[IGFmaglist] IGF 2020 Call For Validation of Thematic Tracks and Action Items

Wed Jan 22 07:31:15 EST 2020

Dear all

Thanks for the responses. Very helpful. I did, for the record, use the
notes from the early morning meeting on 16 January when we drafted the
"call for validation". We (myself and the secretariat) have read all the
input and Chengetai has updated the text online. We are using some of
your suggested edits and suggestions and have tried to integrate the
concerns on keeping the structure simple so as to reduce workload and
ensure clarity.  Susan, your point about not changing the draft call
while the text was under discussion is noted. Apologies. The final
version tries to address everyone's inputs. We agree with the idea that
all issues can evolve.. and also that it is best not to include
"emerging issues" and how to deal with them with this validation call.

Essentially we have referred to an optional additional track rather than
a fourth track. The text allows for us to choose whether to make such a
track, if we add one, horisontal or vertical. We still propose the two
options as something the MAG is currently considering, but we do not ask
people to choose one or the other. We just ask for comment, and as
pointed out by some of you, we also invite suggestions for additional
themes. We use some of the language proposed by all of you who sent in
specific edits.

Carlos thanks for starting to develop sub-themes. Let's see what we get
back from the community and then we can see how it relates to your
breakdown. I think the workshop proposal working group would do well to
look at Carlos' proposal for how to link workshops to tracks/themes.
Also remember the input from the community about having different types
of workshops.

Just a few general points on the themes/tracks discussion:

1) Remember that we did already have a call for input in which we asked
the question about additional themes, and we did receive suggestions for
new themes. We cannot ignore the input already received.

2) Also remember that there were many MAG members who wanted us to do a
new call for issues as the first call received only 41 responses. This
call for "validation" is therefore a kind of hybrid... it presents our
view on what we have received so far, but also creates an opening for
new input.

3) There was also not complete consensus on whether to ask for issues or
subthemes or policy questions or solutions. We tried to keep the request
flexible to allow for all these. At a later stage we will have to make
some decisions on what to include in the workshop call.

4) There is clearly some confusion over whether we agreed to keep to
only the three Berlin tracks or have the possibility of an additional
track. I recall we wanted to keep our options fairly open at this point,
but with a overall agreed concern that we should limit the number of
tracks. In the final text we used Ben's proposed language to achieve
compromise with regard to the different recollections. That is
essentially to provide an option for an additional track which could be
either horisontal or vertical. The MAG can decide, once hearing the
community's input, on whether to have no additional track, or to make it
crosscutting/horisontal or vertical.

5) Focus is good and three tracks are indeed easy to work with. But the
IGF also has to respond to community input and current priorities. While
one can use crosscutting tracks as part of the event design, that can
also add confusion. It could make the design of the event more difficult
to follow than simply adding an additional track. As was pointed out
during the MAG meeting, "Inclusion", for example, could also be treated
as a horisontal or crosscutting track. I am not proposing that as a way
forward... just sounding a warning about using a horisontal track as a
way of keeping things simple - it might have the opposite effect.

For now, let's see what the call produces and then we can take the next
step.

Thanks again everyone.

Anriette

-----------------------------
Anriette Esterhuysen
Senior advisor on internet governance, policy advocacy and strategic planning
Association for Progressive Communications
apc.org
afrisig.org
anriette at apc.org

