Listers, This might be of interest to some of you interested in Internet Policy Developement. Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ayden Férdeline <ayden@ferdeline.com> Date: Sat, Mar 17, 2018 at 5:32 PM Subject: [Internet Policy] Interesting ICANN Discussion Paper on Efficient and Effective Policy Development To: ISOC INTERNETPOLICY <internetpolicy@elists.isoc.org> Dear all, In January, ICANN policy development staff begun circulating this discussion paper <https://community.icann.org/download/attachments/79429868/Discussion%20Paper%20-%20Efficient%20and%20Effective%20Policy%20Development%20-%2010%20Jan%202018.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1520774911000&api=v2> [PDF] on how to best leverage volunteers to produce high-quality policy outcomes. In it, it flagged some issues with the multistakeholder model with which ICANN’s Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) currently develops gTLD policy. There are concerns that the multistakeholder model does not scale and that project milestones are not being achieved as a result. The paper says there have been a number of challenges encountered in working groups. Key among the challenges are increasing participant and observer numbers, divergent motivations and desired outcomes, and difficulties in reaching consensus. Even where consensus is reached, there is a perception that it can sometimes be reached through exhaustion (and as a result may hold no long-term legitimacy). To quote from the paper, “Without properly addressing challenges faced in implementing the current volunteer model, there is a risk of strain on staffing resources, logistical problems, climbing costs, and attrition by core community members. These issues could result in stagnation of policy and advice development activities. At stake is the credibility and legitimacy of the ICANN global multistakeholder model, especially as ICANN faces greater scrutiny following the IANA-transition.” Over the past two months, in Los Angeles and in San Juan, the GNSO Council, as manager of the gTLD policy development process, has had discussions around how it can and should act in addressing challenges if/when these occur. The GNSO Council has subsequently agreed to develop a white paper-type proposal setting out possible changes to the policy development process to address the specific challenges encountered. ICANN has also published a video this week discussing the path ahead for what has been termed "Policy Development Process 3.0" - https://youtu.be/BTErFlcxK-M. I am sharing this for information purposes only; it might be of interest to those who believe multistakeholder governance models are either broken or have muscle. Add this one to the document repository for the former… Best wishes, Ayden Férdeline _______________________________________________ To manage your ISOC subscriptions or unsubscribe, please log into the ISOC Member Portal: https://portal.isoc.org/ Then choose Interests & Subscriptions from the My Account menu. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A