Call for Volunteers: ccNSO Strategic and Operational Planning Committee (SOPC)
The ccNSO launches a call for volunteers for the ccNSO Strategic and Operational Planning Committee (SOPC). The call for volunteers will be open for a limited period, closing
on Wednesday, 3 December 2025 (23:59 UTC).
SOPC seeks active contributors, to help prepare among others the SOPC comment to the upcoming proposed ICANN Fiscal Year 27 Operating Plan and Budget. Work is expected to intensify
around the mid-December to mid-February timeframe.
OBJECTIVE | The SOPC supports ccTLD managers’ involvement
in ICANN’s strategic, operational, and budget planning. Under its charter, it may offer its own positions and submit input to ICANN processes. The views in this submission represent the SOPC alone, not the ccNSO, its members, the broader ccTLD community, or
individual ccTLD managers.
In fulfilling its objective, the Committee should focus on topics relevant from a ccTLD and/or ccNSO perspective, as well as those issues that are
of high importance to the ICANN community. The Committee is mandated to submit a Rejection Action Petition, when appropriate, against the ICANN and IANA budgets, as well as their strategic and operating plans in accordance with:
MEMBERSHIP | Membership is open to all representatives
of ccTLD managers (members and non-members of the ccNSO) who have ongoing commitment to actively participate in the activities of the working group. The activities of SOPC are focused on the requests for comments around ICANN Strategic Plan and Operating
Plan. Members of the working group will be appointed by the ccNSO Council, considering the background of the applicants to reflect the diversity of the ccTLD community. Regional Organizations may nominate a representative as an observer.
WORKING METHODS AND TIME COMMITMENTS |
SOPC relies on active contributions of its members. To prepare the SOPC comment to the upcoming proposed ICANN Fiscal Year 27 Operating Plan and Budget, the SOPC members will
be distributed over smaller teams, that each focus on a specific area of the proposals that will be published for public comments.
Further information about the process for drafting SOPC comments, and a tentative timeline, is available
here (slide 68 to 70).
TERM | Every
year, to be determined by the SOPC, the members of the Committee will be asked whether they want to continue to serve thereon. If considered necessary for the continuity of the work of the Committee, the Chair of the Committee may invite the ccNSO Council
to request that the Secretariat publish a call for volunteers. The ccNSO Council will then appoint the proposed new members.
HOW TO APPLY | If you are interested in joining the
working group, please submit your application by 3 December 2025 (23:59 UTC). To apply, complete the form
here https://forms.gle/ZNkcqAiFk1EvuWqX6
You will be asked to provide your full name and contact details, your ccTLD affiliation, and a brief statement outlining your qualifications
and motivation for joining the group.
To facilitate your participation in the ccNSO representing your ccTLD, we will require an ICANN
Account, which is the ccNSO's and ICANN's platform to manage participation.
If you already have an ICANN Account (e.g. for registering at ICANN meetings), please login to your ICANN Account using the email address that you use for your ccNSO work and verify
that your profile is up to date. If you do not have an ICANN Account or are unsure, please create an ICANN Account at your earliest convenience.
NEXT STEPS | Members shall be appointed by the ccNSO
Council after closure of the call for volunteers. Additionally, all members and participants to this working group will have to complete a Statement of Interest (SOI). Fill out the form
here: https://forms.gle/79Jw4wSnNhn5W4Z46
If you have questions, please contact us at ccnsosecretariat@icann.org
BACKGROUND
Further information about the process for drafting SOPC comments, and a tentative timeline for the December-February timeframe,
is available
here (slide 68 to 70).