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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Below and attached is the comment of ICANN’s Business Constituency (BC) regarding the ICANN Africa Regional Plan for FY 2021-25.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The BC is pleased to comment on the draft
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">ICANN’s Africa Regional Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2025. We thank the team that put the document together. In particular, the BC commends the team for describing achievements during the preceding five year
strategic plan and useful lessons learnt that are being factored into the next iteration of the Plan. However, we are unable to follow the link on the list to lessons learnt because it is broken.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">As it has been noted in the draft concerning the disclaimer on the non-capture of the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the document, the BC agrees that now is the time to factor into the Strategic Plan the
effect of this major global disaster on the future performance projection of the Fiscal Years 2021-2025 Strategic Plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We further comment as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.
</span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">On the first paragraph of 1.1.2 viz comparison to a particular region, comparison should be based on an available global standard, so reference to the “West” should be replaced with “…</span><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">high
cost of Internet connectivity and a low level of digital literacy compared to global standard.” (a link here to global standard via ITU or any other statistics would be beneficial)</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.
</span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">On the second paragraph of 1.1.2: We recommend the specific inclusion of business in the discussion. The statement can be updated to read “<i>…Internet stakeholders
<b>(in particular business)</b> to address these challenges…</i>” This emphasis places focus on enabling business to invest in the sector.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.
</span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">On 3.4 Geopolitics: We believe the word “not” is missing in the statement “Some African governments still believe that this role should
<b>NOT </b>be left to ICANN.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.
</span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">On 3.4.4 Action Steps: We recommend that the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) should be equally engaged in this regard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5.
</span></span></i><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">On 3.5 Financial: We recommend that collaboration with business entities such as Business Associations and Chambers of Commerce in Africa should be explored. We propose this text:
<i>A paradigm shift to engaging Business Associations and Chambers of Commerce in this regard would be explored.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6.
</span></span></i><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">On 3.5.2 Regional Goals: We recommend that the following statement be added:
<i>Collaborate with Business Associations and Chambers of Commerce to boost business awareness and investment in the DNS industry.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">7.
</span></span></i><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">On 3.5.4 Action Steps: We recommend that the following statement be added:
<i>Work with Business Associations, Chambers of Commerce and Angel Investors to boost business awareness and investment in the DNS industry.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">--<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">This comment was drafted by Jimson Olufuye, Roger Baah, and Arinola Akinyemi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">It was approved in accord with our Charter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Steve DelBianco<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Vice Chair for Policy Coordination <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">ICANN Business Constituency (BC) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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