Internet Governance Forum

Internet Governance Forum

Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG)

Summary of Informal Online Meeting

18 December 2013

On 18 December the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) held their third post - 8th IGF virtual meeting to continue to take stock of the recently completed 8th IGF in Bali and to discuss the necessary next steps for the MAG for the next cycle of work for 2014. Mr. Markus Kummer moderated the meeting as the Interim Chair of the Open Consultations and MAG meetings and the IGF Secretariat was represented by Mr. Chengetai Masango.

A member of the MAG reported back on his experience at the recently completed High-Level Panel on Global Internet Cooperation and Governance Mechanisms. There was general agreement that the panel would not substitute the IGF process but rather complement and strengthen it. The MAG agreed that 2014 should be a year in which the IGF takes a step forward. The numerous other processes (including the high level panels, 1net, the Brazil meeting, WSIS +10 reviews, the Tallinn meeting of the Freedom Online Coalition) can feed into the IGF and vice versa. It is important that the MAG follows the parallel processes closely to ensure that the IGF properly fits into the broader Internet governance ecosystem.

The February IGF meeting will be crucial as the MAG and other key IGF stakeholders will begin to set the agenda and position the IGF to strengthen the broad multistakeholder processes on Internet governance issues. Some MAG members encouraged the IGF community to participate in the ongoing 1net discussion. ‘Inter-sessional’ IGF work and dialogue can take place on this platform and in the other various meetings that are taking place.

There was a discussion about some suggested IGF improvements proposed by some MAG members. The point was made that proposals such as revisiting the Tunis Agenda or the IGF mandate were out of scope for the MAG. It was agreed that all MAG members should be working together in a committee of the whole to ensure that the IGF is constantly evolving. The recommendations of the CSTD working group should always be used as reference and there are many specific recommendations that the MAG can follow through on in 2014. The MAG will continue to explore what actions can be taken within the scope of its mandate.

The Secretariat has put up the stocktaking evaluation form on the website for all stakeholders to assess the 2013 meeting. This input will also shape the way the MAG and Secretariat prepare the 2014 IGF, but substantively and logistically.

In regards to the workshop selection process for 2014, there was agreement that the Secretariat should put out a call for substantive policy topic suggestions for the 2014 meeting, building on the methodology used by EuroDIG. The inputs from the community will give the MAG insight as to what the most important policy questions are for all stakeholders in the coming year. The EuroDIG process was said to have benefited from this way to proceed. It was also agreed that the substantive agenda building needs to be fluid, and that it’s important for the MAG to be reactive to the many other meetings and processes so that the IGF builds on the broader discussions.

It was proposed again that the MAG should help first-time workshop organizers by shepherding their proposals and general planning throughout the year leading up the meeting and perhaps webinars could be used to engage with them directly. A webinar specifically aimed at first-timers would be organized to explain the process.

There was a brief discussion about fundraising for the IGF. There was a call on all MAG members to create awareness amongst their respective stakeholder groups about the importance of increasing funding for the IGF Trust Fund. UNDESA was urged to follow-up on the proposal of TIDES and ISOC’s similar entity to collect donations to the trust fund indirectly.

The IGF Secretariat reminded all MAG members to urge their stakeholder groups to submit workshop reports from the Bali meeting.

It was agreed that the Secretariat would launch a doddle poll in early January to find a date for the next MAG call.