ICANN NCSG: A More Inclusive Internet Vision.
The New and Country Specific Generic Group at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is an internationally dispersed community of individuals and organizations committed to facilitating the growth and diffusion of the Internet within emerging and developing countries. It seeks to have the Internet widely available, affordable, and inclusive for all, whether from a geographical, financial, or cultural point of view.
The vision of ICANN NCSG is that of a globally representative Internet representing the diverse cultures and communities of the world. It advances this vision through the following:
- Represent the interests of developing and emerging countries within the global Internet governance ecosystem;
- Promoting the development and adoption of new and country code top-level domains to foster local businesses, organizations, and cultural heritage.
- Promote communication and the exchange of information amongst members from different regions and diverse backgrounds.
- Technical assistance and capacity building to promote development in Internet infrastructure in developing and underserved regions.
The ICANN NCSG engages in numerous activities to promote its mission. Samples of work presently being done by this constituency group include:
- Advocating on behalf of the interests of developing and emerging countries in international Internet governance forums at the IGF, WSIS, and elsewhere;
- Supporting the development and launch of new and country-code TLDs by providing technical assistance and running capacity building programs;
- Holding workshops and conferences that bring stakeholders together from across a wide array of regions and backgrounds to discuss issues pertinent to Internet Governance.
Only developing education and awareness kits on Internet Governance and the role of the ICANN NCSG.
Why Africans Should Join the ICANN NCSG
ICANN NCSG provides a special opportunity to the African region and altogether all other regions for participating in the development of the future of the Internet. Through membership, individuals and organisations can:
- Contribute to global Internet Governance policies to ensure that the needs and interests of African countries are considered.
- It allows the facilitation of technical expertise and other resources that are useful in the development of the structure of the Internet in Africa.
- Relations with various stakeholders from the region outside would be created, and as well as begin working on projects related to the Internet.
- Creating a more open, tolerant, and as equitable as possible Internet for all.
The NCSG of ICANN is an important organization that plays a significant role in advancing the development and adoption of the Internet across emerging and developing countries. By joining this group, it would go a long way to ensure that the Internet should be a force for good within their communities and beyond.
By Adebunmi Akinbo
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