[Chapter-delegates] Referred to Chapter Advisory Committee (ChAC) in response to the ISOC Foundation's call for proposals for the Emergency Response Grant Programme: COVID-19
Andrew Sullivan
sullivan at isoc.org
Wed May 13 18:10:46 PDT 2020
[Dear colleagues,
I hope 3rd time's a charm; I think I've been having some trouble replying to
these mails, so my apologies if this is a duplicate.]
Dear Eduardo,
As the Chapters Advisory Council considers this request from certain
chapters, I thought it might be important to add some pertinent
details:
1. Before the Internet Society Foundation began any other
programme, it took over and improved administration of the Beyond
the Net (BtN) grants. These grants are designated especially for
chapters: only a chapter may apply for these grants.
2. There is a special stream that was added, this year, to the
BtN programme specifically to help fund activities related to
COVID-19. Sarah Armstrong, the Executive Director of the
Foundation, has pointed this out to the chapter leaders who sent
the petition.
3. Only one of the chapters who signed this petition have applied
for COVID-19 BtN (or indeed, any BtN) funding in the current
cycle. Both Sarah and I are keen for chapters to take advantage
of this dedicated fund.
4. Chapters are intrinsically bound to a narrow geopolitical area
-- usually, a country, but sometimes to a smaller geopolitical
area such as a city.
5. The Emergency Response Programme for COVID-19 is not a
permanent funding area, but an emergency response measure that is
intended to respond to conditions on the ground. The Foundation
does not have the staff to operate this programme on a large
scale, but is doing so as an emergency measure. Therefore, an
important goal is to deliver the funds as quickly as possible, in
fairly large blocs so that as little time and money as possible is
taken up in administration while still permitting good stewardship
of our limited funds.
6. Because of the goal in (5), also, we anticipate that the
grants will go to applicants working across national
boundaries. The programme explicitly suggests that sub-grantees
are contemplated and acceptable, and there is no reason that
chapters could not be such sub-grantees.
One of the goals for having the Foundation is to ensure that funding
that comes from the Internet Society is dispensed in an obviously
fair, arms-length fashion. That is an important part of why the
Foundation is a separate legal organization with separate staff, and
also the reason for the independent review panel. In that context it is
worth noting that the petition chapters is asking the ChAC to
intervene with the Board, but of course the ChAC is advisory to the
Board of the Internet Society, and not the Board of the Foundation.
Of course, the Foundation is a supporting organization of the Internet
Society and is eager to work with the broader Internet Society
community in the achievement of its goals (that is why it is the home
of the BtN programme and also why funding to the IETF, IGF, and Schools
of Internet Governance comes from the Foundation). I hope you will
agree, however, that responsible granting of funds generally depends
in part on the recipient being able to handle those funds effectively.
That is why the criteria for this particular programme are written as
they are, but also why we continue to have a dedicated pool of funds
that are restricted only to chapters.
Best regards,
Andrew
On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 04:33:05PM -0400, Eduardo Diaz via Chapter-delegates wrote:
> Ramanou:
>
> I acknowledge receipt of your communication.
>
> We will contacting you to discern and understand what specific actions
> you foresee that are needed in order to *"...**enable the Internet Society
> and the Internet Society Foundation to fulfill its responsibilities to
> Chapters*". After this we will be in a better positions to formulate an
> Advice to the Board if applicable in this regard.
>
> Thank you for your communication and for having confidence in the work that
> we do.
>
> Eduardo Díaz
> Chair
> ISOC Chapter Advisory Board
>
> On Tue, May 12, 2020 at 12:26 PM Ramanou S. BIAOU <biaous2002 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > [English Version bellow]
> >
> >
> >
> > *[**French Version**]*
> >
> >
> > * Monsieur le Président du Comité Consultatif des Chapitre d’Internet
> > Society (ChAC)*
> >
> >
> >
> > La crise sanitaire du Covid-19 touche avec un fort impact le monde entier
> > rendant ainsi l’Internet comme le support et le moyen privilégié de lutte
> > contre le Covid19, mais aussi de continuité des activités professionnelles
> > et économiques.
> >
> >
> >
> > De nombreux chapitres et d’autres organisations ont ainsi mis en place des
> > solutions créatives et innovantes pour répondre aux problèmes causés par
> > COVID-19 et certains utilisent le numérique et Internet, apportant ainsi
> > une réponse coordonnée de continuité d’activités.
