resource management or PPM should become a matter of the formal policy development process?
> > 
> > AFRINIC has been having meetings since 2004, and any new issue related to meeting planning can be discussed, and the AFRINIC Board (responsible for calling PPM in accordance with the current governance framework) shall take note and do the needful.
> > 
> > Keeping the PDP focused on resource allocation policy protects the community's time, prevents policy paralysis, and ensures AFRINIC staff and the Board retain the operational agility needed to run the organization effectively.
> > 
> > @christianbope <>
> > 
> > 
> > On Mon, 14 Sept 2026 at 17:49, Hytham El-Nakhal <hytham at tra.gov.eg <mailto:hytham at tra.gov.eg> <mailto:hytham at tra.gov.eg>> wrote:
> >> Dear PDWG,
> >> 
> >> 
> >> We have received a new draft policy proposal named PPM Dates with ID AFPUB-2026-GEN-003-DRAFT01 from author Jordi Palet.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> The proposal contents are published at: <https://afrinic.net/policy/proposals/afpub-2026-gen-001-draft01>
> >> 
> >> https://www.afrinic.net/afpub-2026-gen-003-draft01
> >> 
> >> 
> >> We encourage you to take some time to go through the proposal contents and provide feedback as follows: -
> >> 
> >> ?
> >> 
> >> a) Do you support or oppose the proposal?
> >> 
> >> 
> >> b) If you oppose the proposal, state your reasons.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> c) Is there anything in the proposal that is not clear?
> >> 
> >> 
> >> d) What changes could be made to this proposal to make it more effective?
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Kindly, as a way for better following up and archiving, keep the name and proposal ID in the subject line of your posts.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Regards,
> >> 
> >> Haitham el Nakhal & Darwin Da Costa
> >> 
> >> AFRINIC PDWG Co-Chairs
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> _______________________________________________
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> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:11:23 +0000
> From: princess mariam zawu <pmariam.zawu at gmail.com <mailto:pmariam.zawu at gmail.com>>
> To: rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>
> Subject: [rpd] (no subject)
> Message-ID:
>         <CAFUTKn5oXQF3J0nvw9+r8u+w15sjNGE_7UzQ_9j6jQiFq9LA3Q at mail.gmail.com <mailto:CAFUTKn5oXQF3J0nvw9+r8u+w15sjNGE_7UzQ_9j6jQiFq9LA3Q at mail.gmail.com>>
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> Hello,
> I am new here.
> 
> Princess M Zawu
> Snr Policy Analyst
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> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:00:13 +0300
> From: "ben.roberts at frinic.net <mailto:ben.roberts at frinic.net>" <ben.roberts at afrinic.net <mailto:ben.roberts at afrinic.net>>
> To: princess mariam zawu <pmariam.zawu at gmail.com <mailto:pmariam.zawu at gmail.com>>,  "rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>"
>         <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>>
> Subject: Re: [rpd] (no subject)
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> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:35:10 +0200
> From: Hendrik Visage <hvisage at hevis.co.za <mailto:hvisage at hevis.co.za>>
> To: princess mariam zawu <pmariam.zawu at gmail.com <mailto:pmariam.zawu at gmail.com>>
> Cc: rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>
> Subject: Re: [rpd] (no subject)
> Message-ID: <2EEB2E44-ED6F-4EF8-A2F0-CACFBC3B54EC at hevis.co.za <mailto:2EEB2E44-ED6F-4EF8-A2F0-CACFBC3B54EC at hevis.co.za>>
> Content-Type: text/plain; markup=markdown
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> 
> On 17 Sep 2026, at 18:11, princess mariam zawu wrote:
> 
> > Hello,
> > I am new here.
> >
> > Princess M Zawu
> > Snr Policy Analyst
> 
> Hi Prince,
> 
>  What affiliation/company are you the Senior Policy Analyst?
> 
> 
> 
> 
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