Nepal IGF 2018, Proposal Guidelines

Prepared by: Program Committee, Nepal IGF 2018

Nepal Internet Governance Forum (Nepal IGF) is an open multi-stakeholders Platform formed to discuss and identify issues and priorities, and ultimately contributes towards the advancement of Internet in Nepal. It lobbies on the key possibilities of multi stakeholder environment with the value to create better environment of collaboration and communication for accessible, affordable and safe Internet.

The Nepal IGF 2018, is organized by the Multi-stakeholder Group (MSG) and steered by the Program Committee and jointly hosted by the Internet Society Nepal (ISOC Nepal) and Internet Governance Institute (IGI) with a 2-day event on November 02-03, 2018 with the theme of“Making Internet accessible, affordable and safe”.

Our Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) now would like to call upon the community and stakeholder to contribute to the program development process and suggest any pre-events or workshop proposals for 2018. More details can be followed on http://igf.org.np/

Theme and Sub-theme
The theme of the Nepal IGF 2018 is “Making Internet accessible, affordable and safe”. The sub-theme to organize the workshops at Nepal IGF 2018 are:

1. Multi Stakeholder Model and Governance
   

   Governance of internet is of primary concern to all the stakeholders and each of the stakeholders have important role to make the internet affordable, accessible and safe. Under this sub-theme issues including evolution of Internet governance, current status of internet governance in Nepal, Name and Numbers, ISOC and ICANN Collaboration, Challenges of multi stakeholder model and citizens participation can be discussed.

2. Inclusion and Human Rights
   

   The full potential of the socio-economic benefits that internet and internet mediated technologies enable can only be realized if access to internet infrastructure and content is accessible to all. Issues relating to human rights such as freedom of expression, right to privacy, data protection and issues relating digital divide, gendered internet, access to people with disability, youth, people with different gender identities and sexual orientation etc will be discussed under this sub-theme. These issues are the public policy issue which need collaboration and multi stakeholder approach towards driving the internet ecosystem ensuring equality and diversity.

3. Emerging Technologies
   

   New and emerging technologies are an important aspects of internet governance. The scope and status of new technologies and issues such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Internet of Things, Internet of Everything, SDN (Software define network) etc., will be discussed under this sub-theme.

4. Access, Infrastructure and Affordability
   

   Accessibility and Affordability of internet is closely related to infrastructure available in country. Issue of access becomes more important in a landlocked and mountainous country like Nepal with difficult geographical terrain. Further, issue of affordability is multidimensional and interrelated with income, gender, youth, private sector, tax regime and quality of service, which will be discussed under this sub-theme.

5. Security, Trust ‎and Privacy
   

   As the internet is growing the issues of security, trust and privacy has come upfront not just as basic right but has been challenging the overall concept of internet core values.  Furthermore, the evolution of technology has created a gap where these issues has been vulnerable and prioritized for their roles and responsibilities. Privacy and security concerns over internet has increased over the years along with rapid technological developments, use of surveillance by the formal mechanisms and agencies as well as corporations. In a world where data is a new oil internet citizens concern about safe, secure and protected online and issues relating to Cyber security, online safety is what Nepal IGF will discuss under this sub-theme.

6. Media and Local Content
   

   In context of internet, media and local content plays an important role. One of the major way to regulate internet is regulation of internet content. Governments around the globe has used content regulation to regulate the internet. Further, online media has transformed the way we consume and produce news and information; along with proliferation of fake news and misinformation in the media ecosystem. Lack of content in accessible language has kept large section of citizenry offline and sustained and enlarged the gap aimed to bridge.  Further, over dominance of foreign content and language has created a sense of discrimination where native and local content has been a voice. In this context issues relating to social media, fake Information and disinformation, local content etc will be discussed under this sub-theme.

7. Law and Policy
   

   Legal landscape of Nepal relating to internet and internet content has been changing. Nepal has recently enacted the Civil and Criminal Code and the parliament has passed the Individual privacy bill. Further, Nepal government has been working on Information Technology Bill. Online Media Directive is another instrument which regulates the content on internet. In this context, Nepal IGF will discuss the issues relating to laws and policies under this sub-theme.

8. 8. Others
      

      Other issues relating to internet governance such as economic opportunities using Internet, Creative Digital Economics, Internet and SDGs, Internet and Environment, Technical and Operational Topics can also be discussed in Nepal IGF 2018.

Submission of Workshop proposal

1. The proposal should be in line with the theme “Making Internet accessible, affordable and safe” of Nepal IGF 2018,
2. Workshop proposals can be submitted only via our online submission system within the deadline,
3. Proposal need at least 3 confirmed speakers and their details along with a rapporteur,
4. The program committee members are not allowed to evaluate their own proposals.

