For info: From: https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2015-07-16-en DotConnectAfrica Trust (DCA) v. ICANN IRP Final Declaration Whereas, on 9 July 2015, an independent review panel ("Panel") issued a final Declaration ("Declaration") in the independent review proceedings (IRP) initiated by DotConnectAfrica Trust (DCA), in which DCA sought relief relating to Board action or inaction on its application for .AFRICA. Whereas, in the Declaration, the Panel set forth the following: 148. Based on the foregoing, after having carefully reviewed the Parties' written submissions, listened to the testimony of the three witness [sic], listened to the oral submissions of the Parties in various telephone conference calls and at the in-person hearing of this IRP in Washington D.C. on 22 and 23 May 2015, and finally after much deliberation, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 11 (c) of ICANN's Bylaws, the Panel declares that both the actions and inactions of the Board with respect to the application of DCA Trust relating to the .AFRICA gTLD were inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of ICANN. 149. Furthermore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 11 (d) of ICANN's Bylaws, the Panel recommends that ICANN continue to refrain from delegating the .AFRICA gTLD and permit DCA Trust's application to proceed through the remainder of the new gTLD application process. 150. The Panel declares DCA trust to be the prevailing party in this IRP and further declares that ICANN is to bear, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 18 of the Bylaws, Article 11 of the Supplementary Procedures and Article 31 of the ICDR Rules, the totality of the costs of this IRP and the totality of the costs of the IRP Provider as follows: a) the fees and expenses of the panelists; b) the fees and expenses of the administrator, the ICDR; c) the fees and expenses of the emergency panelist incurred in connection with the application for interim emergency relief sought pursuant to the Supplementary Procedures and the ICDR Rules; and d) the fees and expenses of the reporter associated with the hearing on 22 and 23 May 2015 in Washington D.C. e) As a result of the above, the administrative fees of the ICDR totalling US$4,600 and Panelists' compensation and expenses totalling US$403,467.08 shall be born entirely by ICANN, therefore, ICANN shall reimburse DCA Trust the sum of US$198,046.04. 151. As per the last sentence of Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 18 of the Bylaws, DCA Trust and ICANN shall each bear their own expenses. The parties shall also each bear their own legal representation fees. Whereas, the independent review process is an integral ICANN accountability mechanism that helps support ICANN's multistakeholder model, and the Board thanks the Panel for its efforts in this IRP, and would like to specifically honor the memory of former panelist Hon. Richard C. Neal, who passed away during the proceedings. Whereas, in addition to the Declaration, the Board must also take into account other relevant information, including but not limited to: (i) that ICANN received and accepted GAC consensus advice that DCA's application for .AFRICA should not proceed; and (ii) that ICANN has a signed Registry Agreement with ZA Central Registry ("ZACR") to operate the .AFRICA top-level domain. Whereas, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3.21 of the Board considered the Declaration at the Board's next meeting, which the Board specifically scheduled in order to take action on this matter as quickly as possible. Resolved (2015.07.15.01), the Board has considered the entire Declaration, and has determined to take the following actions based on that consideration: 1. ICANN shall continue to refrain from delegating the .AFRICA gTLD; 2. ICANN shall permit DCA's application to proceed through the remainder of the new gTLD application process as set out below; and 3. ICANN shall reimburse DCA for the costs of the IRP as set forth in paragraph 150 of the Declaration. Resolved (2015.07.16.02), since the Board is not making a final determination at this time as to whether DCA's application for .AFRICA should proceed to contracting or delegation, the Board does not consider that resuming evaluation of DCA's application is action that is inconsistent with GAC advice. Resolved (2015.07.16.03), the Board directs the President and CEO, or his designee(s), to take all steps necessary to resume the evaluation of DCA's application for .AFRICA and to ensure that such evaluation proceeds in accordance with the established process(es) as quickly as possible (see Applicant Guidebook at http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb for established processes). Resolved (2015.07.16.04), with respect to the GAC's consensus advice in the Beijing Communiqué that DCA's application for .AFRICA should not proceed, which was confirmed in the London Communiqué, the Board will ask the GAC if it wishes to refine that advice and/or provide the Board with further information regarding that advice and/or otherwise address the concerns raised in the Declaration. Resolved (2015.07.16.05), in the event that DCA's application for .AFRICA successfully passes the remainder of the evaluation process, at that time or before, the Board will consider any further advice or information received from the GAC, and proceed as necessary, balancing all of the relevant material information and circumstances. Should the Board undertake any action that may be inconsistent with the GAC's advice, the Board will follow the established process set out in the Bylaws (see ICANN Bylaws, Article XI, Section 2.1).