ATTENTION: MR SEUN OJEDEJI-OUTGOING CHAIRMAN AFRALO and THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP OF AFRALO (BOTH PAST AND PRESENT): RE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE OPERATING PRINCIPLES OF AFRALO RULES OF PROCEDURE AT THE FORTHCOMING AFRALO GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM JULY 23 -25, 2023.

Preamble: This motion is moved PURSUANT to Article 7.5 of AFRALO Operating Principles: “At any meeting where at least one half (1/2) of members are present, a motion to amend, change, or repeal the Operating Principles may be initiated. Two-thirds of the whole membership must consent for the motion to carry “ 


In line with the above, I hereby move that the AFRALO Leadership should include on the GA Agenda: Proposals for the Review/amendment of the AFRALO ROP (as going by the list of attendees for the GA, we are more than half of the entire membership).

Dear Fellow Members of AFRALO
On Wednesday 28th June 2017 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, I initiated a bold move to have the GA then, review the AFRALO ROP-an attempt that was frustrated by certain forces within AFRALO the likes of Tijani and some leaders then (with the connivance of the ICANN Staff) as they refused to share amongst delegates by including on the agenda my proposed amendments for debate on that fateful Wednesday.

A lot of consultations were held amongst delegates before arriving at the proposal which was meant to be shared  
 but was not.  For those in attendance, you witnessed all my shouts of POINT OF ORDER, POINT OF OBSERVATION which Mr. Tijani refused to acknowledge, (as he was moderating) which led to my walkout from the GA out of frustration.

Come July 23-26, 2023, history beckons on us again to right the wrongs that our current ROP has unconsciously imposed on us by reviewing the current document. Any discerning mind would not deny the fact that the AFRALO ROP as it is now, is OVERDUE for a total OVERHAUL. The ROP that was instituted in 2007 has only witnessed one amendment-the adoption of Individual Membership.

Perhaps, a historical account and rationale for this may help us make up our minds on what to do. Before I delve into that let me put the leadership on notice  so far to effect the resolution that was adopted at the last AFRALO monthly meeting, vis:

1. A call-out to delegates to submit or propose areas for review in the ROP to be shared with all delegates before the GA.
2. Set up an ROP Review committee to collate these proposals and prepare a draft proposal of all the recommended areas of review to be shared amongst us, so that during the discussions, not much time will be wasted as members would have studied the draft and make up their minds on whether to support or reject or amend any proposal put forward.

Suffice it to mention that, in the words of Mr. Ojedeji, he acknowledged the lacuna created by the ROP and also believe there was a need for a review. The 2023 AFRALO gives us that opportunity.

Historical Background and Rationale: 
 
On the 29th of March 2007, 8 notable Africans appended their signatures to the MOU as Founders/on behalf of African Internet Users with the leadership of ICANN, which gave birth to AFRALO. The fundamental aim of AFRALO contained in the MOU was “…to give individual internet users interests throughout Africa a voice in ICANN and to make an impact on its policies…” and under section 5 of the MOU: “strengthen users’ participation in ICANN decision- making structures,” section 7: “build internet policy making capacity in the region” and 8: “reach out to internet Users on the issues and scope of ICANN.

 


The first objective of AFRALO Operating Principles is Article 4.1: “to provide a forum and promote and encourage African Internet users’ participation and involvement in ICANN in an effective, open, accountable and transparent manner;
 
Growth and development are measured by one’s advancement (promotion) from one lower level to a higher level. That is why a child born 20 years ago should not and cannot function as a one-year-old. Ditto for any organization or group that recognizes leadership roles and positions. It is the Right of any member of a group to aspire (by inspiration-encourage) to positions of leadership once they meet the criteria. Even though there are offices to be filled within AFRALO, the criteria for these within the ROP are very fluid, which gives room for manipulation. As of March 2023, AFRALO was 24 years old!
 
From available records in ICANN archives, the leadership and representational space within AFRALO has been conscripted and rotating within the same circle of members to the disadvantage of other members largely because of the lacuna created by the ROP by its fluidity. As of 2017, 53 member At-Large Structures constituted AFRALO and the numbers are increasing regularly that today, we have about 70 ALSs. If the organization is advancing in numbers (growth) the members should also manifest this growth by setting standards that will advance this growth (amendment). There is an African parable that says: “If there is ONLY one wealthy man in a community, that man is a poor man” Meaning, your wealth is only measured by the number of people you have inspired (encouraged) to grow and develop with/by your wealth. By implication, if what we continue to operate within AFRALO is the perpetuity or otherwise of certain members within its rank and file for the position of leadership, then, permit me to state that AFRALO is poor with stunted growth going by the African adage above. I know we are rich and hope we can be bold this time around to demonstrate it in Ghana
 
It is retardation if AFRALO cannot grow or produce officers/representatives outside the same circle in 24 years. It has become a PATTERN for anyone in AFRALO who is fortunate enough to occupy a leadership position to use that opportunity to rotate to other offices just as others before him/her have done in the past. For example, Mr Seun started as an ALAC member, became the AFRALO Chair and now going for the NOM COM position.  Ditto for Aziz, Tijani, Fatimata, and Sarah is also taking the same route. This pattern conscripts growth and development.

