[governance] Reconstituting MAG

[Adam Peake]

Parminder, I've cleaned up the mixed fonts etc.  Hopefully now plain text.

I've edited and where important noted the new text.



The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus's 
input on issue of multi-stakeholder advisory 
group (MAG) renewal / restructuring  [added 
multi-stakeholder advisory group to the title]

With Athens and Rio meetings behind us, we are of 
the opinion that IGF is getting firmly 
established as the key global forum for an 
inclusive dialogue on various Internet policy 
issues. This has led to different stakeholder 
groups beginning to understand and appreciate 
each others viewpoints, which sets the context of 
a socially and politically engaged development of 
the Internet through appropriate policy guidance 
as required.

Rio brought in new topics for discussion, and 
also tried new forms of interactions. These are 
all steps in the right direction. However, we 
think that IGF, New Delhi, should take some firm 
steps toward realizing the full potential of this 
unique global institution.

In a later statement we will provide inputs on 
possible improvements in the format for IGF, New 
Delhi, and the themes that should be taken up in 
the main sessions. Here we will present some 
suggestions regarding renewal and restructuring 
of MAG.

MAG is the driving seat of the IGF, and 
restructuring MAG is basic to making the IGF more 
effective and productive. We appreciate the new 
measures of transparency taken with respect to 
MAG's working. We are of the view that MAG should 
work through two elists -- one open and other 
closed. Since MAG discusses issues of public 
importance, normally discussions should be open 
to public scrutiny. However we do understand that 
there can be some circumstances requiring closed 
discussions. All discussions taken to the closed 
list should be listed, and summaries of them 
provided as appropriate. By the same rule 
transcripts should be provided of all face to 
face meetings of the MAG, unless some topics are 
expressly chosen to be dealt in a closed manner, 
in which case such topics should be listed, and 
summary of discussions provided as appropriate.

Membership of the MAG

(text to be decided.) Since the process that 
built towards Meryem/ Ian formulation failed, I 
will request someone to suggest fresh text for 
this.

**** Then I'll try (following is a mix of old and new text)

[start] 
* We think that 40 is a good number for MAG 
members. One third of MAG members should be 
rotated every year.

* In the interest of transparency and 
understanding the responsibilities of MAG 
members, when making appointments to the MAG we 
ask the Secretary General to explain which 
interested group that person is associated with.

* Civil society has been under represented in the 
multi-stakeholder advisory groups appointed in 
2006 and 2007, this anomaly should be corrected 
in this round of rotation and a fair balance of 
members between all stakeholders assured. At 
least one quarter of the MAG membership must be 
drawn from Civil Society. Fair civil society 
representation is necessary to ensure legitimacy 
for this new experiment in global governance. 
[all the stuff about numbers deleted]

* Stakeholder representatives should be chosen 
based on appropriate processes of self-selection 
by stakeholder groups. We do appreciate that it 
is difficult to recognize any one stakeholder 
entity, or even a given set of them, as 
completely representing the whole of that 
particular stakeholder group. This complicates 
the process of selection, especially in the case 
of civil society and business sectors, and makes 
for some scope for the final selecting authority 
exercising a degree of judgment. This, however, 
should be done in a completely transparent 
manner. Deviations from the self-selection 
processes of stakeholder groups should be kept to 
the minimum.  [some words deleted from the end of 
the last sentence, think they were too much to 
demand]

* When recommending members of the MAG all 
stakeholders should ensure diversity in terms of 
gender, geography, and, where applicable, special 
interest groups. [some change to wording]

[no comments on other stakeholders, just focus on CS]

[end]



Special Advisors and Chair

* The need for Special Advisors, their role in 
the MAG and criteria for their selection should 
be clarified. Consideration for diversity as 
mentioned above must be maintained in the 
selection of Special Advisors. [some change to 
wording]

* We are of the opinion that in keeping with the 
multi-stakeholder nature of the MAG, there should 
only be one chair, nominated by the UN SG. The 
host country should be able to nominate a deputy 
chair, an arrangement that would be helpful in 
context of various issues of logistics for the 
annul IGF meetings. In any case, we will like to 
understand the division of work and 
responsibility between the two chairs in the 
present arrangement? It may be too late to move 
over to the suggested new arrangement for the New 
Delhi meeting, especially if the Indian 
government representative has already taken over 
as the co-chair, but we can take a decision now 
about the post-Delhi phase.

