[governance] Commercialisation of the Bali IGF -> Anriette's questions

Wed Jul 31 16:38:13 EDT 2013

Dear All,

In my personal capacity as an individual, my thoughts are as follows:

It is perfectly normal to have diverse sponsorship for the event whether in
cash or in kind. For example, in kind could range from the following:

   - Visa Fee Waivers for certain representatives;
   -  Provision of local law enforcement officers [military or police];
   - Tax concessions for local corporate sponsors
   - Venue Hire Discounts etc
   - Discounts if you fly on the local National Airline etc;

Whilst there is much talk about Indonesia's Government having the financial
capability to donate sums of money, governments have pre-defined budgets
usually committed a year in advance and so it is absolutely possible that
the Government Ministry or Agency which may have bidded may have run into
budget overruns, this is not unusual and also is an occurrence that happens
to companies from time to time. It is possible (remember, we are not privy
to discussions that happened between the Host Government and the UN nor the
Agreement as it is confidential until disclosure is waived by parties
concerned) that the amount that they foresaw was not anticipated at the
time of planning.

To put things into context, countries in the South East Asia have generally
been experiencing waves of drought over the last few years, food, water and
energy shortages and numerous other challenges that could impact on budget
allocations and also in terms of how things are prioritised in the host
country.

It is important for the sake that the situation is managed in a way that
allows the Government not to lose face and that creative alternative
solutions are exhausted.

Various expenditure items can be categorised and open for the public to
sponsor such as conference logistical items. Collectively, this would help
reduce the budgetary costs for such a Forum. For example, writing pads,
stationery.

Bandwidth costs, in terms of internet connectivity can be sponsored by
local Internet Service Providers or discounted with a component subsidised
by other ISPs. Sponsors should be given the opportunity to be acknowledged
through special mentions and also on posters and the like. Compromise can
be reached by keeping the  main IGF banner without any reference to any
vendor or sponsor etc. So sponsorship banners could be a separate thing or
not.

Exhibition fees can be waived for sponsors etc.

As for the commercialisation of the discussions, I think it is safe to
assume that the selection of speakers and panellists in the IGF is pretty
much as Workshop Organisers see fit which are preceded by MAG selection of
Workshop Proposals. I am trusting that the MAG composition in diverse
representation of the community is enough to ensure that there are
sufficient checks and balances.

In my mind there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving air time to a
major corporate sponsor during the opening and the closing. Afterall, they
have invested into the outcome and it is only a fair return. Besides, we as
civil society get a chance to speak anyway during the opening and closing
of the IGF.

Kind Regards,
Sala

P.S I am in Cook Islands at the moment and will be going to Niue after this
and will access the Internet intermittently.

On Wed, Jul 31, 2013 at 12:49 AM, Norbert Bollow <nb at bollow.ch> wrote:

> FYI... here is copy of the “Commercialisation of the Bali IGF” related
> questions that Anriette has circulated to the MAG list with a request
> for them to be addressed at the MAG meeting that is to start shortly
> (together with a few other questions).
>
> (forwarded with permission)
>
> Greetings,
> Norbert
>
> --snip------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Commercialisation of the Bali IGF represented by the
> funding/sponsorship document from the Indonesian organising committee
> circulated in the last few days.
>
> - What is the status of this document? The copy I saw was on Google
> docs, but I believe it has the same content as the one on the Host
> country website marked as "revision 10b". It has since been removed.
> - Is the Indonesian strategy (as represented in this document and if it
> was indeed a formal document) different from previous IGF host country
> sponsorship and branding strategies and does it comply with UN criteria?
> Can we confirm that the organisers were aware of these criteria?
> - Does the approach to sponsorship in the document risk sponsors having
> influence over the IGF agenda and character?
> - Was the document used and referenced in conversations with sponsors or
> donors who have committed support? I.o.w. are they are any sponsors who
> expect promises made in the document to be kept?
> - Would not delivering on these promises put any of the money already
> raised by the Indonesian organising committee at risk?
> - More generally, what is permitted and what is not in terms of
> branding/banners/benefits for sponsors?
> - How does UNDESA and the Secretariat ensure compliance with these rules
> or standards?
>
> --snap-------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> --
> Recommendations for effective and constructive participation in IGC:
> 1. Respond to the content of assertions and arguments, not to the person
> 2. Be conservative in what you send, be liberal in what you accept
>
>
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-- 
Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
P.O. Box 17862
Suva
Fiji

Twitter: @SalanietaT
Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
Tel: +679 3544828
Fiji Cell: +679 998 2851
Blog: salanieta.blogspot.com
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