> >
> >
> >
> > Dans la même dynamique, la Fondation Internet Society Global s’est engagé
> > en lançant *“Emergency Response Grant Programme: COVID-19”. *Ce programme
> > d'intervention d'urgence fournira un financement aux organisations
> > travaillant sur des projets qui utilisent l'Internet pour améliorer la vie
> > pendant la période de crise ou en réponse à une situation d'urgence. En
> > 2020, la Fondation se concentrera sur des projets qui répondent à la
> > pandémie COVID-19, à la fois pendant la période immédiate de la crise, mais
> > aussi en prévision des réponses à l'inévitable "deuxième vague" plus tard
> > cette année et en 2021.
> >
> >
> >
> > Les Objectifs du programme sont :
> >
> >
> >
> > ● Fournir un soutien urgent pour produire des résultats positifs et
> > durables en réponse à une urgence régionale ou mondiale ;
> >
> > ● Aider à assurer le succès des initiatives existantes basées sur
> > Internet et/ou aider à en créer de nouvelles qui encouragent la résilience
> > à long terme.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ces objectifs et l’idée de ce programme sont en cohérence avec
> > l’engagement des chapitres d’Internet Society au niveau local.
> >
> >
> >
> > Examinant les objectifs du programme Emergency Response Grant Programme
> > COVID-19 de cette année et les critères de sélection, certaines remarques
> > et constats méritent d'être soulignés et nous aimerions les partager avec
> > vous :
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. La situation socio-économique de certaines régions où sont présents
> > les chapitres fait qu'il est très difficile pour une organisation à but non
> > lucratif d’avoir l’opportunité de gérer annuellement un budget pouvant
> > atteindre un montant de 250 000 dollars US.
> > 2. Pourtant, l’un des critères pour présenter un projet à ce programme
> > est *“Demonstrate previous experience in managing grants of at least
> > US$250,000 within a one-year period.”;*
> > 3. Ce critère signifie que les chapitres ne peuvent pas présenter des
> > projets pour ce programme
> > 4. Nous constatons donc une exclusion volontaire ou involontaire des
> > chapitres de ce programme qui œuvre pourtant à travailler jusqu’aux
> > derniers kilomètres des zones non desservies afin de connecter les
> > non-connectés ;
> > 5. Nous constatons que la Fondation Internet Society et Internet
> > Society Global réduisent les chapitres à l’exécution uniquement des petits
> > et moyens projets dans leurs pays ;
> > 6. Nous constatons que la Fondation Internet Society et Internet
> > Society Global développent une préférence de travailler uniquement avec
> > d’autres organisations qui ne sont pas des chapitres Internet Society en ce
> > qui concerne les grands projets liées à Internet, sachant que ces types
> > d’organisation dans certains pays sont des représentations d’autres grandes
> > organisations à but non lucratif au niveau international et la plupart du
> > temps ont des projets complètement détachés des réalités et des facteurs
> > de succès du contexte local ;
> > 7. L’exécution de très grands projets par une autre organisation, bien
> > que le chapitre local ait la capacité de le faire créera une forte défaveur
> > pour les chapitres et un impact sur la légitimité de ces derniers sur ces
> > questions au profit des nouvelles organisations ;
> > 8. Nous constatons qu’il y a un important risque que la voix des
> > chapitres ait désormais moins de poids dans l’écosystème local si c’est
> > uniquement d’autres organisations qui apportent des solutions liées au
> > Covid19 et Internet réduisant ainsi la légitimité et l‘importance des
> > chapitres dans l'écosystème internet du pays.
> >
> > Les chapitres font un excellent travail et méritent la confiance d'ISOC
> > Global dans la mise en œuvre d’importants projets à travers le monde.
> >
> >
> >
> > Au vu de ces différents constats, *Chapter Advisory Council (ChAC)* doit
> > engager une action pour permettre à Internet Society et la fondation
> > Internet Society de prendre ses responsabilités vis-à-vis des chapitres.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *[English Version]*
> >
> >
> >
> > *To Chair of Chapter Advisory Committee (ChAC)*
> >
> >
> >
> > The Covid-19 health crisis is having a strong impact on the whole world,
> > making the Internet the support and the privileged means to fight against
> > Covid19, but also to ensure the continuity of professional and economic
> > activities.
