[WG-Strategy] Collecting your inputs on the Options Paper main chapters

[Flávio Rech Wagner]

Dear colleagues

In its Chapter 5, the Options Paper, on establishing a Policy Incubator, 
makes the following proposal:

  * /Rather than establish a new structure, further develop the Dynamic
    Coalitions and Best Practice Fora which already organize
    intersessional work and produce recommendations and best practice
    proposals. They should be given a clear mandate, working procedures
    and principles and receive more resources and administrative support
    by the IGF Secretariat. The work of the Dynamic Coalitions and Best
    Practice Fora has to be complemented by other initiatives to link
    discussion and decision-making bodies./

In the WG document gathering our comments and suggestions regarding the 
Options Paper, I suggested the following text with regards to the above 
proposal:

  * The WG supports the proposal of the Options Paper: “....” The WG
    further suggests that BPFs and DCs should necessarily include
    experts from external organizations and, especially, representatives
    from decision-making bodies. They would discuss recommendations that
    could inform the adoption of norms and policies by decision-making
    bodies and organizations from various stakeholder groups. This way,
    these structures would also help strengthencooperation and
    coordination with other fora of the digital cooperation ecosystem
    (Chapter 3 of the Options Paper).

Despite my text above, I am not sure whether DCs are "fit for purpose" 
regarding the goals expected from the Policy Incubator concept. Most DCs 
are IMO long-living structures (despite their identification as 
"dynamic"), usually gathering like-minded stakeholders, and covering a 
broad range of issues under rather overarching themes. For implementing 
the concept of Policy Incubation, I would expect groups dealing with 
narrower issues, gathering stakeholders with very distinct perspectives, 
and concluding their work within a limited time frame. Adapting the DCs 
to this concept could require a deeper modification of their goals and 
Terms of Reference. The Policy Incubation concept seems much closer to 
the BPFs, although also requiring some adjustments in their Terms of 
Reference. I agree that we do not need a new, permanent "Policy 
Incubator" structure. I would prefer dynamic "Policy Incubation 
instances" (that could be an evolution of the current BPF model) that 
deal with more specific cross-cutting digital issues, which are not 
already covered by other existing cooperation fora, and for which 
concrete recommendations can be produced within a limited time frame. I 
would see each of those "Policy Incubation instances" living for one or 
two IGF cycles at most (while some BPFs have been existing longer than 
that).

I see this model of short-lived, dynamic "Policy Incubation instances" 
closer to supporting the goals that are expressed in the Options Paper, 
in its Chapters 3 (Strengthening Cooperation and Coordination), 4 (More 
Actionable and Concrete Outcomes) and 5 (Forging Links Between 
Discussion and Decision-Making Bodies).

DCs, in my opinion, should be kept as they are, as they seem to serve a 
different purpose, namely gathering stakeholders around broader themes 
and for a longer time.

Just food for thought.

Best regards

Flávio



> Dear Colleagues,
>
> according to the last virtual meeting I drafted the template  to 
> collect your inputs on the Options Paper document.
>
> The document is available here: 
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qQGc_qGmorKhjN4IfIYfYD5bNkq9seSk/view?usp=sharing
>
> I included few statements I think you should agree upon.
>
> Please include your thoughts and comments.
>
> Thanks a lot.
>
> Best,
>
> Titti
>
>

-- 
Prof. Flávio Rech Wagner		

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sulflavio at inf.ufrgs.br  
Instituto de Informática                       Fone: +55-51-3308 9494
Porto Alegre, Brasilhttp://www.inf.ufrgs.br/~flavio

Presidente da Internet Society Brasil
flavio at inf.ufrgs.br,info at isoc.org.br           Fone: +55-51-3308 9494
https://www.isoc.org.br                         Twitter: @ISOCBrasil
https://www.facebook.com/isocbrasil/            https://www.youtube.com/isocbrasil

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