On 2020/01/22 09:06, Rudolf.Gridl at bmwi.bund.de wrote:
>
> I support Susan‘s and Sylvia‘s interventions. We should limit
> ourselves to the three tracks and add environmental sustainability and
> digital economy as cross-cutting themes for the program.
>
> Best,
>
> Rudolf
>
>  
>
>  
>
> *Von:*SChalmers at ntia.gov [mailto:SChalmers at ntia.gov]
> *Gesendet:* Dienstag, 21. Januar 2020 20:28
> *An:* Sylvia Cadena; MAG-public
> *Betreff:* Re: [IGFmaglist] IGF 2020 Call For Validation of Thematic
> Tracks and Action Items
>
>  
>
> I support Sylvia’s points. 
>
>  
>
> For what it is worth, I support Option 1, or adding “environmental
> sustainability” and “digital economy” as suggested tags or
> cross-cutting themes for the program instead of creating a new track. 
> An “emerging and evolving issue” fourth category will inevitably be
> viewed and responded to by workshop proposers as a catch-all or
> miscellaneous category, despite any of our clarifying efforts to the
> contrary.  We would be stepping back from the progress made last year
> in preparing a more focused, more approachable IGF agenda. But, let’s
> see how the community responds…
>
>  
>
> As Sylvia points out, we’d have to draft a narrative for the
> category.  For evaluation purposes, proposals must align with the
> narrative, which means that MAG members will spend precious time
> during the June meeting debating which issues (proposals) are
> “evolving and emerging” and which are not.  We would also find
> ourselves trying to distinguish between “evolving and emerging” and
> “data,” “inclusion,” and “trust” because folks will ask whether a
> given proposal would better fit in a different category.
>
>  
>
> In any event, all issues “evolve,” but only new issues “emerge.” 
>
>  
>
> So, with all due respect to my colleague and collaborator Paul R., I
> would not support his suggested edits for a few reasons, but most
> basically because they add more words and categories, which magnifies
> the opportunity for confusion for an audience that has repeatedly
> expressed a desire for a more concise and comprehensible IGF agenda.
>
>  
>
> /Note bene:/  the MAG has been asked for feedback by COB 0800 CET on
> 1/22, yet the text has already been modified by the Secretariat on the
> website
> <hXXps://wwwXX.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2020-call-for-validation-of-thematic-tracks>. 
> This shouldn’t be the case.  The decision on the text should be taken
> following the review of all MAG member feedback, once the notified
> deadline to provide input has run.
>
>  
>
> Thanks,
>
> Susan
>
>  
>
> Susan Elizabeth Chalmers
>
> Internet Policy Specialist
>
> Office of International Affairs
>
> National Telecommunications and Information Administration
>
> U.S. Department of Commerce
>
> schalmers at ntia.gov
>
> 202.482.6789
>
>  
>
> */Please note my new email address:  /**/schalmers at ntia.gov/*
> <mailto:schalmers at ntia.gov>*//*
>
>  
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>  
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>  
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>  
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>
> *From:*Sylvia Cadena <sylvia at apnic.net>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 21, 2020 11:17 AM
> *To:* MAG-public <Igfmaglist at intgovforum.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [IGFmaglist] IGF 2020 Call For Validation of Thematic
> Tracks and Action Items
>
>  
>
> Dear MAG colleagues,
>
>  
>
> Although I was not there neither in person or online to express my
> dissent during the MAG meeting, and it may be too late, I am sorry,
> but I don’t agree.
>
>  
>
> Although there is support for the changes proposed by Paul, I think
> the MAG should make a stronger effort to be clear on what a track
> actually covers. A track with such a wide title “evolving and emerging
> issues” or “emerging issues” can end up as a basket for everything
> that doesn’t fit in the other 3 and we will lose all the effort done
> last year to narrow the focus.
>
>  
>
> In my opinion, if a 4^th track is to be added, the MAG should be a lot
