[Privsec] details on IGF Workshops call for proposals

[Ralf Bendrath]

Dear all,

there is more detailed information available now on the format of the 
workshop proposals for Athens. As the criteria for selection are pretty 
demanding, we will seriously have to start working on it soon. The silence 
of most of the people in this working group (i.e. on this list) worries me 
a bit.

Ralf

http://www.intgovforum.org/workshops.html

   *Workshops*

This is a call for proposals for workshops which will be held in
parallel to the General Sessions. Organizers of workshops are asked to
present their proposals making use of the template posted below.
Proposals should respect the organizational principles and criteria for
the selection of workshops. The Advisory Group will assess the proposals
and establish a final programme for the Athens meeting in light of the
proposals received. An online workshop proposal form will be posted on
this Web site next week.

   *Organizational Principles*

     * The guiding organizational principle for holding workshops is the
       multi-stakeholder approach. Geographical diversity is an equally
       relevant factor.
     * There is no distinction between different types of meetings other
       than the one referring to General Sessions and Workshops.
     * All workshops will be held under the auspices of the Advisory
       Group and coordinated by the IGF Secretariat.
     * All proposals fulfilling the selection criteria and using the
       template will be posted on the IGF Web site.
     * Proposals should preferably be submitted in English. 24 August
       2006 is set as the final deadline for submitting proposals in
       English. The deadline for submitting proposals in UN languages
       other than English is 31 July 2006.
     * Interested parties are encouraged to submit their proposals as
       early as possible, as the selection process will take place on an
       ongoing basis. An early decision will facilitate the planning of
       workshops.
     * The final selection will be made by the Advisory Group at its
       meeting on 7-8 September 2006.
     * The rooms reserved for workshops and all equipment, including a
       screen and a PC or laptop for projections and a projector
       (XGA/SVGA Data), will be available free of charge. Details related
       to the logistics will be made available in due course. No
       Secretariat funding is available for the organization of workshops.
     * There will be no interpretation available for workshops.


   *Content and format*

     * Workshops will focus on the specific issues relevant to the Athens
       meeting themes as well as on other topics of relevance to Internet
       Governance.
     * Most workshops are expected to deal with the first meeting's four
       broad themes. A number of workshop slots will be made available to
       deal with important topics that do not fit easily within the main
       themes of the conference but which are nonetheless of importance
       to many of the stakeholders.
     * Workshops dealing with topics that are addressed in the main
       meeting will not be scheduled at the same time as the main meeting.
     * Workshops should explore a theme from different angles and
       different stakeholders' perspectives. Pure advocacy workshops will
       not be considered.
     * All workshops will be audiocast.
     * Workshops should respect the general format of meetings and should
       be structured to be interactive, allowing a large portion of their
       time for open discussion and interaction with meeting attendees,
       such as a Q&A session. They could include keynote presentations,
       moderated panels and discussions both from the floor and from
       remote participants. Workshops should be designed with the format
       that is most appropriate to the particular topic under discussion.


   *Selection criteria*

     * Relevance to the overriding themes and topics. Priority will be
       given to proposals for workshops related to the main themes.
     * Demonstratively proposed and organized through multistakeholder
       collaboration.
     * Capacity to improve understanding of the IGF themes and topics.
     * Proven expertise and experience to manage the staging of the
       workshop, including raising the funds necessary to do so.


   *Template for submitting proposals *

    1. Name of the sponsors of the workshop and their affiliation to
       various stakeholder groups.
    2. Describe your past experience in organizing similar events. What
       is your budget and how do you plan to finance or raise the funds
       necessary to stage the workshop?
    3. Describe how the sponsors/organizers will take steps to adhere to
       the multi-stakeholder principle, including geographical diversity.
    4. Describe how the workshop would include different perspectives of
       different stakeholders and ensure an overall balance of views.
    5. A concise formulation for the proposed workshop theme. Proposals
       for workshops on topics not related to the main themes should
       include an explanation as to why they should be discussed during
       the first IGF meeting.
    6. Describe the workshop's conformity with the Tunis Agenda in terms
       of substance, and explain which paragraph(s) the workshop theme is
       referring to.
    7. Describe its conformity with the mandate of the IGF as set out in
       para 72.
    8. How does the workshop theme correspond to or enhance the
       understanding of the four main themes of the first IGF meeting?
    9. Why do you think the proposed theme is important?
   10. Why do you think this theme should be addressed in the first IGF
       meeting rather than in subsequent ones?
   11. Describe the main actors in the field. Have you approached them
       and asked whether they would be willing to participate in the
       proposed workshop?

The proposal should not exceed 1000 words.




   *Reporting back to the General Session*

One summary report of all the workshops held in one day in a UN working
language (i.e. English or French) will be prepared by the Secretariat in
cooperation with the organizers. This report will be read out at the
recap session at the beginning of the General Session in the Main Hall
and benefit from interpretation in all UN languages and real-time
transcription. It will last no longer than 40 minutes.