Role and Structure of the MAG

With the experience of two years of IGF, it is 
also the right time to re-visit the role and the 
structure of MAG. It will be appropriate to list 
out the functions that MAG is expected to play.

* One function is of course to make all 
arrangements for the annual IGF meeting. We must 
reviews MAG's experience with carrying out this 
function. What more needs to be done by MAG to 
further improve the effectiveness of the IGF? We 
are of the opinion that MAG must review its 
decision making processes to make them more 
effective. These are especially important if IGF 
is to evolve into something more than what it is 
today, to enable it to fulfill all aspects of its 
mandate.

* It will be very useful for MAG to work through 
working groups. These WGs should prepare for each 
main session and the set of workshops connected 
to this main session. WGs can also be used for 
managing internal tasks of MAG more effectively.

* We will also like greater clarity at this point 
whether MAG has any substantive identity other 
than advising the UN SG. For instance, to carry 
out some part of the mandate which requires 
'interfacing', 'advising', identifying issues', 
'giving recommendations' etc, MAG needs to be 
able to represent IGF. It looks highly 
impractical that these tasks can cohere in the UN 
SG.

* [delete this para - I don't think appropriate 
for the MAG to do.  It is something we should 
recommended in the other contribution be 
addressed by the New Delhi meeting as (probably) 
part of the taking stock/way forward session and 
associated workshops.] Having some authority and 
identity of its own is also required for MAG to 
do some important regular tasks like assessing 
how well is the Tunis Agenda mandate being 
fulfilled by the IGF and what more needs to be 
done. Does MAG ever undertake, or propose to 
undertake, such an exercise? If not MAG, who 
would carry out this exercise, which needs to be 
done with full engagement of all stakeholders.

* MAG should prepare an annual report for the 
IGF. This report should mention IGF activities 
and performance for the year against relevant 
parts of the TA which lays out its mandate, and 
also outline plans for the year ahead [I think 
planning the year ahead impossible given the 
evolving nature of the IGF]. [new:] We suggest 
this report, once adopted by the Secretary 
General would also satisfy the requirements of 
para 75 of the Tunis Agenda and prepare for 
discussion about the desirability of continuing 
the Forum beyond 2010.

* IGF should actively encourage regional and 
national level IGFs, which should be truly 
multi-stakeholder. A specific plan should be 
drawn out for this purpose, possibly using a WG. 
Such a need is also expressed in the paragraph 80 
of TA.

replace "Greater financial support for the IGF, 
through untied public funds, is one of the 
central imperatives for improving the 
effectiveness, and consequently, the 
meaningfulness, of the IGF. We understand that a 
meeting among potential funders is being held in 
Geneva around the February consultations on this 
issue, and we look forward to some positive 
results from that meeting." with  New:  The 
United Nations needs to recognise that the IGF is 
the outcome of a UN process and should ensure 
that it has the resources it needs to fulfil its 
mandate as defined at the Tunis Summit in 2005. 
[from APC statement] We have great respect and 
appreciation for the work of the Secretariat, 
while severely under-funded it has still been 
responsible for many of IGF's successes.  The 
Secretariat should be provided with resources 
needed to perform its role effectively.  In 
addition, a fund should be established to support 
the participation of people from  developing and 
least developed countries in the IGF annual 
meetings and the IGF preparatory consultations.

IGF should also fund the participation of at 
least 5 members of civil society from developing 
and least developed countries to ensure 
meaningful participation in its open 
consultations.

In the end, we appeal that we all use the full 
term "multi-stakeholder advisory group" MAG at 
least for official purposes, because 
multi-stakeholderism is the most important aspect 
of the IGF.

