[Chapter-delegates] Application to form an ISOC Chapter in Qatar

[Sabrina Wilmot]

Dear Colleagues,

The following application for a Chapter in Qatar has been received. It is being sent to this list for peer comment and review.

Please note that the Chapter is not yet formed and has not officially been recognised by ISOC.

If there are people on this list that know the individuals proposing to establish the Chapter, feedback is especially welcome.

The period allowed for comments is two weeks and the deadline is 30 April 2011.

Please do not hesitate to contact me on or off list.

Thanks,

 Sabrina Wilmot
 ISOC

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Chapter Application

A.    Proposed name of the Chapter

The chapter will be called “Internet Society (ISOC) Qatar Chapter” in English and مجموعة قطر الانترنت in Arabic.

B.    Community of Interest the Chapter will serve

The chapter will serve the individuals and organizations located in the State of Qatar.

C.    Purpose and Scope of Chapter

The purpose of the Chapter is to promote the mission and goals of the Internet Society in the region by serving the interests of the national and global Internet community through a local presence in Qatar. The ISOC Qatar Chapter’s vision is to make access to the Internet a “right” in Qatar, and to make it inclusive and accessible, thereby empowering individuals and groups to do more with the Internet, become active participants and to enhance their personal and professional lives.

The ISOC Qatar Chapter will aim to:

o   Create a vibrant environment for technical discussions, workshops and conferences, thereby stimulating and encouraging innovation.

o   Create a platform for Internet users to discuss and promote Telecom and Internet issues with the appropriate authorities, thereby raising awareness of Internet issues within the country.

o   Bring together different organizations in the communications sector to provide training, internship and leadership opportunities for young people.

o   Provide training and capacity building programs for those members of society who have limited access to technology or training to be able to benefit from the opportunities the Internet offers.

o   Create awareness of and promote local and accessible web content and product design to make the Internet accessible for all members of society including people with disabilities.


D.    Founding Members of the Chapter
 
Howaida Nadim
Executive Director, Communications Department, ictQATAR
 
Omar Sherin
CIIP Governance –Section Manager, ictQATAR
 
John Laprise
Visiting Assistant Professor, Northwestern University in Qatar
 
Eiman Al Ansari
Head of Corporate Affairs, Vodafone Qatar
 
Hamad Al Mannai
CEO, Board Member at Knowledge Ventures
Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Gulf Bridge International
 
Abdulrahman Al Otaiba
Developer, www.mawqey.com

Aysha Siddique
Open Source Analyst, ictQATAR
 
Robin Blake
Internet & Society Manager, ICT & Society, ictQATAR

 
E.    List of Supporters

ISOC Qatar chapter will be an independent multi-stakeholder group comprising of individuals from different organizations in Qatar, such as ictQATAR, Q-Tel, Vodafone, Qatar Foundation, Northwestern University, Qatar Assistive Technology Center "MADA", and so on.  These organizations reflect Qatar's local internet community. ictQATAR is the first organization to confirm its support to the Chapter by providing secretariat services (funding and meeting venue) for the first year (only) of the Chapter's operation. Other organizations have expressed their willingness to support the Chapter after its formation and we will work to secure funding from supporting organizations or via fund raising activities. Additionally, the Chapter has the non-financial support of a few organizations, which are listed below:

·       Vodafone Qatar – Eiman Al Ansari, Head of Corporate Affairs

·       MADA – Assistive Technology Center – David Banes, Executive Director

·       Northwestern University in Qatar – John Laprise, Visiting Assistant Professor

·       Gulf Bridge International – Hamad Al Mannai, Managing Director

F.     List of Requirements

This chapter shall begin as an independent multi-stakeholder group comprising of individuals from different organizations in Qatar (as mentioned in section E).  After the formation of the Chapter and initiation of its activities, we will work towards registering the Chapter as a non-profit, non-government local organization. We are currently studying the possibility and the legal requirements to set up an NGO, and will be our first action item once we have the Chapter approved.  We believe that once the Chapter gains momentum, recruits members, and organizes local activities, it will be easier to start the process of establishing an NGO.

G.    Additional Information

According to Qatar’s ICT Landscape Report 2009, Qatar has ranked 29th (out of 134 nations) and 2nd in the Arab region in the Networked Readiness Index produced by the World Economic Forum[1].

The information and communication technology regulatory body, ictQATAR, has undertaken projects like the “promise of e” that has been extremely successful in establishing and raising awareness of e-government, e-learning, digital inclusion and cyber security programs.

The online community is vibrant and active on Facebook and Twitter (holding successful Tweetups and Twestivals); and are creating awareness of and embracing the open movement by taking initiatives such as creating a local Creative Commons Chapter.

All of the above has happened in the span of the last 5 years, and we expect a lot more developments and engagement from the local community in Qatar. Qatar is also the host of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and technology will play a key role in the preparation for and success of the event. At this point, it becomes crucial that Qatar has a community that is aware of and engages in active discussions about internet-related issues, learns to use the internet to benefit their professional and personal lives, and has a say in the future of the internet.


H.    Your Contact Information

Aysha Siddique
Open Source Analyst, ictQATAR

[1] http://www.ictqatar.qa/landscape2009/index_en.htm