[governance] MAG Selection Process, Funding & General comments...

[michael gurstein]

Robert,
 
There are, as you know, a number of separate issues involved in IGC funding
of which funding for IGF participation is only one and perhaps not even the
most pressing.  To my mind funding for participation in the MAG is of more
direct concern since in that instance where policy decisions concerning the
IGF are presumably being made one would not want individual participation to
be dependent on access to outside funding with all that that might or might
not entail.
 
My issue of funding was concerned with how to make the IGC more effective in
its role including broadening the base of participation and particularly
around supporting the IGC in working through an effective and appropriate
response to the IGF operating principles and practices which Marilla shared
with us.
 
I see those principles as a very significant inflection point, with the IGF
moving towards a much higher degree of formalization in the mode of its
operation and I personally would want for a number of reasons that that
formalization be as well thought through and as reflective of CS principles
and aspirations as possible.
 
Mike
 
 -----Original Message-----
From: governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org
[mailto:governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org] On Behalf Of Robert Guerra
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 7:21 AM
To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org
Subject: [governance] MAG Selection Process, Funding & General comments...


Dear Nomcom,

It is an honour to have been shortlisted as one of the possible IGF
candidates to the MAG. Thank you!

Having served on the NOMCON in the past, I appreciate the effort and time
you put into your work. 


Jeremy & Michael,

There are a variety of different approaches one can take to seek  funding to
enhance CS participation at the IGF. One approach is to engage donors to
fund the IGC caucus directly the other is to have the donors fund NGOs that
are active in IG issues. 

Until the caucus is formally established as a separate entity, the only
viable option - for now - is to work with existing NGOs. Even if the IC were
established, we'd also need to find volunteers willing and able to deal with
the administrative requirements . While finding funds isn't easy, it is
possible. It just requires one to explore options and from there be
persistent about it.

I say this from personal experience as over the last two years I was able to
identify key govts governments, foundations and yes - private sector
companies - who were willing and able to  fund free expression and human
rights activists to attend the Asia Regional IGF, the annual IGF in 2010 and
2011. 

As I mentioned in my MAG candidate statement, I will try my best to
coordinate efforts with other stakeholders to help identify and seek funding
to help build the CS capacity and participation at the upcoming IGFs. I
commit to do so regardless weather I get appointed to the MAG or not. It not
an easy task, but one i'll try to help with best I can..


regards

Robert





On 2012-02-04, at 7:22 PM, Jeremy Malcolm wrote:


On 05/02/2012, at 1:33 AM, michael gurstein wrote:


What this tells me, and particularly from a CS perspective is that we as CS
in the context of the IGC need to step back a bit and enter into a more
deliberate process of reflection and positon development on these very
important issues.
 
I'm wondering if funds couldn't be found to stage an online/offline event to
discuss these issues and to help to formulate a CS position on these. (Note
that the OECD counterpart to the IGC has now obtained limited but useful
funding from Soros/OSI.


When I stepped down I promised to look into funding options for the IGC, and
I approached two funders about it, both of whom responded that they were not
interested in receiving a funding proposal from the IGC at present.  This
doesn't mean we couldn't try again if we had a particular activity to fund,
such as this online/offline event of which you speak.

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