The NRIs Main Session is co-organized by the NRIs in a collaboration with the MAG, on the topic: Evolution of Internet Governance, focus on the multistakeholder approach. Below is an overview of the current preparatory status, subject to further updates as agreed by the co-organizers on regular bi-monthly meetings.
Main Session Working Title: Evolution of Internet Governance, focus on the multistakeholder approach
Time and Place: 13 November 2018 from 11.30 am to 12:50 pm UTC+2, Room II, UNESCO HQ, Paris
Total duration: 80 minutes
SESSION PROPOSAL
(subject to continues updates as agreed through a bottom up process)
Title of the Session
Evolution of Internet Governance: focus on the multistakeholder approach
The title will be finalized in the week of 29 October, when the NRIs will host their virtual meeting.
Format of the NRI Main Session: Town Hall approach. 80 minutes total duration
After welcoming comments by the Host Government session Chair, the session will be open with a 5-minute presentation by the IGF Secretariat/NRIs Focal Point, illustrating the NRIs global presence and nature of the Network’s work.
The presentation will serves as an introduction to the importance of this session, co-organized by the 111 NRIs in collaboration with several members of the MAG.
The session will be divided into three major segments and is based on a set of policy questions, developed by the NRIs in an open, bottom up, consultative process (see further below these policy questions).
The first segment will be 25 minutes long, and it will allow for the NRIs to address the first two policy questions.
Second segment, also 25 minutes long, will include NRIs comments on the last two policy questions.
For both segments, the goal is to have different NRIs intervening, and developing an interactive discussion among themselves.
After the second segment, the floor will be open for 15 minutes for all participants to engage in the discussion. The moderator will keep time for each intervention to be not longer than 90 seconds.
After this segment, the moderator will sum up the discussion and allow for the rapporteurs to read out a set of concrete key messages that came out as a consensus among participants.
Brief Description/Objective
The session will target the impact the multistakeholder approach had in the NRIs respective communities, and challenges related to its effective application. In particular, the NRIs have agreed to address the following policy aspects of this topic:
- Examples from the NRIs on how the application of the multistakeholder model to discussing the Internet governance pertaining matters, contributed to development of Internet governance. Is there an impact on policies from the Internet Governance Forum initiatives?
[Inputs included: decision making through multistakeholder model, engaging all stakeholders to work together]
- What are the challenges we face while engineering/developing and implementing the multistakeholder model for discussing the Internet governance pertaining matters?
[Inputs included: awareness level, competing initiatives, specific issues require specific discussion models, complexities related to achieving consensus, stakeholders acting on unequal footing]
- How can we improve the implementation of the multistakeholder model on the national and regional levels?
[Inputs included: strengthening the multistakeholder model, raising awareness, increasing collaboration between IG initiatives on national, regional and global levels; increasing NRIs outcomes and outreach]
- Multistakeholder model on a global level: current status and recommendations for improvements
[Inputs included: functioning of the multistakeholder model in UN context; future of the IGF]
As per the NRIs Session Guidelines, the broader objectives of having the NRIs been integrated in the IGF through the main session are:
- To contribute to the quality and comprehensiveness of the global IGF event by bringing the local, national and regional perspectives, challenges, and good practices to the overall discussion;
- To showcase the diversity among NRI discussions in different countries and regions across the world, existing on matters related to Internet Governance;
- Through joint work on a selected topic, developed by consensus, over one IGF cycle, the NRIs will continue building a firmer sense of the NRI community
Agenda
Each of the NRIs who have committed to participate whether onsite or remotely will identify their designated representative to speak at the NRI main session.
Each NRI will nominate their delegated official representative(s). The NRIs are responsible for their internal processes to identify their speaking representative(s), all in accordance with the IGF criteria. Any other speakers will be recognized during the open mike segment.
The session will be opened with a short and comprehensive presentation of the NRIs Network Overview and evolution delivered by the IGF Secretariat/NRIs Focal Point, developed in collaboration with the NRIs.
The co-moderators will introduce the session concept, and open the floor for the NRIs interventions, throughout the two above mentioned segments. NRIs who have signed up whether speaking on site or remotely, will be invited to respond to one of the NRI developed policy questions, with an effort to achieve regional balance across five regions, but based on those NRIs that signed up for speaking slots.
