[bestbits] Endorsement/comments: Nominees for CS to - CSTD WG on Enhanced Cooperation

Mon Mar 14 13:42:12 EDT 2016

My name is Wisdom Donkor

I nominate myself for the CSTD WG on enhanced Cooperation.

..................................................................................
*1. short bio of one paragraph,*
I am a Ghanaian , 39 years of age and work with the National Information
Technology Agency as engineer and currently the IT Manager with
specialization in e-government and infrastructure, Internet Governance and
Open Government Data initiatives policies and platforms.  I also work as
the technical lead person for the Ghana Open Data Initiative Project and
also lecture part time at the Ghana Telecom University College (Centre for
Professional Development Unit). I was the immediate past Vice General
Secretary of the Internet Society Ghana Chapter and currently the National
Secretariat Manager of the Information Technology Association of Ghana
(ITAG) and also serve as the Secretary (ex-officio) to the Executive
Management Committee of which Prof Nii Quaynor is the Chair and President.
I have being involve in the IT Industry for over 10 years in areas of ICT
Policy development, Internet Governance, Open Government Data, Software
Design and Development, Databases and Consolidation, Open Source Software
Technologies, Data Divide Privacy and Security, Big Data and analytics,
Data Management and technologies, and Human Resource Planning and
Development and also consult to many local organisations and several ICT
projects across Ghana and Abroad.

*2. My motivation to be a civil society representative to the WG*
With my deep understanding and involvement with civil society both national
and at global level couple with my passion for free open Internet, open
government data and open source software technologies, I will be honoured
to represent civil society on the working group besides, my association
with ICANN as Fellow  coach (mentor) and subsequently support staff. It
will be my privilege to  represent civil society on the working group
because Civil society has been widely recognized as one of the essential
‘third’ sector. Its strength has a positive influence on state or
government. CS is an an increasingly important agent for promoting good
governance like transparency, effectiveness, openness, responsiveness and
accountability. Civil society most often further good governance, first, by
policy analysis and advocacy; second, by regulation and monitoring of
performance and the action and behavior of institutions; third, by building
social capital and enabling citizens to identify and articulate their
values, beliefs, civic norms and democratic practices; fourth, by
mobilizing particular constituencies, particularly the vulnerable and
marginalized sections of masses, to participate more fully in national and
global affairs; and fifth, by development work to improve the well-being of
societies or communities. I believe with my experience with ICANN, IGF,
IETF, World Bank, ITU, ISOC, etc with my deep understanding of the subject
matter, I will be privilege to work and contribute to the objectives of the
working group by bringing to bear my skills and expertise.

*3. Substantive proposals or a vision on “how to further implement enhanced
cooperation as envisioned in the Tunis Agenda”*
From my perspective three main issues need to be discussed thoroughly:
Internet governance and open government data policies framework and human
right:
*1. Internet Governance and Open Government Data Initiatives:* We need to
encourage participation from as many stakeholders to explore the
relationship between access to the Internet, and the development of Open
Government Data initiatives that is geared towards cetizen empowerment and
sustainable job creation. As the number of Open Data initiatives increases
worldwide, including in countries where open governance is not common, the
Internet governance issues surrounding such release of data have yet to be
thoroughly investigated and discussed.  We need to focus on some of the
issues that have arisen with the advent of Internet governance and Open
Government Data Initiative, particularly in the African region with the
view to help focus on Internet governance, such as access, security, the
data divide and privacy. There is the need to also examine the need for
global ethical standards that can govern the responsible use of the
Internet and the release and use of data within an Internet governance
framework. In this present days, Open Government data issues are been
discussed outside Internet governance domain. I will bring to bear
perspectives from multiple internet governance stakeholders about
determination of what data is released and how it is used, this will be
done to stimulate discussion about the issues by looking at the number of
culturally influenced views on the issue of internet governance and open
government data initiatives. Internet infrastructure, access and
interoperability as well as reliability and management of data are
important for successful implementation of Internet governance and Open
Government Data policies. The policies that have been developed in Internet
governance circles have a direct effect on the use and reuse of  data and
must be acknowledged and discussed. Furthermore, inter-cultural and
multi-stakeholder dialogue is needed to help shape public interest policy
principles for Open Data and Internet governance.
2.* Human Right:* I believe that realizing human rights is the essential
first step to building just societies. When people are empowered to pursue
their own destinies and have a voice in shaping solutions to problems they
experience, they are better equipped to overcome poverty, live with dignity
and transform the lives of others. “Millions of people are suffering
enormously at the hands of states, while governments are shamelessly
painting the protection of human rights as a threat to security, law and
order or national ‘values.'" There is an insidious and creeping trend
undermining human rights which has come from governments deliberately
attacking, under funding or neglecting institutions that have been set up
to help protect our rights. The United Nations’ human rights bodies, the
International Criminal Court, and regional mechanisms such as the Council
of Europe and the Inter American Human Rights system, are being undermined
by governments attempting to evade oversight of their domestic records.
Amnesty international has stated in their 2015 – 2016 report that
governments are broken international law in their national contexts: more
than 98 states tortured or otherwise ill-treated people and 30 or more
illegally forced people to do things against their will where they would be
in danger. In at least 18 countries, war crimes or other violations of the
“laws of war” were committed by governments or armed groups. “Instead of
recognizing the crucial role these people play in society, many governments
have deliberately set out to strangle criticism in their country. They
broken their own laws in their crackdowns against citizens,” My question
now is:  Is there any charter of human right and principles for the
Internet? If yes to what extent has it influence human right policies on
the Internet and if no is there any plans to lead the process.

