SIDS at ICANN – Where we are at and how do we chart a way forward

BACKGROUND

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a key partner of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). ICANN is a not-for-profit, public-benefit organisation formed in 1998. Its staff operates the Internet’s Domain Name System; coordinates allocation and assignment of the Internet’s unique identifiers, such as Internet Protocol addresses; accredits generic top-level domain (gTLD) name registrars; and helps facilitate the voices of volunteers worldwide who are dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. ICANN promotes competition in the domain name space and helps develop Internet policy.

The CTU has been working with ICANN to encourage and support the active participation of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in ICANN processes. The substantive and sustained participation of SIDS in ICANN is low and the absence of inputs from this globally dispersed but important group of ICANN stakeholders may be adversely impacting ICANN’s policy development.

In a measure to identify the challenges SIDS face in participating in ICANN’s processes, as well as to develop strategies to encourage their sustained and active participation, ICANN conducted a LAC SIDS Survey in 2022. The objective of the survey was to collect data from stakeholders that clearly identifies the challenges and barriers to SIDS participation in ICANN in order to form an empirical foundation for planning future actions aimed at increasing consistent and substantive participation of SIDS in ICANN.

The research questions for the ICANN LAC SIDS survey were:

1. What is your level of participation/involvement at ICANN? (low/medium/high)
2. What in your opinion are the top 3 challenges to SIDS participation in ICANN?
3. What do you think makes SIDS engagement different from other developing countries?
4. Are you aware of ICANN programs supporting the participation of stakeholders from developing countries?
5. Are you aware of the current ICANN support programs? (Newcomers/Fellowship/NextGen)
6. In addition to existing programs and initiatives, what type of resources should ICANN provide to increase SIDS participation?
7. How does the present structure of geographic regions lend itself to SIDS participation given the diversity of SIDS from a geographic perspective? (Africa, North America, Latin
8. America/Caribbean, Asia/Australia/Pacific and Europe)
9. What strategies should the ICANN Organization use to broaden SIDS stakeholder participation?
10. Is there value in focus groups aimed specifically at SIDS vs Developing countries?
11. Is there value in focus groups aimed specifically at SIDS vs LAC vs Oceania vs Africa?
12. —- the following questions only show if participation in ICANN in question 1 is medium or high
13. What are the topics of interest to you which are being discussed in ICANN?
14. What topics currently not being discussed in ICANN would you like to see included in ICANN Discussions?
15. Would you like to see KPI’s related to SIDS and under-served regions participation in ICANN?
16. How can regional organisations such as the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (or similar organizations in Oceania and Asia and others) be better leveraged for SIDS engagement in ICANN?
17. What are some of the other regional organisations that could assist and how?

The survey population for the survey included persons with knowledge of and experience with ICANN in the Caribbean SIDS, Oceania SIDS, Africa SIDS, Asia SIDS and ICANN organisation GSE.

MEETING OBJECTIVES AND TARGET AUDIENCE

The purpose of this meeting is to present the results of the ICANN LAC SIDS survey to SIDS stakeholders and to discuss openly and collaboratively, mechanisms and approaches to increase consistent and substantive participation of SIDS in ICANN. This will include any support SIDS’ representatives indicate they require to achieve this objective.

The substantive and sustained participation of SIDS in ICANN is low and the absence of inputs from this globally dispersed but important group of ICANN stakeholders may lead to a deficiency of views considered in ICANN policy development leading to implementation of policies which may be detrimental to SIDS. This meeting is one of many stakeholder engagement events that aims to address this ongoing challenge.

This meeting is open to all CTU stakeholders and will be conducted virtually on 8th January 2024 at 13:00 hours (AST).

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