Summary Report: IGF MAG Virtual Meeting 30 August 2016

IGF Virtual Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) Meeting VI

 30 August 2016

 

Summary Report

 

1.         The sixth IGF Virtual MAG Meeting of the 2016 IGF preparatory cycle took place on 30 August. Ms. Lynn St. Amour moderated the meeting as Chair of the MAG and the 2016 Host Country was represented by Mr. Victor Lagunes, Chief Information Officer, Office of the President of Mexico. The meeting marked the second full MAG virtual meeting since the 2^nd face-to-face Open Consultations and MAG meeting[1] and also followed-up on a topical MAG meeting on main session planning[2] held on 24 August. The agenda for the meeting was focused on the ongoing host country preparations and programming for the annual meeting, the selection and scheduling of main/focus sessions and other relevant MAG related tasks and initiatives. The webex recording of the meeting can be accessed here:  https://we.tl/DG7i3EoMR8

 

2.         The meeting opened with a short briefing from the IGF Secretariat on ongoing programming for the annual meeting. It was reported that the Secretariat was working on an initial version of the overall schedule and was communicating with community session organizers of workshops, open forums and those bringing booths to the IGF village, etc. The Secretariat will circulate its initial provisional schedule to the MAG in the coming weeks.

 

3.          Mr. Victor Lagunes then briefed the MAG on the host country preparations for the annual meeting. It was said that the Host Country organizing team was continuing to work with partners in their organizing efforts. Preparations for Day-0 and possible high-level host-country organized events are also well underway and further information and details about these plans and events will be circulated to the MAG for their feedback and views.  The MAG reiterated their commitment to supporting the host country organizing team through their continued preparatory and organizational efforts over the next few months leading up to the meeting in December.

 

4.         The meeting then moved to the ongoing discussions on the selection and scheduling of the thematic main sessions as well as the MAG organization of the ‘Setting the Scene/Newcomers’ session and the ‘Taking Stock/Open Microphone’ sessions. Prior to the meeting, the Secretariat had circulated an updated provisional main session schedule for consideration of the MAG, which is included herewith as Annex I.

 

5.         The ‘Trade Agreements and the Internet’ Main Session proposal, which had been updated ahead of the meeting for further review based on previous feedback from the MAG, was discussed at some length. It was agreed that with further planning and better diversity of speakers, including ensuring the inclusion of Private Sector and Government actors active in trade negotiations, that the session would be included as a 90-minute main session. Other changes to the previous main session schedule that were agreed upon were that the NRI main session would be moved to the afternoon of Day 2, and that the ‘Shaping the Future of Internet Governance’ session would be allotted a 2-hour main session on Day 4 and would provide a useful transition to the Taking Stock/Open Microphone session being held immediately after it. 

 

6.         With common agreement that all organizers of main sessions would continue to refine their programmes in-line with suggestions from their fellow MAG members, the main session schedule was approved. MAG organizers of main sessions were asked to send updates to the Secretariat periodically on their sessions, including information for the Secretariat to publish on the IGF website and in the first version of the full annual meeting programme.

 

7.         It was agreed that the traditional ‘Setting the Scene/Newcomers’ session should complement other efforts such as a dedicated booth and other orientation activities for newcomers to the IGF and that the programme of the 1 hour plenary session should give an overall overview of the programme and offer ways for newcomers to the IGF to navigate the complex 4-day programme. MAG volunteers to organize the ‘Setting the Scene/Newcomers’ session and other orientation activities aimed at welcoming newcomers agreed to work together moving forward and to report on their progress to the MAG on the mailing list and on future MAG virtual meeting calls. It was proposed that the traditional ‘Taking Stock/Open Microphone’ session in the afternoon of the last day of the meeting could be used to take forward consultative community discussions on the IGF retreat. There was agreement that further discussions were needed and that dedicated MAG members should step forward to organize these important sessions (in addition to those MAG members who have already volunteered to lead them).

 

8.         It was agreed that MAG working groups on New Session Formats/Additional Workshop’s; Outreach and Communications; and Workshop Evaluation Process would send written updates to the MAG for review and that if needed, topical and issue-specific MAG meetings could be held to help carry the work of these MAG working groups forward.

 

9.         The Secretariat had circulated a proposed MAG Virtual Meeting schedule prior the meeting for review and comment by the MAG. The schedule contains dates and times for full MAG virtual general update meetings set to take place approx. every 3 weeks, rotating times by 8 hours as well as issue-specific meetings or MAG WG meetings, open to all MAG members but not obligatory. It was also noted that additional issue-specific meetings will be added to this schedule on a rolling basis as needed and requested by MAG. The virtual meeting schedule was approved by the MAG. The next issue-specific MAG Virtual Meeting on Intersessional Activities and NRIs will take place on 13 September and webex details for joining this meeting will be circulated shortly by the Secretariat.

 

 

 

Annex I

 

2016 IGF Main Session Schedule

The 2016 Internet Governance Forum (IGF): ‘Enabling Inclusive and Sustainable Growth’

6-9 December 2016, Guadalajara, Mexico

Time       10:00       – 13:00	Day 1 – 6 December       Assessing the Role of Internet Governance  in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (3 Hours)	Day 2 – 7 December         Sustainable Development, Internet and Inclusive Growth (3 Hours)	Day 3 – 8 December         Human Rights: Broadening the Conversation (3 Hours)	Day 4 – 9 December       IGF Best Practice Forums (BPFs) and Policy Options for Connecting the Next Billion(s) (90 minutes) ____________ Shaping the Future of Internet Governance  (90 minutes)
15:00 – 18:00	Setting the Scene: Newcomers Orientation (1 Hour)   11th IGF - Opening Ceremony (30 minutes)   High-Level Opening Session  (90 minutes)	National and Regional IGFs (NRIs) (3 Hours)	IGF Dynamic Coalitions (DCs) (90 minutes) __________________   Trade Agreements and the Internet (90 minutes)	(Contd.) Shaping the Future of Internet Governance  (30 minutes Youth Open Mic.) Taking Stock : Emerging Issues - Future of the IGF and IGF Retreat Consultation (90 minutes) ___ 11th IGF Closing Ceremony  (1 hour)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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