This are issues that need to be taken into consideration and discussed
thoroughly and  deal with it on its merit.

*4. My experience or qualifications to represent civil society on the WG.*

I have been an active member of the global Internet governance community
since 2012 focused on facilitating meaningful civil society engagement at
both national and global forum. With my professional, technical and human
resource planing and development background and my involvement  with ICANN,
ISOC, IETF,  World Bank Open Data team,  Global open data working group,
Diplo Foundation, Open Government partnership (OGP), ITU, Global Open Data
for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN), Open Data Institute (ODI), USAID,
UNDP activities couple with over 10 years of working experience within the
ICT field within the public and private sector, I have gain the needed
experience and understanding of the governance related issues. I am more
than convinced that I do have the professional capacity to work and adhere
and subscribe  to the Tunes Agenda.

5. Name, gender, regional/geographical, as well as any appropriate
affiliation information and contact information should be included as well.

Gender: Male
Name: Wisdom Donkor
Nationality: Ghana
Affiliation: National Information Technology Agency, Ghana/
Ghana Open Data Initiative.

Contact: 0243380618
Mobile: 0208128851

*WISDOM DONKOR (S/N Eng.)*
ICANN Fellow / ISOC Member, IGF Member, Diplo Foundation
OGP Working Group Member, Africa OD Working Group Member
E-government and Open Government Data Platforms Specialist
National Information Technology Agency (NITA)
Ghana Open Data Initiative (GODI)
Post Office Box CT. 2439, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
Tel; +233 20 812881
Email: wisdom_dk at hotmail.com
wisdom.donkor at data.gov.gh
wisdom.dk at gmail.com
Skype: wisdom_dk
facebook: facebook at wisdom_dk
Website: www.nita.gov.gh / www.data.gov.gh
www.isoc.gh / www.itag.org.gh

Post Office Box CT. 2439, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
Tel; +233 20 812881
Email: wisdom_dk at hotmail.com
wisdom.donkor at data.gov.gh
wisdom.dk at gmail.com
Skype: wisdom_dk
facebook: facebook at wisdom_dk
Website: www.nita.gov.gh / www.data.gov.gh
www.isoc.gh / www.itag.org.gh

