ISOC introduces Ambassador’s scheme for IGF-07

Leveraging on the successes of the Internet Society (ISOC) Ambassador programme during the two-phased World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in late 2005, the organisation has announced another version of the ambassadors’ project for the forthcoming Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting in Rio, Brazil.

ISOC is the organizational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

The Ambassadors programme for the Rio meeting, scheduled to hold from November 12 through 15, this year, has been designed to involve members in
ISOC’s public policy activities tend to provide valuable expertise and know-how to the IGF meeting in Rio.

Public Policy Manager at ISOC, Constance Bommelaer, while announcing this programme, said that participants are expected to spend approximated seven days.

“Interested individuals should be available to arrive no later than Sunday 11 November and depart no sooner than Friday 16 November,” Bommelaer said.

The manager added that a total number of 12 persons would be selected for the ambassadorship position during the IGF-07.

According to the guidelines, interested individuals must be ISOC members and active too to scale through.

In addition, such potential ambassador must have strong mission for his immediate community, while being conversant with national and international internet issues at the moment as well as what goes on at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) since its formation.

Deadline for the application, Champion Infotel gathered is July 31, 2007, while processes must be completed and accepted application announced before the end of August 21, this year.

“The role of the ambassadors is to explain and promote ISOC’s positions on public policy issues that are related to the themes of the IGF,” ISOC said.

Additionally it was gathered that the Ambassadors would be expected to add their significant local and regional experience as well as insights to discussions and interventions during the sessions and workshops.

The ambassadors are equally looked upon to bring home first-hand experience of the IGF and to continue to drive local ISOC activities, particularly as they related to Internet governance issues.

Those selected would be provided with financial support for their travel and accommodation during the weeklong event.

ISOC described the ambassadorship as an excellent opportunity to interact with Internet stakeholders at all levels and gain first hand experience of a major international forum.

The Internet Society is a non-profit, non-governmental with international and professional memberships, spanning across over100 organisation members and individual members in excess of 20,000 in over 180 nations globally representing a veritable who’s who of the Internet community.

The work of the Internet Society focuses on four “pillars” namely standards, public policy, education and training, as well as membership.


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