[IGFmaglist] 2014 Interim Chair Selection

Thu Jan 23 05:22:02 EST 2014

Dear Patrick, Bill & friends,

I remember clearly on the call where the genesis of the idea came about as
to how the IGF engages with the other global IG processes both inputs in
them and informs itself, we had clearly tabeled that the MAG should also
turn the lens inwards & examine ever so delicately, whether there is scope
to reaffirm or revisit its own mandate.

Markus had also seemed receptive and so did several others in echoing the
thoughts.

For both a sense of stability- financial and institutional even
psychological so that some of the pertinent existential questions do not
take centre stage, when we can channelise the energy in more constructive
pursuits and the actual IGF, we need clarity of both tenture and the
support.

This ambiguity or a state of facts as they are communicated, though from
well meaning, honest,hardworking sincere and well intentioned people still
hurts the overall objective as more than ever before we need to build
bridges and create sustainable mechanisms for orphan issues and homes for
key questions in IG policy and even the terms of engagement. I prefer that
its the IGF an inclusive and bottom forum and not a commission that takes
this space. Currently a void.

If a statement is too strong a word, a request a proposal can and must be
tabeled for consideration. Markus has done a stellar job and if he's in
agreement instead of an interim announcement of two months we should
strongly support his candidature for permance and continuity  atleast of a
substantial duration.

This is the time to truly create communities that sustain & mentor an
enabling environment for IG to remain  participatory & multistakeholder,
and I do not see a better person more suited to fulfill the mandate.

Happy to support this initiative.

"The best government is the government that governs the least." Thoreau

I do think the sucess of the IGF, Bali despite all odds and insurmountable
ones, calls for this leap of faith and I do find us, a MAG in a state of
preparedness.

Warmest

Subi

On 23 Jan 2014 14:58, "Patrick Ryan" <patrickryan at google.com> wrote:
>
> Bill,
>
> You're absolutely right on this.  The leadership from the Secretariat and
DESA is very strong under the circumstances (limited funding, limited
time-constrained mandate, etc). However, there really has not been any
cohesive effort on the part of the MAG to unite and make statements about
what we think is important.  My attempts to try and initiate that on an
individual level (with my draft reform doc here) have also failed, perhaps
because of a combination of too much ambition, too aggressive in scope, too
aggressive generally, among other things.
>
> Starting with the Special Advisor (I sort of address that in Point I.5 of
the doc linked above) might be a good place to start.  A statement from the
MAG----or even a subset----that expresses a view in a broader way is a
great idea.
>
> Has there ever been a statement from the MAG to any effect?
>
> If you or anybody would be interested in starting a letter or other doc
to see who might be willing to sign on, I think that could be useful.  As
reflected in this email exchange, it's often difficult to separate the
people from the problem (the people are extremely well intentioned and
effective----the problems arise instead from the complexities of the
institution).  Bringing focus to some of the problems in a way that shows
consensus from the MAG would be really smart.  I'm not suggesting a vote,
but working through a unified set of recommendations would be really smart.
>
> Perhaps the initiative that Subi is leading could be part of this?
>
> Patrick
>
> ------
> patrick ryan
> public policy & gov't relations senior counsel, free expression and int'l
relations
> patrickryan at google.com | +1.512.751.5346
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 23, 2014 at 2:15 AM, William Drake <wjdrake at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> Thanks Chengetai.  Not to belabor the point, but just to be clear,
>>
>> On Jan 23, 2014, at 9:32 AM, Chengetai Masango <cmasango at unog.ch> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear Bill,
>>>
>>> I would not read it that way. My message also says that :
>>>
>>> “This step is only a stopgap measure, and the interim chair will serve
while the process of selecting and appointing a Special Advisor is
concluded. “
>>
>>
>> I did see that. But as there’s been stopgap measures before, the process
and timeline for this to be “concluded” is unclear, and it is unknown at
least to some of us whether this would entail both positions or just the
chair, as well as whether there’s an intention to solicit stakeholder input
in advance of any choices, I was just wondering if there was any interest
among MAG members in asking for clarity and urging action.  If the feeling
is that it remains advisable for the MAG to say nothing, ok we can sit in
the dark and wait for smoke signals.  Either way, I didn’t mean to cause
any discomfort...
>>
>>>
>>> Therefore action is being taken.
>>
>>
>> Noted.
>>
>> Thanks much,
>>
>> Bill
>>
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Chengetai
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 23 Jan, 2014, at 09:27, William Drake <wjdrake at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Chengetai
>>>>
>>>> On Jan 20, 2014, at 5:06 PM, Chengetai Masango <CMASANGO at unog.ch>
wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> With the announcement of the renewed MAG, the next step is to select
an interim chair, to chair the open consultations and MAG meetings for the
preparation of the  programme and schedule of the 2014 annual IGF meeting
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> So I guess this means that DESA has no intention of filling the two
posts that have been open for years any time soon, and we should just
continue to reappoint interim chairs and crawl along that way?  I’m not
sure this is the best solution at a time when the IG landscape is heating
up and the need for the IGF to be strengthened is increasing, at least in
the view of many folks. I would assume that funders would like more clarity
too…although maybe it’s already all clear to them, I’m out of that loop and
wouldn’t know.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps this is naive, but is there any way to get some sort of
declaration of intent out of DESA?
>>>>
>>>> If there’s no alternative given the timeline and UN politics and we
must appoint an interim, could we perhaps tie this to a MAG statement
saying we do not want to continue with this model beyond 2014 and need the
open positions to be filled with full-fledged appointments thereafter?
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>>
>>>> Bill
>>>>
>>>> ***********************************************
>>>> William J. Drake
>>>> International Fellow & Lecturer
>>>>   Media Change & Innovation Division, IPMZ
>>>>   University of Zurich, Switzerland
>>>> Chair, Noncommercial Users Constituency,
>>>>   ICANN, www.ncuc.org
>>>> william.drake at uzh.ch (direct), wjdrake at gmail.com (lists),
>>>>   www.williamdrake.org
>>>> ***********************************************
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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