[governance] A workshop on Nnenna's questions? (was Re: Blogpost:...)

Fri Mar 22 06:33:44 EDT 2013

How about this -

"Increasing the civil society base in multistakeholder IG processes" - take Nnenna's questions and throw them in as the description.  They should make all of us think long and hard - and I can confidently say that these are the exact same questions the technical community (IETF etc) has asked itself several times in the past.

ISOC has an active fellowship program for the IETF - which is curated to ensure that deserving candidates are given these, and more importantly, also that they contribute back to the community.  They also participate actively in, and sponsor, the fellowship programs to several regional technical / network operations events such as APRICOT (www.apricot.net) in the asiapac, where I have been on the fellowship committee for the past several years.  There, we get to weed out something like a hundred or more fellowship applications, including a few from apricot farmers in Turkey on occasion, before we can identify eight to ten fellows.

Where can we find something similar for civil society - and how do we tailor a fellowship program that distinguishes between genuine ability and a broad knowledge of enough buzzwords to make up a convincing fellowship application?   [note - communication skills are essential, in whatever language the candiate may choose to express themselves in]

--srs (iPad)

On 22-Mar-2013, at 15:25, Norbert Bollow <nb at bollow.ch> wrote:

> How should these questions be taken forward?
> 
> With the deadline extension, there would be time to quickly put
> together a workshop proposal on these matters in addition to the
> much more narrowly scoped workshop proposal that we have already
> decided on.
> 
> I think that the questions are certainly important enough to
> justify that.
> 
> Greetings,
> Norbert
> 
> 
> Suresh Ramasubramanian <suresh at hserus.net> wrote:
> 
>> Nnenna has asked ALL the right questions.
>> 
>> --srs (iPad)
>> 
>> On 22-Mar-2013, at 13:09, Adam Peake <ajp at glocom.ac.jp> wrote:
>> 
>>> And perhaps as a starting point, Nnenna's email from a few days ago.
>>> 
>>> Adam
>>> 
>>> 
>>> "The discussion, I think, has started. It might have taken off in a
>>> not-very-comfortable way, but it certainly cannot be killed off now.
>>> 
>>> In many "CS"-related issues now, my ready answer is "Thanks, but no,
>>> thanks". And mostly because of  the lack of clear principles on
>>> methodology.  We have been in this "process" for 10 years (at least
>>> for some) and we still have not adopted principles for selection and
>>> for representation.
>>> 
>>> The time for that discussion is right.  We may not get a full
>>> consensus, but at least a partial one will help future "focal
>>> points". Were it not for discussions, we would not have a Charter
>>> as a group.
>>> 
>>> Having been in a lot of "focal point" and representative "positions"
>>> for Africa Civil society, I can only say that a 3, 4, or 5
>>> principles document, that has been discussed and has met a level of
>>> consensus here will be VERY helpful.
>>> 
>>> My thoughts are that we need to discuss methods for:
>>> 
>>> 1. Informing on and disseminating opportunities/positions/calls. For
>>> the CSTD, I actually had to tweet that I have been impressed by the
>>> way Anriette and the APC group shared the information. I cannot say
>>> if it because I am in so many mailing lists with APC folks.. but I
>>> can tell you that there was a "a clean, clear and determined
>>> decision to disseminate information".
>>> 
>>> 2. Understanding of "developed and developing" nations. One may be
>>> tempted to follow the UN categories... but in the case of Internet
>>> and IG issues.. Global Information watchdogs may want to differ.  I
>>> would love to hear others on this though
>>> 
>>> 3. Gender mainstreaming. How do we ensure this in representations.
>>> Should we discuss a minimum quota?
>>> 
>>> 4. Older vs newer blood. This is perhaps the most critical dilemma
>>> that any "xyz selection team or focal point" may face. Are we going
>>> to have the same faces (albeit with a greater tinge of gray) all the
>>> time? How do we strike the balance between getting newer/younger
>>> people to follow in our paths while maintaining legacy? What
>>> orientation mechanism in process, issues and manners  around IG
>>> issues can we put in place to help people who will arrive "after
>>> us" to be able to follow. Most selection are looking for
>>> "qualified" people...
>>> 
>>> 5. What will be the better  choice in the cases where a choice must
>>> be made between experience and representation, or between
>>> experience and opportunity for growth?
>>> 
>>> 6. Is there a certain limit (at least in the case of IG-related
>>> issues) to which an individual can "represent civil society"? When
>>> can someone say "we" and when does it need to be "I"? Will
>>> representation always be synonymous with "people who can travel and
>>> be there physically"?
>>> 
>>> 7. How does "CS" curb what is beginning to appear to me as "an
>>> extreme need to be selected" in which I see certain names in almost
>>> anything that has "selection, representation and travel" attached
>>> to it?
>>> 
>>> 8. ..... many more...:)
>>> 
>>> Nnennna "
> 
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