Dear colleagues, People often ask how someone remains active within ICANN for nearly a decade without losing interest, patience, or belief in the multistakeholder model. The answer, at least for me, is simple. I stayed because I kept learning. I joined the ICANN ecosystem almost 10 years ago. Over the years, I have observed, listened, contributed, disagreed, drafted, coordinated, defended positions, organized meetings, managed tensions and helped carry responsibilities both visible and invisible across our community spaces. Like many within NCSG and NPOC, my journey did not begin with titles. It began quietly through curiosity, commitment and a belief that public interest voices matter in Internet governance. Today, I am seeking the position of Chair of the Not-for-Profit Organizations Constituency (NPOC). I currently represent NCUC within the NCSG Policy Committee and have previously served within the NPOC leadership team as Secretariat, Communications Chair and Policy Chair. These different responsibilities allowed me to understand NPOC not only politically and strategically, but also administratively and institutionally. I understand the daily operational realities of the constituency, the coordination challenges, the policy workload, the community expectations and the importance of maintaining continuity while creating space for renewal. Over the years, I have actively contributed to ICANN policy and community processes including PDPs, public comments, policy coordination discussions, stakeholder engagement activities and regional Internet governance initiatives. Beyond ICANN, my professional work focuses on digital governance, cybersecurity governance, AI policy, digital sovereignty and multistakeholder cooperation across Africa and internationally. I am currently working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as an International Consultant supporting the Government of Guinea in the development of its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. I also coordinate the Secretariat of the West Africa Internet Governance Forum, where I work closely with governments, technical communities, civil society organizations and regional institutions on Internet governance and digital policy coordination across West Africa. *Why am I running for Chair?* Because I believe NPOC enters an important moment in its evolution. The digital governance environment is becoming more complex. Policy debates are becoming more technical. Participation inequalities continue to persist across regions and stakeholder groups. At the same time, nonprofit organizations around the world increasingly face operational, financial, linguistic and structural barriers to meaningful participation within global governance spaces. NPOC must continue evolving into a stronger, more coordinated and more visible constituency capable of supporting its members while contributing effectively to ICANN policy development processes. *If elected, I would work around several priorities.* First, strengthening internal coordination and communication across the constituency. Communities function better when members understand ongoing work, feel included in discussions and can contribute without feeling intimidated by institutional complexity. Second, reinforcing policy participation and continuity. Too often, a small number of people carry most of the policy burden. We need stronger mentorship, better onboarding and more collaborative policy coordination mechanisms to ensure sustainability across leadership cycles. Third, supporting greater participation from underrepresented regions, particularly from the Global South. ICANN cannot claim global legitimacy if participation realities remain structurally unequal. NPOC can play an important role in helping bridge some of these gaps. Fourth, preserving NPOC’s institutional memory while remaining open to new ideas, new contributors and new approaches. One of the strengths of this community is the experience accumulated across years of volunteer contribution. That experience should continue to guide and support newer generations entering the space. I do not believe leadership within ICANN should be performative or distant. I believe leadership should remain accessible, collaborative, patient and accountable to the community it serves. I do not claim to have all the answers. None of us do. But I believe I bring institutional experience, continuity, policy understanding and a long-term commitment to this community. Most importantly, I remain deeply attached to the values that brought many of us here in the first place. Public interest participation, inclusion, openness, diversity and the belief that Internet governance should not be reserved for the most powerful voices alone. It would be an honor to serve the NPOC community as Chair. Name: Emmanuel Vitus Affiliation: Internet Society Togo Chapter / West Africa Internet Governance Forum Secretariat/ Afrotribune Media Foundation/ Front Numériques Position applied for: Chair, Not-for-Profit Organizations Constituency (NPOC) *Do you have any conflict(s) of interest?:* At the time of this statement, I am not aware of any conflict of interest that would prevent me from serving the constituency independently and in the best interest of the community. In the spirit of transparency and accountability, I remain committed to updating my Statement of Interest (SOI) whenever a professional engagement, advisory role or consultancy could potentially intersect with ICANN policy matters or community responsibilities. Over the past 24 months, I have worked as an independent consultant and researcher on digital governance, AI governance, cybersecurity governance and Internet policy issues with governments, regional institutions, international organizations, international NGOs and not-for-profit organizations across Africa and internationally. These engagements have included consultancy or advisory work with organizations and institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, ICANN, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the ECOWAS Commission, Smart Africa, CFI Médias, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), NIYEL, Paradigm Initiative and other public interest and development actors. I am currently serving as an International Consultant with UNDP supporting the Government of Guinea in the development of its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Should any current or future engagement create an actual, perceived or potential conflict in relation to NPOC responsibilities or ICANN policy processes, I will transparently disclose and update my SOI accordingly. *How many hours per week are you able to dedicate to the position:* Approximately 15 hours per week. *Are you involved in any Working Groups or PDP efforts, if so please state:* Yes. I currently represent NCUC within the NCSG Policy Committee and remain actively involved in ICANN policy discussions, stakeholder engagement initiatives and broader Internet governance coordination efforts at regional and global levels. Over the years, I have also contributed to various policy development discussions, public comments and community coordination processes across the ICANN ecosystem. Kind regards, *Emmanuel *