On Sun, Mar 13, 2016 at 10:28 PM, Nadira Alaraj <nadira.araj at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Dear Best Bits Members,
> I'm glad to share with you the following nominees to the CSTD WG on
> Enhanced Cooperation through the Best Bits mailing list that will be
> forwarded to the NomCom by the end of March 15th.
>
> -
> 
> Lea Kaspar
> - Anriette Esterhuysen
>
> Their nomination emails to this list are included below in the order of
> date received.
> I appreciate any endorsements/comments to this list directly, or to me
> off-list by March 15th.
>
> Best wishes,
> Nadira Alaraj
> Liaise of BestBits nominees to the CSCG
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From:
> 
> Lea Kaspar <lea at gp-digital.org>
> Date: Sun, Mar 13, 2016 at 12:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [bestbits] *reminder*
> 
> Call for Nominations for civil representatives - CSTD WG on Enhanced
> Cooperation
> To: Nadira Alaraj <nadira.araj at gmail.com>
> Cc: "<bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>" <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>
>
> Dear Nadira, all,
>
> Please find below my expression of interest to become one of the 5 civil
> society representatives on the UN CSTD Working Group on Enhanced
> Cooperation. I thank this group in advance for considering my application.
> Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
> Warm wishes,
> Lea
> ---
>
> >  short bio of one paragraph,
>
> Lea Kaspar heads Global Partner Digital <http://www.gp-digital.org/>'s
> (GPD) programmatic portfolio and leads the organisation’s international
> policy arm. Since joining GPD in 2012, she has been concentrating upon
> facilitating multistakeholder dialogue and civil society engagement in
> international internet governance debates. She has developed and
> coordinated information sharing, capacity building, and advocacy
> initiatives at the Global Conference on Cyberspace (GCCS), NETmundial, the
> WSIS+10 Review process, the 2013-2014 UN CSTD Working Group on Enhanced
> Cooperation (WGEC), and various processes of the International
> Telecommunication Union (ITU). She is a member of the Internet Governance
> Forum (IGF) Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG), a member of the UK
> Multistakeholder Group on Internet Governance (MAGIG), and sits on the
> Steering Committee of the UK IGF.
>
> > one paragraph of motivation to be a civil society representative to CSTD
> Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation,
>
> Following the conclusion of the WSIS Review Process, the WGEC will become
> a critical space to shape the normative landscape of global internet
> governance. It will present an opportunity to push a positive agenda for
> change, and, at the same time, pose a threat to the gains that we, as a
> global community, have made since the WSIS in 2005. With a growing trend to
> close and limit the space for public interest voices in internet governance
> debates, civil society will have a key role at WGEC to resist a reading of
> enhanced cooperation that is reserved for governments, and instead offer a
> vision that involves all stakeholders, based on the principles of openness,
> transparency and inclusiveness. Furthermore, WGEC will be an opportunity
> for civil society to build on the outcomes of the 2013-14 WGEC and
> NETmundial by demystifying the flexible, issue-based understanding of roles
> and responsibilities of stakeholders in internet governance. Building on
> the insight gained during WGEC 2013-14, my engagement  in the WSIS Review,
> and my experience on the IGF MAG, I would be privileged to contribute to
> this outcome by bringing my skills and expertise to the Working Group as
> one of its civil society representatives.
>
> > one paragraph describing substantive proposals or a vision on “how to
> further implement enhanced cooperation as envisioned in the Tunis
> Agenda”, and
>
> The notion of enhanced cooperation as a principle of governance matters
> insofar as it contributes to achieving the WSIS vision of a
> “people-centered, development-oriented information society”. Although
> anchored around the question of the role of governments, enhanced
> cooperation in support of the WSIS vision cannot be achieved without the
> involvement of all stakeholders. The most important immediate task in
> further implementing it will therefore be to clarify the roles of
> responsibilities of different stakeholders in internet governance. A
> starting point for this task is provided in the NETmundial outcome
> document
> <http://netmundial.br/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/NETmundial-Multistakeholder-Document.pdf>which
> states that “the respective roles and responsibilities of stakeholders
> should be interpreted in a flexible manner with reference to the issue
> under discussion”. As a member of the WGEC, I would seek to leverage the
> NETmundial outcome, as well as the mapping output of WGEC 2013-14, in order
> to develop practical recommendations to promote a flexible, issue-based
> understanding of roles and responsibilities, and a vision of enhanced
> cooperation based upon principles of openness, transparency, and
> inclusiveness.
>
> > one paragraph describing experience or qualifications to represent civil
> society on the CSTD Working Group.
>
> I have been an active member of the global internet governance community
> since 2012, focused on facilitating meaningful civil society engagement
> in international forums and processes, including at the recent WSIS+10
> Review and the 2013-14 WGEC. During the 2013-14 WGEC, I participated as
> an active observer in 4 out of 5 meetings of the Group. Following its
> establishment, I joined the WGEC Correspondence Group, and played a
> critical role in developing the mapping output of the Group, which served
> as the basis for the CSTD mapping report
> <http://www.giplatform.org/sites/default/files/CSTD_2014_Mapping_Internet_en%20Dec%202014.pdf>
> issued in November 2014. Through this engagement, I gained invaluable
> insight into the dynamics of the enhanced cooperation debate that I would
> seek to leverage as a civil society representative in the group’s reboot.
>
> > Name, gender, regional/geographical, as well as any appropriate
> affiliation information and contact information should be included as well.
>
> Gender: Female
>
> Nationality: Croatian (UN regional group: Eastern European)
>
> Affiliation: Global Partners Digital, UK
> ---
>
> *Lea Kaspar*
>
> Head of Programmes and International Policy | 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
> <http://gp-digital.org/>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From:
> 
> Anriette Esterhuysen <anriette at apc.org>
> Date: Sun, Mar 13, 2016 at 9:21 PM
> Subject: [bestbits] CSTD Working Group on Enhanced cooperation
> To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org, "bestbits at lists.bestbits.net" <
> bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>
>
>
> Dear all
>
> I am not asking for endorsement as it is too late, but just sharing that
> I have put my name forward within the APC network.
>
> This is a very important working group in my view, and one that can be
> used to to talk about the role of government in internet governance -
> what it should be and what it need not be - one of the conversations
> that seems to always be either truncated, or avoided. I believe that
> having this conversation, and recognising that there is a role for
> government and that there is a need for conversation among them does not
> imply abandoning multistakeholder approaches.
>
> Talking about governments role and about how they interact with one
> another and about how regulation can counter monopolies without
> encroaching on rights should and could contribute to creating more
> inclusive (of nonstate actors) processes at national level and a more
> open and public internet.
>
> The previous group did make progress but also struggled to really break
> new ground. Now that the WSIS+10 review has happened, and the IGF has
> been renewed, and the IANA transition is in process, I think it will  be
> easier to engage in constructive and critical discussion.
>
> This group has the potential to develop a common understanding of
> principles for "enhanced" or "effective" cooperation, and come up with
> proposals for mechanisms that can complement and reinforce existing
> processes.
>
> Best
>
> Anriette Esterhuysen
> APC
>
>
>
>
>
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