END

Hope the suggested changes are clear. 

Adam





>The MAG reconstitution draft stands follow.
>
>The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus¹s 
>input on issue of MAG renewal / restructuring
>With Athens and Rio meetings behind us, we are 
>of the opinion that IGF is getting firmly 
>established as the key global forum for an 
>inclusive dialogue on various Internet policy 
>issues. This has led to different stakeholder 
>groups beginning to understand and appreciate 
>each others viewpoints, which sets the context 
>of a socially and politically engaged 
>development of the Internet through appropriate 
>policy guidance as required.
>Rio brought in new topics for discussion, and 
>also tried new forms of interactions. These are 
>all steps in the right direction. However, we 
>think that IGF, New Delhi, should take some firm 
>steps toward realizing the full potential of 
>this unique global institution.
>In a later statement we will provide inputs on 
>possible improvements in the format for IGF, New 
>Delhi, and the themes that should be taken up in 
>the main sessions. Here we will present some 
>suggestions regarding renewal and restructuring 
>of MAG.
>MAG is the driving seat of the IGF, and 
>restructuring MAG is basic to making the IGF 
>more effective and productive. We appreciate the 
>new measures of transparency taken with respect 
>to MAG¹s working. We are of the view that MAG 
>should work through two elists ­ one open and 
>other closed. Since MAG discusses issues of 
>public importance, normally discussions should 
>be open to public scrutiny. However we do 
>understand that there can be some circumstances 
>requiring closed discussions. All discussions 
>taken to the closed list should be listed, and 
>summaries of them provided as appropriate. By 
>the same rule transcripts should be provided of 
>all face to face meetings of the MAG, unless 
>some topics are expressly chosen to be dealt in 
>a closed manner, in which case such topics 
>should be listed, and summary of discussions 
>provided as appropriate.
>Membership of the MAG
>(text to be decided.) Since the process that 
>built towards Meryem/ Ian formulation failed, I 
>will request someone to suggest fresh text for 
>this.
>Special Advisors and Chair
>·         The role and necessity of the Special 
>Advisors should be clarified, as also the 
>criteria for their selection. Adequate diversity 
>should be represented in the selection of 
>Special Advisors as well.
>·         We are of the opinion that in keeping 
>with the multi-stakeholder nature of the MAG, 
>there should only be one chair, nominated by the 
>UN SG. The host country should be able to 
>nominate a deputy chair, an arrangement that 
>would be helpful in context of various issues of 
>logistics for the annul IGF meetings. In any 
>case, we will like to understand the division of 
>work and responsibility between the two chairs, 
>in the present arrangement? It may be too late 
>to move over to this suggested arrangement for 
>the New Delhi meeting, especially if the Indian 
>government representative has already taken over 
>as the co-chair, but we can take a decision now 
>about the post-Delhi phase.
>Role and Structure of the MAG
>With the experience of two years of IGF, it is 
>also the right time to re-visit the role and the 
>structure of MAG. It will be appropriate to list 
>out the functions that MAG is expected to play.
>·         One function is of course to make all 
>arrangements for the annual IGF meeting. We must 
>reviews MAG¹s experience with carrying out this 
>function. What more needs to be done by MAG to 
>further improve the effectiveness of the IGF? We 
>are of the opinion that MAG must review its 
>decision making processes to make them more 
>effective. These are especially important if IGF 
>is to evolve into something more than what it is 
>today, to enable it to fulfill all aspects of 
>its mandate.
>·         It will be very useful for MAG to work 
>through working groups. These WGs should prepare 
>for each main session and the set of workshops 
>connected to this main session. WGs can also be 
>used for managing internal tasks of MAG more 
>effectively.
>·         We will also like greater clarity at 
>this point whether MAG has any substantive 
>identity other than advising the UN SG. For 
>instance, to carry out some part of the mandate 
>which requires Œinterfacing¹, advising¹, 
>identifying issues¹, Œgiving recommendations¹ 
