[council] A New Approach to Africa

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-10aug12-en.htm
A New Approach to Africa
10 August 2012

With the support of AFRINIC, Africa's Regional Registry for Internet Number 
Resources, ICANN and leading members of its community are today announcing an 
initiative aimed at increasing African participation and influence within ICANN.

This initiative is the result of a June meeting involving Steve Crocker, 
Chairman of ICANN's Board of Directors, ICANN's CEO-Designate Fadi Chehadé and 
its Interim CEO Akram Atallah with African community members at ICANN's 44th 
Public Meeting, in Prague, Czech Republic.

The goal is to develop a framework for ICANN's Africa strategy and to announce 
an initial plan at the October 2012 Public Meeting in Toronto, Canada. The 
strategy will aim both to support a stronger presence for ICANN in Africa and 
to increase African participation in ICANN. It will also foster the promotion 
of the multi-stakeholder model in Africa at the government, civil society and 
private sector levels.

This effort is a step toward stronger global engagement for ICANN, with a 
special focus on developing countries.

To contribute to the development of the new strategy, a working group was 
created and endorsed by the African community members meeting in Prague, 
including key players in Internet governance from different regions in Africa. 
The working group has selected Nii Quaynor of Ghana, a well-respected Internet 
leader in Africa, to lead its efforts.

ICANN has appointed Tarek Kamel of Egypt to serve as a Senior Advisor to its 
President and CEO on global issues, and to work with the group to develop the 
initial strategic plan that will be announced in Toronto. The working group 
unanimously endorsed this choice. Tarek is well known for his long record of 
achievements in promoting the Internet and its multi-stakeholder model in 
developing countries.

For further information or to submit ideas, please contact 
ICANN-ASWG@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ICANN-ASWG@xxxxxxxxxxx>.

Journalists should contact Brad White, ICANN's Director of Global Media 
Affairs, at brad.white@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:brad.white@xxxxxxxxx>.


Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat
gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://gnso.icann.org