[bestbits] input from past MAG CS reps pls? Re: Short listing proposal of candidates to CSCG for MAG2016

Tue Jan 26 14:21:54 EST 2016

Hi all,

With apologies for coming to this debate slightly late, I'd like to build
on Ginger's comments by offering a few reflections on my experience on the
MAG this past year.

For those of you who don't know me, I joined the MAG as part of last year's
CS intake as one of the CSCG-endorsed reps.

*In terms of workload* - as Ginger said, it varies depending on the period.
In my experience, it can range from a minimum of 2 hours/month (needed to
participate in the monthly calls) to a full-time job, especially as you get
closer to the annual conference and depending on how much intercessional
work you take on. To give you a rough idea - since joining in December
2014, I attended 3 physical MAG meetings (2xGeneva, 1xParis) and a number
of meetings that took place on the margins, attended cca 10 monthly
coordination calls, actively participated in several ad hoc working groups
(this included calls, work on documents, contribution to designated mailing
lists), initiated or contributed to a number of threads on the main MAG
mailing list, evaluated IGF session proposals (this alone took a few days),
and coordinated one IGF main session (by the time we got to Joao
Pessoa, this became a part time job).

*In terms of impact *- I have personally found that every MAG member can
make a difference and influence the debate, regardless of which stakeholder
group they belong to. Due to the nature of the space which relies on
voluntary efforts of its members, the MAG offers ample opportunity for
those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work with others to
shape outcomes. When it comes to intercessional work, the ability to make a
difference is even greater. The work that Avri has done on the BPF on
multistakeholder approaches to governance is an excellent example of this.

This is not to say that there are no structural obstacles or individual
interests that one needs to deal with, which is particularly the case when
it comes to initiatives that aim to change the status quo. However, on
average, I have found that most arguments and initiatives are judged on
their merit. If an initiative is supported by a critical mass of MAG
members, it is unlikely that the Chair will ignore it or that another MAG
member will be able to block it. What I'd say is crucial is being able to
work constructively across stakeholder groups and to garner support from
other MAG members in advance of putting a proposal forward. I learned this
the hard way last year when I failed to get traction for a proposal to set
up a MAG self-evaluation working group. Basically, we need hard-working
people with a strong sense of vision and diplomatic skills that apply in a
multistakeholder setting. I hope the CSCG takes this into consideration as
they deliberate which names to put forward to DESA on CS' behalf.

Thinking ahead, there are several things that we could do to maximise our
impact. One thing that the private sector on the MAG does really well is
structured and strategic coordination managed via ICC-Basis (who also
coordinate private sector MAG nominations). This includes setting up calls
and meetings before and during MAG physical meetings, as well as targeted
informal outreach to non-private sector MAG members (like organising a
social event on the margins of the physical MAG meetings). It might be
worth thinking about how we could improve CS coordination going forward.
For instance, is there scope within the CSCG mandate to consider acting as
a coordinating mechanism for MAG-CS? Not sure if that is the appropriate
solution, but improved CS-MAG coordination is something I think we could
benefit from. Interested to hear what others think.

Lastly, I agree with Ginger that it would be great to get a better sense
from this community which issues we should be bringing to the MAG agenda as
we move into the next annual cycle (both in terms of intercessional work
and the annual conference itself).

In the meantime, good luck to all the candidates - I'm excited to see how
we can work together to further strengthen and improve the IGF.

Best wishes,
Lea

---

*Lea Kaspar*

Head of Programmes | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL

Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL

T: +44 (0)20 3818 3258 | M: +44 (0)7583 929216

gp-digital.org

On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 8:51 PM, Ginger Paque <gpaque at gmail.com> wrote:

> I wish we had discussed this earlier - this is a great question. Here's my
> quick answer after my first year on the MAG:
>
> The MAG sometimes requires a lot of time and energy, and other times none.
> The first year requires a lot of patience, as we learn the ropes,
> particularly how to manage 'negotiating' within the UN procedures. It also
> requires patience and mentoring from experienced members.
>
> MAG members do have input, and are heard. Group work and strategies for
> supporting each other are important, and we have CS members who are very
> good at this. Candidates should be willing to learn, to adapt, and to work
> in a group.
>
> I would say that MAG members also need more input from our groups. Sooo...
> that said, I guess we have to ask for more input, and you have to give more
> too.
>
> If anyone wants specific points or issues introduced, they should write a
> contribution to the IGF right now, and then let the CS MAG members know
> about it so we can work on it together, if appropriate.
>
> Cheers, Ginger
>
>
>
> Ginger (Virginia) Paque
> DiploFoundation
>
> *DiploFoundation upcoming online courses:*
> http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses
> * <http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses>*
>
>
> On 25 January 2016 at 09:47, Carolina Rossini <carolina.rossini at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> It would be great if previous MAG CS members shared their experience here
>> and also how "hard" or not MAG can be. And how much they were actually able
>> to influence in the decisions.  That could help people decide their votes.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 10:31 AM, Miguel Ignacio Estrada <
>> miestrada at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> +1 for all the candidates, +10 for Renata, I love everything she is
>>> doing for her community and the region
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 7:20 AM, Burcu Kilic <bkilic at citizen.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I guess Nadira missed my endorsements. +1 for the three candidates -
>>>> particularly +++++ 1 for Jeremy J
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *From:* bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net [mailto:
>>>> bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net] *On Behalf Of *Nadira Alaraj
>>>> *Sent:* Monday, January 25, 2016 10:23 AM
>>>> *To:* <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>
>>>> *Subject:* [bestbits] Short listing proposal of candidates to CSCG for
>>>> MAG2016
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dear BestBits members,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I would like to thank all of you who took part in showing your interest
>>>> and those who endorsed, to the candidacy of MAG2016.
>>>>
>>>> Below is a summary of the correspondences on this regards.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As per requested by the CSCG to submit a maximum of 3 names and per the
>>>> results of your endorsements. I would like to pass to the CSCG the names of
>>>> the first three on the list below because the 4th on this list got minimal
>>>> endorsements.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I appreciate if you have any other opinion, please let me know in
>>>> couple of hours before sending my recommendations by the end of the day in
>>>> my time zone which will be 10PM UTC.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Nominees
>>>>
>>>> Endorsement  with comments by Marilia Maciel
>>>>
>>>> +1 endorsements
>>>>
>>>> Jeremy Malcolm
>>>>
>>>> (USA)
>>>>
>>>> (Interest date: Jan 4)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> +1 to Jeremy, publicly thanking you for all the work you have put in
>>>> the evaluation sheets this year. It would be of great importance to have
>>>> Jeremy on the MAG to strengthen its outcome-oriented feature.
>>>>
>>>> Ephraim Percy Kenyanito,
>>>>
>>>> Becky Lentz,
>>>>
>>>> João Carlos R. Caribé,
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Rossini
>>>>
>>>> *off-list*: 2
>>>>
>>>> Renata Aquino Ribeiro
>>>>
>>>> (Brazil)
>>>>
>>>> (Interest date: Jan 5)
>>>>
>>>> +1 to Renata, who has been such an active and vocal member of our
>>>> Brazilian IG community and a contributor to global debates in ICANN and
>>>> IGF.  Her academic expertise can be very useful to the group.
>>>>
>>>> Ephraim Percy Kenyanito,
>>>>
>>>> Becky Lentz,
>>>>
>>>> João Carlos R. Caribé,
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Rossini,
>>>>
>>>> Nathalia Foditsch
>>>>
>>>> *off-list*:1
>>>>
>>>> Deirdre Williams
>>>>
>>>> (Santa Lucia)
>>>>
>>>> (Interest date: Jan 12)
>>>>
>>>> +1 to Deirdre who has a tremendous experience in IG issues acquired
>>>> throughout the years, always showing in her positions a deep concern with
>>>> the "human" aspect of our discussions and with the end user.
>>>>
>>>> Ephraim Percy Kenyanito,
>>>>
>>>> Becky Lentz,
>>>>
>>>> João Carlos R. Caribé,
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Rossini
>>>>
>>>> *off-list*:2
>>>>
>>>> Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro
>>>>
>>>> (Fiji)
>>>>
>>>> (Interest date: Jan 22)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *off-list*:1
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Best wishes,
>>>>
>>>> Nadira Alaraj
>>>> Liaise of BestBits nominees to the CSCG
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ____________________________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Nacho Estrada | @acmuzic <http://twitter.com/acmuzic>
>>>
>>> ____________________________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Carolina Rossini *
>> *Vice President, International Policy*
>> *Public Knowledge*
>> *http://www.publicknowledge.org/ <http://www.publicknowledge.org/>*
>> + 1 6176979389 | skype: carolrossini | @carolinarossini
>>
>>
>> ____________________________________________________________
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>
>
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