>etc, MAG needs to be able to represent IGF. It 
>looks highly impractical that these tasks can 
>cohere in the UN SG.
>·         Having some authority and identity of 
>its own is also required for MAG to do some 
>important regular tasks like assessing how well 
>is the Tunis Agenda mandate being fulfilled by 
>the IGF and what more needs to be done. Does MAG 
>ever undertake, or propose to undertake, such an 
>exercise? If not MAG, who would carry out this 
>exercise, which needs to be done with full 
>engagement of all stakeholders.
>·          MAG should prepare an annual report 
>for the IGF. This report should mention IGF 
>activities and performance for the year against 
>relevant parts of the TA which lays out its 
>mandate, and also outline plans for the year 
>ahead.
>·         IGF should actively encourage regional 
>and national level IGFs, which should be truly 
>multi-stakeholder. A specific plan should be 
>drawn out for this purpose, possibly using a WG. 
>Such a need is also expressed in the paragraph 
>80 of TA.
>Greater financial support for the IGF, through 
>untied public funds, is one of the central 
>imperatives for improving the effectiveness, and 
>consequently, the meaningfulness, of the IGF. We 
>understand that a meeting among potential 
>funders is being held in Geneva around the 
>February consultations on this issue, and we 
>look forward to some positive results from that 
>meeting.
>IGF should also fund the participation of at 
>least 5 members of civil society from developing 
>and least developed countries to ensure 
>meaningful participation in its open 
>consultations.
>In the end, we appeal that we all use the full 
>term MAG at least for official purposes, because 
>multi-stakeholderism is the most important 
>aspect of the IGF.
>
>
>
>
>
>From: Parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
>Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 12:51 AM
>To: governance at lists.cpsr.org
>Subject: RE: [governance] Reconstituting MAG (Tech/admin language)
>
>
>Firstly, I am enclosing the draft on 
>'reconstituting MAG' that we are discussing at 
>present. (also put below this email) (I am still 
>to incorporate changes like ­ removing the 
>number 40, removing all numbers as well etc. 
>Will do in the morning.)
>
>To this an opening para will be added. Something very roughly like
>
>³We appreciate the new measures of transparency 
>taken with respect to MAG¹s working. We are of 
>the view that MAG should work through two elists 
>­ one open and other closed. Since MAG discusses 
>issues of public importance, normally 
>discussions should be open to public scrutiny. 
>However we do understand that there can be some 
>circumstances requiring closed discussions. All 
>discussions taken to the closed list should be 
>listed, and summaries of them provided as 
>appropriate. By the same rule transcripts should 
>be provided of all face to face meetings of the 
>MAG, unless some topics are expressly chosen to 
>be dealt in a closed manner, in which case such 
>topics should be listed, and summary of 
>discussions provided as appropriate.²
>
>Now on this long discussion on the Œtech 
>community¹ issue. There is enough opposition to 
>getting into any kind of details on the matter 
>of how MAG¹s membership should be vis a vis 
>different stakeholders, and views in favor of 
>saying something simply like ­ CS is 
>under-represented and this should be corrected 
>in this round (I will pick from the emails and 
>construct appropriate language, but basically 
>this is the point)
>
>Fine. But it leaves me with some problems. There 
>are two key parts of the statement,  the MAG 
>membership part and the ŒMAG role and structure¹ 
>part, and in addition some other specific issues.
>
>The part other than on MAG membership received a 
>few early comment, and if I remember right, all 
>positive (pl correct me if I am wrong). Further 
>comments may also be given.
>
>Now in the MAG membership part, there were three 
>substantive parts. Firstly, about how we want 
>the MAG seats apportioned. But that has not 
>received consensus and will not go in. However, 
>the question that now comes up is (about the 
>second substantive part) - can we ask for 
>clarity from the secretariat on MAG composition, 
>quota, stakeholder description etc kind of 
>issues without ourselves suggesting anything at 
>all. And when we ourselves refuse to be clear on 
>these issues. Is it defensible to ask 
>secretariat to be clear and share its Œclarity¹ 