> >
> >
> >
> > Many Chapters and other organizations have thus implemented creative and
> > innovative solutions to address the problems caused by Covid-19 with some
> > using digital technology and the Internet, thus providing a coordinated
> > business continuity response.
> >
> >
> >
> > In the same vein, Internet Society Foundation has made a commitment by
> > launching the *Emergency Response Grant Programme: COVID-19.* This
> > Emergency Response Grant Programme will provide funding to organizations
> > working on projects utilising the Internet to improve lives during times of
> > crisis or in response to an emergency situation. In 2020, the Foundation
> > will focus on projects that respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, both during
> > the immediate period of crisis, but also in anticipation of responses to
> > the inevitable "second wave" later this year/in 2021.
> >
> >
> >
> > The objectives of the programme are:
> >
> >
> >
> > ● To provide urgent support to produce positive and sustainable
> > results in response to a regional or global emergency.
> >
> > ● To help ensure the success of existing Internet-based initiatives
> > and/or help create new ones that promote long-term resilience
> >
> >
> >
> > The goals and the idea of this programme is consistent with the commitment
> > of Internet Society Chapters at the local level.
> >
> >
> >
> > Looking at the purpose of this year's Emergency Response Grant Programme:
> > COVID-19 and the selection criteria, there are a number of observations and
> > findings worth noting that we would like to share with you:
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. The socio-economic situation in some regions where the chapters are
> > present makes it very difficult for a non-profit organization to have the
> > opportunity to manage an annual budget of up to US$250,000.
> > 2. Yet one of the criteria for submitting a project to this program is*
> > "Demonstrate previous experience in managing grants of at least US$250,000
> > within a one-year period”;*
> > 3. Does this criterion mean that chapters cannot submit projects to
> > this programme?
> > 4. This means that chapters cannot submit projects for this program.
> > We therefore see a voluntary or involuntary exclusion of program chapters
> > that are working to work to the last miles of unconnected areas;
> > 5. We find that the Internet Society Foundation and Internet Society
> > Global reduce Chapters to implementing only small and medium projects in
> > their countries;
> > 6. We find that the Internet Society Foundation and Internet Society
> > Global are developing a preference to work only with other organizations
> > that are not Internet Society Chapters with respect to large
> > Internet-related projects, knowing that these types of organizations in
> > some countries are representatives of other large nonprofit organizations
> > at the international level and most often have projects that are completely
> > detached from the realities and success factors of the local context;
> > 7. The execution of very large projects by another organization, even
> > though the local Chapter has the capacity to do so, will create a strong
> > disincentive for Chapters and impact the legitimacy of Chapters on these
> > issues to the benefit of the new organizations;
> > 8. We see a significant risk that the Chapters' voice will now have
> > less weight in the local ecosystem if it is only other organizations that
> > provide solutions related to Covid19 and the Internet thus reducing their
> > legitimacy and importance in the country's ecosystem.
> >
> >
> >
> > Chapters are doing an excellent job and deserve ISOC Global's confidence
> > in implementing important projects around the world.
> >
> >
> >
> > In light of these findings, the Chapter Advisory Council (ChAC) must take
> > action to enable the Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation
> > to fulfill its responsibilities to Chapters.
> >
> >
> >
> > *[Liste des Chapitres Signataires]*
> >
> > *[List of Signatory Chapter]*
> >
> >
> > - *Bénin Chapter* (Ramanou BIAOU)
> > - *Burkina Faso Chapter* ( Jean Baptiste MILLOGO)
> > - *Cameroon Chapter* (Esther Sandrine NGOM)
> > - *Ghana Chapter* (Francis Acquah Amaning)
> > - *Liberia Chapter* (Matthew T Roberts)
> > - *Namiba Chapter* (Anna Amoomo)
> > - *Senegal Chapter* (Edem K. Nunekpeku)
> > - *Tanzania Chapter*(Nazarius N. Kirama)
> > - *Togo Chapter* (Norbert Glakpe)
> > - *Tunisian chapter* (Mondher laabidi )
> > - *Zimbabwe Chapter* (Wadzanai Ndlovu)
> >
> >
>
> --
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--
Andrew Sullivan
President & CEO, Internet Society
sullivan at isoc.org
+1 416 731 1261
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