As of 20 October, thirty-three (33) NRIs confirmed their attendance; some have confirmed that they will have multiple attendees (ranging from coordinators to organizing committees members and wider community members). A number of others have cited funding challenges which are not yet addressed regarding their ability to firmly commit on site attendance. The list is expected to increase over the next few days. In order to maximize geo diversity, priority will be given to one speaker per NRI, while welcoming additional attendees from NRIs.
Initial list of confirmed NRIs is available at this doodle poll: https://doodle.com/poll/55v68bbpz7pdm3q5
The NRIs have agreed that this main session will have two co-moderators, multiple rapporteurs and remote moderator(s), all developed and nominated in a bottom up manner.
The NRIs volunteers will be sought for all of these supporting roles.
Policy Questions
As explained above, the session will be moderated across these four guiding policy questions:
- Examples from the NRIs on how the application of the multistakeholder model to discussing the Internet governance pertaining matters, contributed to development of Internet governance. Is there an impact on policies from the Internet Governance Forum initiatives?
[Inputs included: decision making through multistakeholder model, engaging all stakeholders to work together]
- What are the challenges we face while engineering/developing and implementing the multistakeholder model for discussing the Internet governance pertaining matters?
[Inputs included: awareness level, competing initiatives, specific issues require specific discussion models, complexities related to achieving consensus, stakeholders acting on unequal footing]
- How can we improve the implementation of the multistakeholder model on the national and regional levels?
[Inputs included: strengthening the multistakeholder model, raising awareness, increasing collaboration between IG initiatives on national, regional and global levels; increasing NRIs outcomes and outreach]
- Multistakeholder model on a global level: current status and recommendations for improvements
[Inputs included: functioning of the multistakeholder model in UN context; future of the IGF]
Chair [To be provided by the Host Country]
Co-Moderators
It is proposed for the session to have two co-moderators, with respecting the gender representation within. The NRIs in discussion did express the importance of expertise in the subject matter, globally, and with the NRIs recent and ongoing activities. There was also an expression of strong interest that the co moderators bring senior level visibility. This process should be finalized by the end of October.
Panelists/Speakers
Representatives from each of the NRIs, onsite or online. Initially, one [or two] designated speakers per NRI will be invited, with the understanding that the length of speaking will be determined by the total number of NRIs who have committed, whether onsite or remotely. All NRIs that ask to have a speaking slot must as much as possible be accommodated, with the understanding that no NRI speaks for any other NRI.
ach NRI will confirm their delegates/speakers prior to the session, with the indication note or onsite or online attendance. In addition, all NRIs will be asked to prioritize which policy questions they prefer to speak on, so that a balanced participation can be achieved.
The final composition of speakers should be finalized during the last week of October.
Remote moderator/Plan for online interaction and rapporteurs
Due to the funding limitations, many of the NRIs that are committed to actively participate may not attend the meeting in person, and therefore are planning to use the online participation tools to participate and engage remotely.
The NRIs as the facilitators and organizers of this session, will equally prioritize the onsite and online present NRIs. This reflects the remote NRIs as speakers as the first priority, followed by interventions coming from the floor, and remotely from others joining the session. The further development of the program will take into account the challenge of full incorporation of participation from remotely participating NRIs, including a designation of time slots, and back up slots, and also receiving written comments to be read by one of the co moderators, should technology fail us.
Remote Moderators
To be confirmed by last week of October.
Rapporteurs
To be confirmed by last week of October.
Desired results/output
Taking into account the above indicated session objectives, in addition, this session will aim to:
- Underline the value of the multistakeholder approach for national, sub regional/regional and youth initiatives
- Provide an overview of commonalities and differences between different national and regional practices
- Deepen the understanding about the global status of the multistakeholder approach and provide recommendations for improvements
- Advance the visibility of work at the national/subregional and regional levels that turns dialogue into action regarding IG processes and issues;
- Showcase the effective multistakeholder process established in many countries and regions to other interested wishing to launch same processes;
- Integrating more awareness of the work at the local levels (national, subregional and regional and youth initiatives) into overall IGF community while respecting the bottom up dynamic nature of the NRIs.