New Association Launched to Support the Internet Governance Forum and its Essential Role in Addressing Internet Governance Issues

Internet Governance Forum Support Association opens on eve of ninth annual IGF

[Istanbul, Turkey – 1 September 2014] – The Internet Governance Forum Support Association was officially launched today at its inaugural General Assembly meeting in Istanbul. The IGF Support Association will support the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which brings people together from all stakeholder groups, and provides valuable opportunities for discussions on issues relating to the Internet and its future.

The launch of the IGF Support Association was held on the eve of the ninth annual IGF in Istanbul, where governments, civil society, the private sector and the technical community have convened to discuss best practice approaches to the global development of the Internet. The IGF offers an informal setting, free from binding negotiations, for productive work towards effective Internet policy solutions.  The IGF Support Association will contribute to the United Nations IGF Trust Fund and support activities such as Internet governance-related capacity building in developing countries, national and regional IGF initiatives, and fellowships for participation in IGF meetings at national, regional and global levels.

The establishment of the IGF Support Association is an initiative of the Internet Society, with the main objectives of promoting and supporting the global IGF, as well as the national and regional IGF initiatives. It was created to:

• provide funds to maintain and strengthen the IGF Secretariat and national and regional IGF initiatives;

• seek and promote exchange and collaboration with national and regional IGF initiatives;

• identify new sources of funding and facilitate funding of the IGF;

• make contributions to the IGF Trust Fund administered by the United Nations; and

• award fellowships for participation at IGF meetings, including preparatory meetings.

“The collaboration that occurs at the IGF is extremely important to all of us who are committed to an open, thriving, and accessible Internet,” noted Markus Kummer, Internet Society Senior Vice President. “It is essential that we have a robust and sustainable income stream for the IGF to continue its growth and progress.”

During the IGF Support Association General Assembly, the following individuals were elected to the Executive Committee:

• Raúl Echeberría, Internet Society

• Virat Bhatia, AT&T

• Subi Chaturvedi, Media For Change

• Marilyn Cade, mCADE

• Cheryl Miller, Verizon

• Avri Doria, Independent Researcher

• Edmon Chung, DotAsia

• Tarek Kamel, ICANN

• Alice Munyua, CATIA

• Chengetai Masango,  IGF Secretariat (Non-voting member of Board)

Raúl Echeberría, newly elected Chair of the IGF Support Association Executive Committee, commented, “The IGF has proven to be a remarkably successful forum, yet continues to face challenges of underfunding.  The IGF Support Association will work to remedy this and will serve as a vital channel for funding from individuals, companies and foundations to help ensure the IGF remains the primary event for everyone interested in the Internet and its governance. We are very proud to launch this new Association.”

The IGF Support Association is based in Geneva, Switzerland and is now accepting members and donations. For more information, visit http://www.igfsa.org.

Link to press release: http://www.internetsociety.org/news/new-association-launched-support-internet-governance-forum-and-its-essential-role-addressing