May I humbly state equivocally that, I have nothing personal against the examples of officers above as I enjoy good interpersonal relationships with all of them. This is about AFRALO and not about any one individual.
 
AFRALO in 2017 celebrated 20 years of active involvement with ICANN SINCE 2007. Today, AFRALO needs to be restructured if it must meet or be able to fulfill the above objectives contained in the MOU with ICANN in 2007 and Article 4.1 of its Operating Principles with consideration and adoption of any proposal draft amendment.
 
 
Advantages:
 
1.    It will inspire growth, development, and broadening of the knowledge of ICANN policies and programs amongst members.
2.    It will encourage more active participation by members.
3.    It will advance and promote the diversity and fertilization of ideas within AFRALO and by extension ICANN.
4.    This will help to build the institutional capacity of each organization with the experience and knowledge to be gained therein.
5.    This will further fulfill the provisions of the MOU and Operating Principles as enumerated above.
6.    If adopted the democratic structures of AFRALO will be strengthened further.
7.    If adopted AFRALO could become a benchmark for other RALOs to strengthen their democratic credentials as opposed to the monopoly currently playing out in these RALOs.
 
Reference: 
 
Of the other 4 RALOS, LACRALO is operating just like AFRALO in terms of succession. EURALO has just one member that has been transcending all offices and representation within its leadership. APRALO has a TWO-TERMS time limit for its officers. As for NARALO the position of the Chair, Secretary, and ALAC Representative is not TERM LIMITED except for their NOMCOM Rep who can only serve for two terms. The argument might be why would AFRALO be different from the other RALOS. The answer is very simple, Section 1.2.(a)iv, ICANN Byelaws: Employ open, transparent and bottom-up, multi-stakeholder policy development processes that are led by the private sector (including business stakeholders, civil society, the technical community, academia, and end users), while duly taking into account the public policy advice of governments and public authorities. These processes shall (A) seek input from the public, for whose benefit ICANN in all events shall act, (B) promote well-informed decisions based on expert advice, and (C) ensure that those entities most affected can assist in the policy development process;). If AFRALO could democratize its structure from its current obsolete state, it can become a benchmark for other RALOS and a good reference point for ICANN at large. The world is evolving in and institutions are dynamic-AFRALO should not be any different. 

 

Appreciation and Recognition:

 

Nurses Across the Borders is proposing that AFRALO evolve a process of recognizing and giving Awards to deserving members/organizations that have contributed and will contribute to the growth and development of AFRALO within ICANN. To this, we appreciate the contribution of Mohammed El Bashir, Mr. Tijani Ben Jemaa, Haziz Alil, Baduoine Schombe, and Madam Fatimata for all the work in developing AFRALO to its current standard. 


It is my strong belief that a Post-Humous Award BE made at the forthcoming GA for our dear friend and comrade-Late Baduoine Schombe for all his contributions to AFRALO.


In conclusion, I will implore both the leadership of AFRALO, @ICANN At-Large Staff and the Office of the Ombudsman to please, ensure that, the Proposal for the Amendments/Review of the ROP be made an IMPORTANT agenda item in Ghana, and notice should be sent out now for members to understudy and make proposals for debate and discussion in Ghana. Time is of the essence here.


May God bless Africa. May God bless AFRALO. May God bless ICANN


Yours in service to humanity:


Pastor Peters Osawaru OMORAGBON

Executive President/CEO: Nurses Across the Borders

AFRALO-ALS -Since 2010


  





I 
Pastor Peters Osawaru OMORAGBON
-Financial Secretary, Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom-CANUK
-Executive President/CEO-Nurses Across the Borders-An NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations-ECOSOC
-Designated Contact Person-United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-UNFCCC
-International Liaison Officer-Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association-NNCA-UK
-Board Member-Conference of NGOS in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations-CONGO
-Member Steering Committee Regional Committee for Africa-CONGO
-General Secretary, Civil Society Network of NGOs on Climate Change
-Fellow Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers-ICANN
-Fellow Open Society Institute-Budapest


On Tue, 9 May 2023 at 23:56, Staff @ AtLarge via AFRI-Discuss <afri-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org> wrote:

Dear AFRALO members,

 

This message is sent on behalf of the AFRALO General Assembly 2023 organizing committee (OC) . 

 

The GA OC has prepared a draft program for your upcoming General Assembly and would like to get contributions from members. 

 

Please be so kind as to review the DRAFT by adding your comments to relevant sections of the program directly into the google doc. If your comments have already been made, you may just add your support to the comment made. 

 

Please provide your comments and suggestions until Friday May 19th.

 

Thank you very much!

 

At-Large staff

 

Google link with Agenda:

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L7d9rG2Yl4-wNQRXn-5ST9ege1aswdY-/edit

 

 

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