Session Formats

Below are some of the examples of possible sessions, workshop organizers are welcome to suggest new ideas.

1. Roundtable (60/90 mins) – Interactive dialogue with all participants with designated moderators and not more than 2 speakers.
2. Workshop (60/90 mins) – A more hands-on oriented session with small break out groups. e.g. role-play discussion, fishbowl discussion
3. Tutorials (60 mins) –A capacity building or peer-learning session on specific issues for newcomers or general participants. The format of delivery shall be clearly described in the proposal.
4. Open Forum (30/45/60 mins) –A space for any organizations to showcase their recent Internet governance activities, research findings or any new initiatives to seek engagement or collaboration within the Community.
5. Conversation (30/45/60 mins) – Share your experiences and ideas, and invite reflection or feedback
6. Bird of Feather (BoF) (15/30 mins) – An informal discussion session designed to connect the participants of shared topic of interests without a pre-planned agenda
7. Hackathon (Flexible) – Meet-up for collectively & collaboratively improving software or hardware
8. Panel Discussion (60/90 mins) – Presentation and viewpoints sharing by speakers on a particular topic. The number of speakers on the panel shall not be more than 5 (including moderator) to allow sufficient time for interaction with the floor.
9. Other –  You can also create your own formats, as long as they fit within the allocated times and spaces.

Key points to be noted

1. 1. Evaluation: The proposal will be evaluated on fairly basis highlighting basic standard method of evaluation
   2. Mergers: During the evaluation the Program Committee may suggest for the mergers of proposal as upon evaluation, the proposal sender are under no obligation to accept a merger, but risk losing the opportunity to hold their workshop.

Responsibilities of Workshop Organizers

1. Be inclusive and foster new connections between participants
2. Respect diversity of opinion, experience and background
3. Design the workshop to fit under Nepal IGF 2018 themes and sub-themes.
4. Respect the time allocated, plan to maximize the use of the time available
5. Invite different organizations or projects to collaborate on the workshop.
6. Promote the Nepal IGF 2018 among your network and promote your session
7. Organizers are required to submit the workshop session report within 10 days after the completion of the Nepal IGF 2018. Failing to comply with this will risk losing the opportunity to hold their workshop in future Nepal IGFs.
8. Participate in the Synthesis Document development
9. Please refer to the sample proposal attached herewith.

If you have any inquiries and other technical difficulties please feel free to contact the secretariat at [email protected]

About the Organizers

Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSG)

The Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) of Nepal IGF is a self-organised committee with members from Internet Community in Nepal, established in February 2017 to organize Nepal Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and to promote and support discussion and discourse relating to internet governance in Nepal. Please find more about the msg here: http://2018.igf.org.np/igf-org-np/declaration

Program Committee, Nepal IGF 2018

A Program Committee (PC)  is the main organizing committee that manages and materializes the event in context of the planning, organizing and management of the national IGFs. It is an autonomous body that works as per the mandate of the MSG, where MSG holds the final decisions and program committee acts as a liaison body. Program Committee members for the Nepal IGF 2018 are:

1. Mr. Hempal Shrestha (Coordinator)
2. Mr. Indivar Badal
3. Ms. Jyotsna Maskay
4. Mr. Sahajman Shrestha
5. Mr. Santosh Sigdel
6. Ms. Shehnaz Banu
7. Ms. Shiwa Karmacharya
8. Mr. Shiva Kumar Pokhrel
9. Mr. Shreedeep Rayamajhi

Host for Nepal IGF 2018

Internet Society Nepal (ISOC Nepal – Host)

Internet Society [ISOC] Nepal is a non-profit, non-partisan organization registered under Organization Registration Act, 1976 at District Administration Office, Kathmandu, Nepal in 2009. Previously, ISOC Nepal was loose network and received status of National Chapter by the Internet Society [ISOC] in April 2007. Professing technology as an integral part of social development and empowerment, Internet Society Nepal (ISOC Nepal) is an association of different ICT professionals from diverse areas of life. Adapting the concept of “Safe Internet for all,” this association was established when the need of standardization and safe browsing was thought to be of utmost importance by a group of professionals in order to adapt the international standards relating to internet.

Internet Governance Institute (Co-Host)

Internet Governance Institute (IGI) is a not for profit company based in Kathmandu Nepal. IGI is working for strengthening Internet Governance discourse at the grass root level through research, capacity building, awareness, advocacy debates and policy interventions.