>as well, in such circumstances. So please let me 
>know what to do with this part. We did ask in 
>caucus¹s 07 statements for some clarity on these 
>issues.
>
>And about the third substantive part, I am also 
>not sure how can we ask for self-selection of 
>each stakeholder category. I would think 
>self-selection will require the secretariat to 
>recognize some parameters of what or who can go 
>into a category. So, in fact, we will be asking 
>them to name all categories, and some definition 
>of what constitutes these categoriesŠ Should we 
>then ask only for self selection for CS (well, 
>hypothetically, if they do agree, we will 
>quickly have to resume this discussion that some 
>are keen to end, and we will HAVE to establish 
>some criteria of who all can be included and who 
>cant, and on what grounds etc)
>
>In all these contexts, I am not at all clear 
>what can go in this part of the statement. 
>Suggestions will be hugely appreciated.
>
>Also pl also close comments on the other parts, 
>which have (I think) found no negative comment, 
>but still not enough comments.
>
>Parminder
>
>(Its late here, and I will be able to respond only after about 8 hours)
>The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus¹s 
>input on issue of MAG renewal / restructuring
>With Athens and Rio meetings behind us, we are 
>of the opinion that IGF is getting firmly 
>established as the key global forum for an 
>inclusive dialogue on various Internet policy 
>issues. This has led to different stakeholder 
>groups beginning to understand and appreciate 
>each others viewpoints, which sets the context 
>of a socially and politically engaged 
>development of the Internet through appropriate 
>policy guidance as required.
>Rio brought in new topics for discussion, and 
>also tried new forms of interactions. These are 
>all steps in the right direction. However, we 
>think that IGF, New Delhi, should take some firm 
>steps toward realizing the full potential of 
>this unique global institution.
>In a later statement we will provide inputs on 
>possible improvements in the format for IGF, New 
>Delhi, and the themes that should be taken up in 
>the main sessions. Here we will present some 
>suggestions regarding renewal and restructuring 
>of MAG.
>MAG is the driving seat of the IGF, and 
>restructuring MAG is basic to making the IGF 
>more effective and productive.
>Membership of the MAG
>·      We think that 40 is a good number for MAG 
>members. One third of MAG members should be 
>rotated every year.
>·      The rules for membership of the MAG, 
>including in terms of representation of 
>different stakeholders, should be clearly 
>established, and make open along with due 
>justifications. We think that as per Tunis 
>Agenda¹s multi-stakeholder approach, membership 
>should be divided equally among governments, 
>civil society and the business sector. TA also 
>rightly recognizes international organizations 
>involved in IG as a stakeholder category, and 
>they should be allowed an appropriate number of 
>seats in the MAG.
>·      As per above, if we leave, say, 6 seats 
>for international organizations, out of the 
>remaining 34 seats civil should be entitled to 
>11 seats. There are five civil society members 
>at present in a MAG of 40, an anomaly which 
>should be corrected in this round of rotation of 
>members. Obviously, this cannot happen if we 
>replace each retiring member with one from the 
>same stakeholder group. Full civil society 
>representation is necessary to ensure legitimacy 
>for this new experiment in global governance.
>·      Stakeholder representatives should be 
>chosen based on appropriate processes of 
>self-selection by stakeholder groups. We do 
>appreciate that it is difficult to recognize any 
>one stakeholder entity, or even a given set of 
>them, as completely representing the whole of 
>that particular stakeholder group. This 
>complicates the process of selection, especially 
>in the case of civil society and business 
>sectors, and makes for some scope for the final 
>selecting authority exercising a degree of 
>judgment. This, however, should be done in a 
>completely transparent manner. Deviations from 
>the self-selection processes of stakeholder 
>groups should be kept to the minimum and be 
>defensible, and normally be explained.
>·      All stakeholders should be asked to keep 
>in mind the need to adequately represent 
>diversity in terms of gender, geography, and, 
>where applicable, special interest groups.
