Hi Carlos et al, I think this is my first time posting on this list, so I want to express my appreciation for all of the useful information and opinions that are shared here. Re: the "IGF We Want" paper, I agree with Nick that more specific requests/suggestions re: funding would be useful. I also want to flag the detailed observations and recommendations related to the IGF that were agreed to by a broad, multistakeholder group in the NETMundial+10 outcome document <https://netmundial.br/pdf/NETmundial10-MultistakeholderStatement-2024.pdf> (disclosure: I was one of the civil society representatives on the NM HLEG, and I believe quite a few other members of that group populate this list). Specifically, it is worth pointing out that the outcome document: - Identifies the IGF as "the process in the UN system that is best positioned to address the gap between discussion and action by building closer ties with other organizations that are central to the functioning of the Internet, but also with multilateral institutions, through ongoing innovation and experimentation within the IGF framework." - Calls for the IGF to act as the caretaker of the "Guidelines for multistakeholder consensus-building and decision-making (São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines)," and "looks forward to the IGF considering its implementation in its own processes and its further discussion and evolution." - To Nick's other point about AI, calls the IGF "the appropriate venue to follow up and monitor implementation of the GDC’s commitments," which could be read to include the UN's ongoing work on the AI Scientific Panel and Global Dialogue. - Sets forth several recommendations consistent with those in the "IGF We Want" paper, but also highlights the following important points: - The importance of diversifying participation: "A strengthened IGF can provide cohesion and facilitate participation in the context of a distributed and growing digital governance ecosystem, ensuring more inclusive and diverse participation of under-represesented countries, communities, groups and sectors, in particular from the Global South" - That a strengthened IGF also "requires improved procedures to guarantee inclusive, transparent and accountable deliberation, to generate both legitimacy and effective outcomes." - Calls for "the process for selecting the host country should be further transparent and take into account human rights, inclusivity, accessibility, and equitable conditions for attendance. Free, safe and open participation should be available to all, especially historically excluded groups." Best, Jason On Mon, May 19, 2025 at 3:12 PM Ashton-Hart, Nick via wsis20 < wsis20@icann.org> wrote:
Thanks Carlos!
At first glance I would say three things:
1. If you want stable funding, then you have to deal with the problem that the IGF isn’t part of the UN budget, as I said in my previous post. I don’t think it works to say, in effect, ‘everything is fine’ with the IGFs format and structure when it simply doesn’t deliver enough value for enough governments to become part of the formal UN budget through the Fifth Committee. That’s going to be really tough to do in the present climate but we need more states buying into the IGF’s value proposition. 2. I understand that the essential nature of the IGF is valued and should be maintained. However, it is now up against things like the AI Governance Dialogue which will absolutely become a focus of all stakeholders. I think you have to address this. Major issues like AI may need a special track of their own which is similar in many ways to the rest of the IGF, but which can, if those participating in it so choose, develop some kind of outcome – which doesn’t have to be normative – but which can be influential. 3. The biggest problem the IGF faces is quite frankly, in New York, only a relative handful of Western aligned member-states genuinely care about it and its future. That’s a problem, it isn’t going away, and the WSIS+20 review will make it worse if the criticisms the IGF faces from, particularly, developing aren’t addressed head on in a thoughtful way. There are states who raise issues with the IGF (like Russia) for simply political reasons, but that’s far from true of all who do. If this document is meant to do address that value proposition quesiton, it doesn’t. If it isn’t meant to do that, its hard to see what value it will have in New York, which is where the decisions on the IGF’s future will be made.
Separately to the AI Governance Dialogue being negotiated right now, we are coming up to the SDG review. That is absolutely going to have far more of a focus on digital issues than the current SDGs do. How is the IGF to be relevant in that review and outcome? Any document about the future of the IGF absolutely should tackle this head-on.
I hope the candour of my comments will be understood for what it is – plain speaking about real issues I believe we face that have to be confronted if we actually want the IGF to be relevant to the future of digital governance.
Last but not least, who is to be the author/transmitter/etc of this document? A multistakeholder group? Does that include states as well?
Best, Nick
*Nick Ashton-Hart* *APCO* (m) +1 202 779 1072 <+12027791072>
Book time to meet with me here <https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/ce911a0f9fa543dd9459b3a1392da25e@...>
On 5/19/25, 2:35 PM, "Carlos Reyes via wsis20" <wsis20@icann.org> wrote:
Thank you, Jimson and Nick.
Hi all,
Following up on this discussion, please let us know if there are any comments or suggestions to build out in “The IGF We Want” paper, so that we can incorporate it into a next iteration.
Best, Carlos
Carlos Reyes
Senior Policy Director
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
Washington, D.C. Engagement Center
*From: *"Ashton-Hart, Nick" <nashtonhart@apcoworldwide.com> *Date: *Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM *To: *"Jimson Olufuye, PhD." <jolufuye@kontemporary.net.ng>, Carlos Reyes <carlos.reyes@icann.org> *Cc: *Kiki Fong Lim via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org> *Subject: *[Ext] Re: [wsis20] Re: Share Your Thoughts: The IGF We Want
Some good ideas.
What I would put to you all though is we really need governments to add the IGF into the UN budget. That hasn’t happened because too many of them still don’t see enough of a value-add to going. Some of that is because the IGF is in the way of their political objectives vis a vis control of the Internet, but that doesn’t cover them all.
It seems to me this year is a good moment to ask ourselves – and some of them – what a more valuable IGF would consist of for them other than making it a negotiating forum.
*Nick Ashton-Hart* *APCO* (m) +1 202 779 1072 <+12027791072>
Book time to meet with me here [outlook.office.com] <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/ce911a...>
On 5/8/25, 5:30 PM, "Jimson Olufuye, PhD. via wsis20" <wsis20@icann.org> wrote:
Hi Carlos,
Yes. I subscribe to this.
On the point of Financial Stability of "The IGF We Want":
"*Develop a clear budget proposal for funding that is adequate to ensure the stability and continuity of the IGF. Seek diverse funding from businesses, civil society, governments, and technical community, with a targeted annual budget. ▪ Encourage long-term (e.g. five year) contributing commitments for long-term planning to pilot areas of need, and afford the opportunity to assess longer-term budgetary and strategic needs."
As a frontline Technical Community member, can we (ICANN) lead the way in providing some predictable funding mechanism for the IGF? How about appropriating a small percentage of the annual interest accruing from the Auction Proceeds to the IGF Stabilization Fund?
Thoughts?
Cheers,
JO
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On 2025-05-08 20:40, Carlos Reyes via wsis20 wrote:
Hello, WSIS+20 Outreach Network.
ICANN has developed a working draft of _The IGF We Want. _See PDF attached. The document reflects what ICANN has heard in the past several months.
Please review it and share your thoughts and suggestions on this mailing list. We welcome your input and look forward to the discussion.
Best, Carlos
Carlos Reyes
Senior Policy Director
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
Washington, D.C. Engagement Center _______________________________________________
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