ICANN, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, announced on Friday an initiative aimed at increasing African participation and influence within the organisation.
The initiative, supported by AFRINIC, Africa’s Regional Registry for Internet Number Resources, and leading members of the ICANN community, is reported to be a result of a meeting which took place in June 2012 that involved Steve Crocker, Chairman of ICANN’s Board of Directors, ICANN’s CEO-Designate Fadi Chehadé and its Interim CEO Akram Atallah with African community members at ICANN’s 44th Public Meeting, in Prague, Czech Republic.
With the aim of developing a framework for ICANN’s Africa strategy, the initiative’s initial plan will be announced at the October 2012 Public Meeting in Toronto, Canada.
It is hoped the strategy will both support a stronger presence for ICANN in Africa as well as increase African participation in ICANN. The aim is to foster the promotion of the multi-stakeholder model in Africa at the government, civil society and private sector levels.
To contribute to the development of the new strategy, a working group was created and endorsed by the African community members meeting in Prague, including key players in Internet governance from different regions in Africa. The working group has selected Nii Quaynor of Ghana, a well-respected Internet leader in Africa, to lead its efforts.
ICANN has appointed Tarek Kamel of Egypt to serve as a Senior Advisor to its President and CEO on global issues, and to work with the group to develop the initial strategic plan that will be announced in Toronto. The working group unanimously endorsed this choice. Tarek is well known for his long record of achievements in promoting the Internet and its multi-stakeholder model in developing countries.
This is a great effort by ICANN in its effort toward stronger global engagement, with a special focus on developing countries.