>Special Advisors and Chair
>·      The role and necessity of the Special 
>Advisors should be clarified, as also the 
>criteria for their selection. Adequate diversity 
>should be represented in the selection of 
>Special Advisors as well.
>·      We are of the opinion that in keeping 
>with the multi-stakeholder nature of the MAG, 
>there should only be one chair, nominated by the 
>UN SG. The host country should be able to 
>nominate a deputy chair, an arrangement that 
>would be helpful in context of various issues of 
>logistics for the annul IGF meetings. In any 
>case, we will like to understand the division of 
>work and responsibility between the two chairs, 
>in the present arrangement? It may be too late 
>to move over to this suggested arrangement for 
>the New Delhi meeting, especially if the Indian 
>government representative has already taken over 
>as the co-chair, but we can take a decision now 
>about the post-Delhi phase.
>Role and Structure of the MAG
>With the experience of two years of IGF, it is 
>also the right time to re-visit the role and the 
>structure of MAG. It will be appropriate to list 
>out the functions that MAG is expected to play.
>·      One function is of course to make all 
>arrangements for the annual IGF meeting. We must 
>reviews MAG¹s experience with carrying out this 
>function. What more needs to be done by MAG to 
>further improve the effectiveness of the IGF? We 
>are of the opinion that MAG must review its 
>decision making processes to make them more 
>effective. These are especially important if IGF 
>is to evolve into something more than what it is 
>today, to enable it to fulfill all aspects of 
>its mandate.
>·      It will be very useful for MAG to work 
>through working groups. These WGs should prepare 
>for each main session and the set of workshops 
>connected to this main session. WGs can also be 
>used for managing internal tasks of MAG more 
>effectively.
>·      We will also like greater clarity at this 
>point whether MAG has any substantive identity 
>other than advising the UN SG. For instance, to 
>carry out some part of the mandate which 
>requires Œinterfacing¹, advising¹, identifying 
>issues¹, Œgiving recommendations¹ etc, MAG needs 
>to be able to represent IGF. It looks highly 
>impractical that these tasks can cohere in the 
>UN SG.
>·      Having some authority and identity of its 
>own is also required for MAG to do some 
>important regular tasks like assessing how well 
>is the Tunis Agenda mandate being fulfilled by 
>the IGF and what more needs to be done. Does MAG 
>ever undertake, or propose to undertake, such an 
>exercise? If not MAG, who would carry out this 
>exercise, which needs to be done with full 
>engagement of all stakeholders.
>·      An annual report needs to be submitted by 
>the IGF to the UN Commission on Science and 
>Technology. Is MAG in anyway involved in 
>preparing this annual report, at present? It is 
>appropriate that MAG prepares and submits this 
>report, with engagement of all stakeholder 
>members.
>·      (Alternate text for the above point since 
>CSTD is an inter-governmental body and there is 
>nothing very exciting about it. But every 
>organization including IGF should have an annual 
>report.) MAG should prepare an annual report for 
>the IGF. This report should mention IGF 
>activities and performance for the year against 
>relevant parts of the TA which lays out its 
>mandate, and also outline plans for the year 
>ahead.
>·      IGF should actively encourage regional 
>and national level IGFs, and a specific plan 
>should be drawn out for this purpose, possibly 
>using a WG. Such a need is also expressed in the 
>paragraph 80 of TA.
>Greater financial support for the IGF, through 
>untied public funds, is one of the central 
>imperatives for improving the effectiveness, and 
>consequently, the meaningfulness, of the IGF. We 
>understand that a meeting among potential 
>funders is being held in Geneva around the 
>February consultations on this issue, and we 
>look forward to some positive results from that 
>meeting.
>IGF should also fund the participation of at 
>least 5 members of civil society from developing 
>and least developed countries to ensure 
>meaningful participation in its open 
>consultations.
>In the end, we appeal that we all use the full 
>term MAG at least for official purposes, because 
>multi-stakeholderism is the most important 
>aspect of the IGF.
>
>
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