> clearer about what the focus should be among the other topics
> identify. It is within the MAG’s mandate to make the decision to focus
> on one of those topics (environmental ‎sustainability/climate change
> and digital economy). Maybe the consultation process can ask the
> community which one to prioritize and to clarify that it is impossible
> to please everyone and discuss everything.   
>
>  
>
> Please consider that for every decision that the MAG makes, there are
> a lot of implications on the evaluation of session proposals, design
> of reports and structure of the intro&concluding sessions. We will
> have to agree on a narrative for the “evolving and emerging issues”,
> and design the intro & concluding session for it, that fits the scope
> of the sessions approved under such track. That was my experience
> helping with the SSS&R track last year, as the concepts covered where
> extremely wide and in some cases the definitions didn’t even fit (like
> the workshop around access to medicines, that referred to the
> resilience definition, which didn’t have anything to do with Internet
> resilience, but with resilience in a more generic definition). Same
> goes for the definition of the subthemes under each one of the tracks.
> Clear definitions (as everyone that presented a session under the
> SSS&R track) are a key element to be able to advance on a discussion
> and wrap it up. Most of the discussions goes in circles just because
> speakers/contributors have very different definitions to begin with.
>
>  
>
> Even in 2018, when we had 8 tracks, the MAG made a very conscious
> effort to have them clearly defined.
>
>  
>
> Please reconsider.
>
>  
>
> Regards,
>
>  
>
> Sylvia
>
>  
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
>  
>
> Sylvia Cadena | APNIC Foundation - Head of Programs | sylvia at apnic.net
> <mailto:sylvia at apnic.net>| hXXp://wwwXX.apnic.foundation
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>
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> * Love trees. Print only if necessary.
>
>  
>
>  
>
> *From: *June Parris <parrisjune51 at gmail.com
> <mailto:parrisjune51 at gmail.com>>
> *Date: *Tuesday, 21 January 2020 at 5:39 am
> *To: *Chengetai Masango <chengetai.masango at un.org
> <mailto:chengetai.masango at un.org>>, MAG-public
> <Igfmaglist at intgovforum.org <mailto:Igfmaglist at intgovforum.org>>
> *Subject: *Re: [IGFmaglist] IGF 2020 Call For Validation of Thematic
> Tracks and Action Items
>
>  
>
> Dear All,
>
>  
>
> I agree to Paul and Karim and will give support.
>
>  
>
> Regards
>
>  
>
> June Parris
>
>  
>
> Get Outlook for iOS
> <hXXps://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=hXXps%3A%2F%2Faka.ms%2Fo0ukef&data=02%7C01%7Cschalmers%40ntia.gov%7Cb88a80a26c1e4e4435ca08d79e8d84cd%7Cd6cff1bd67dd4ce8945dd07dc775672f%7C0%7C1%7C637152202969930220&sdata=1EYNxyMhzZWikbA6Ijw6ePjPtQFofZttnc0ceOqwfsM%3D&reserved=0>
>
>  
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:*Chengetai Masango <chengetai.masango at un.org
> <mailto:chengetai.masango at un.org>>
> *Sent:* Monday, January 20, 2020 12:24
> *To:* MAG-public
> *Subject:* [IGFmaglist] IGF 2020 Call For Validation of Thematic
> Tracks and Action Items
>
>  
>
> Dear All,
>
>  
>
> As agreed at the end of the MAG meeting
>
>  
>
> Please find attached a word document containing the meeting action items
>
>  
>
> and
>
>  
>
> The link to the draft “IGF 2020 Call for Validation of Thematic Tracks”
>
>  
>
> hXXps://wwwXX.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2020-call-for-validation-of-issues
> <hXXps://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=hXXps%3A%2F%2FwwwXX.intgovforum.org%2Fmultilingual%2Fcontent%2Figf-2020-call-for-validation-of-issues&data=02%7C01%7Cschalmers%40ntia.gov%7Cb88a80a26c1e4e4435ca08d79e8d84cd%7Cd6cff1bd67dd4ce8945dd07dc775672f%7C0%7C1%7C637152202969930220&sdata=vtCTGqbtgDAOLB8gzx6tJ64aETAmAkYXs3sjyz2tEiQ%3D&reserved=0>
>
>  
>
> If you have any comments on the form  please let us know by O.O.B 22
> Jan Geneva time. (08:00am)
>
>  
>
> Best regards
>
>  
>
> Chengetai
>
>
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