Hi Tola, 

Adding to Gabi’s, I also applied twice after my first fellowship at ICANN51/LA. Although I joined BC immediately after that, but I was not accepted for the 2nd time application, for the 3rd time I was put in the waiting list (someone from an NGO dropped last minute, but then there was no time to arrange logistics). Then I never applied again. In the result, there was a couple of years disconnect, until I came as a community on boarding at 57/ Hyderabad (thanks to Marilyn and Janice and the BC leadership of course). I had the honour of being taken as a community mentor in the last 2 meetings (funded through the on-boarding program through), where i coached newcomers coming through the fellowship program. 

I am not sure how “business” from other regions are treated, but for Afghanistan I am the only one, through the history of the fellowship program, who came (and that only once) from business. There were two from government in the distant past, both members of the GAC, who were chosen as fellows, one time, and then since ICANN51, it is only civil society that is able to make it through the fellowship program, and to be honest, it is only one group— for ICANN60, Afghanistan had the second largest applications (19)— after Tunisia, only one from CS was picked.  

We did some analysis on business fellows, which are reflected in the document (btw- “business” by the fellowship program is referred to all CSG constituencies)- There were only 4 people from the commercial SG (not BC alone, and that includes you) who were privileged to come 3 times: Adetola from Nigeria (ICANN55, 58, 59), Mamadou from Senegal (49, 53, 59), Roger from Ghana (50, 51, 59), Julian from Argentina/ ISPC  (51, 53, 56), and only 6 people who came 2 times: Bram from Malawi (49, 54), Bionda from Aruba (51, 53), Paul from Kenya/ also At-Large (47, 50), Timur from Tajikistan/ Registry (38, 50), Hassan from Pakistan (46, 48), Fedar from Russia (44, 45). Others never had a chance to return. 

But that’s not the biggest concern, our major concern should be that how the program insures the applicants are really from “business,” and if these applicants own or run a business or have long term commitment with a business that could, potentially, become a BC member. BC has been disadvantaged because, I assume, anyone can introduce themselves as “business,” take the seat, and later on join another SG/ constituency, or disappear.

Lastly, our recommendations are and should be for good, of the fellowship program [although the tone in some parts of the document sounded a little very strong (which can be edited, and I recommend doing so)]. It is about helping the Fellowship Program, by helping it ensure transparency, efficiency and effectiveness. BC need to equally benefit from programs like the Fellowship, however, and we all know that being “business” doesn’t necessarily mean you are rich and don’t need travel support. I know some NGO folks whose monthly salary equates to the total annual income of a small business. 

On Dec 3, 2017, at 5:10 PM, Gabriela Szlak <gabrielaszlak@gmail.com> wrote:

Tola, Thanks so much for your comments.

I will answer below between your lines in blue.


Gabriela Szlak 
Skype: gabrielaszlak


La información contenida en este e-mail es confidencial. 
The information in this e-mail is confidential.


2017-12-03 3:39 GMT-03:00 'Tola Sogbesan <tola@chacesystems.com>:
Omar and Gabi,

This is an impressive edit you added as direct participants of the Fellowship Program.

I just want to have some clarification as a quality control before we push this document out.

1. I have been selected once as a Fellow and Twice as a Coach, so I wasn’t wondering if the assertion of not being selected twice once you join the BC would be taken as a Standard.


​At the time I participated in the program the "COACH" concept was not yet developed. So I never participated as a COACH. At my time a fellow was elegible 3 times as a fellow/alumn, only if that person joined any constituency at least during the second time of receiving funding and that person was expected to participate in the meeting as a member of the community and was less expected to join every fellowship activity. 
I joined the BC in my second fellowship . Then, I applied at least two more times and was not elected even though I was already an active member of the community.

Because I was not being selected directly through the Fellowship Selection Committee (and this was because I was a BC members, as far as I got to check informally) but I was considered a "case of succes" for the  Program, I received funding two more times BUT through the "newcomers program", once for Prague and once for Toronto. 

In the first experience (Prague) everything was great as I was assigned to the "newcomers booth" but under Janice guidance (she was the one helping me to keep being funded, I guess) and she was clear that my priority was to put first my BC sessions and work in the booth all the rest of the time. It was hard to keep up with everything but such a great and learning experience. I shared the booth with some ICANN employees and also with another Fellow from Rumania, in order to be able to prioritize the BC sessions. 

In Toronto though, something internally changed and Janice was not in charge anymore of the newcomers program at that meeting. The booth only had one ICANN employee assigned and myself. We were both expected to be there all the time through Wednesday. This experience was under Filiz´s orders (a person that does not work for ICANN anymore) and was not really a good one, as Filiz had no intention of puting my work as a community member in the first place, and was clear about that and bossy in a way that I did not expect. I ended up participating in some BC sessions remotely even though I was there in person and even though the booth was mostly empty.  

So, after this I dedided I was not going to accept this kind of funding anymore as it did not match my interests and it was incompatible with my work at the BC. 
   ​

 
2. To buttress your point, I equally received a request that my help is needed  by joining the Coaching team for ICANN 61 BUT only if the BC can support my travels. Does this give weight to the fact that the BC is expected to take up the responsibility of supports such new recruits through the Fellowship Program?


​Could you please describe the "Coaching Role" for me to understand better? What work are the coaches expected to do?
I am not sure the BC has the funding to support your travels, but you probably might be able to ask for CROP funding for this. 
Can anyone clarify? 
​
3. In my short time of studying the Fellowship issues, I reckon, the bickering seems to always be that the BC is CAPITALISM, whereas others like NCUC, ALAC, GAC, etc are supposedly Anti-CAPITALISM. To that extent, there would hardly be resolve, because of the opposing guiding principles.


​This is the same perception I have, the comments around my case were kind of: if she says she is business, why does she need funding at all? ​

 
Since I am new in the Outreach team, there isn’t much yet for me to say on that front but I align with the fact that Outreach guiding documents could adopt an internal on-boariding system IN ADDITION To that of ICANN MENTOR-MENTEE for new SME members particularly from less served regions either through the Fellowship or directly, 

Many thanks to Marilyn for setting the tone.


​Thanks a lot for your input and comments!
​
Cheers,

TS



On 3 Dec 2017, at 01:37, Omar Mansoor Ansari <oansari@technation.af> wrote:

<ICANN - Community Travel Support Guidelines - Questionnaire from ICANN - w comments by Gabi_Omar.docx>

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