[Gnso-sc-budget] New backdoor into fellowship

[Ayden Férdeline]

Thanks very much for clarifying this, Xavier.

Best wishes,

Ayden Férdeline

-------- Original Message --------
On 8 February 2018 7:58 PM, Xavier J. Calvez <xavier.calvez at icann.org> wrote:

> I missed earlier to correct Ayden’s following statement:
>
> “If I am reading the table on page 12 of document #2 correctly, expenditure on GSE activities is projected to be $30m in FY19.”
>
> In this statement, Ayden has confused Headcount with $$. The headcount at the end of FY19 is suggested to be 30 people, and the FY19 GSE Budget to be $8.1m.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Best,
>
> Xavier
>
> Xavier Calvez
>
> ICANN – SVP & CFO
>
> 12025 Waterfront Drive, Suite 300
>
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> From: Gnso-sc-budget <gnso-sc-budget-bounces at icann.org> on behalf of Ayden Férdeline <icann at ferdeline.com>
> Reply-To: Ayden Férdeline <icann at ferdeline.com>
> Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 3:01 AM
> To: "gnso-sc-budget at icann.org" <gnso-sc-budget at icann.org>
> Subject: [Gnso-sc-budget] New backdoor into fellowship
>
> [The Council has previously expressed concerns regarding ICANN's spend on global engagement activities, and I share these concerns. While I think there is some value in this work, I do not think I/we have the metrics available to assess their effectiveness relative to the amount that is being expended. If I am reading the table on page 12 of document #2 correctly, expenditure on GSE activities is projected to be $30m in FY19.]
>
> Comprehensive as the budget documents are, they do not make it easy to understand what GSE actually does. Even if I was generous in my appraisal of their activities based on my personal interactions with GSE staff at non-ICANN events like the IGF, WSIS, and EuroDIG, it is probably fair to say that they do than I realise. (Which is a good thing, because if all they are doing is attending events and buying stakeholders drinks, it's probably not the best use of resources.)
>
> So I am trying to understand what it is that the GSE does. And as it happens, [an email was sent to one of the NCSG's mailing lists[lists.ncuc.org]](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ncuc.org_pipermail_ncuc-2Ddiscuss_2018-2DFebruary_043610.html&d=DwMGaQ&c=FmY1u3PJp6wrcrwll3mSVzgfkbPSS6sJms7xcl4I5cM&r=IWWGaKyGUGcKQNGe7LtArAou7HP6fPR5aWjbPBUFZ3k&m=flrQoa2b6ueE-J3k_vNf2y77J9kcRYf1TDZ9wcYmwvg&s=jR1ytKY22MuKLfXH-Xp1wOrKDZqNoTJXOTvCi5vIjVg&e=) last week by GSE, offering to bring four of our newcomers to the Panama City meeting. This has led to some discussion within our member constituencies over the selection process, as the fellowship programme itself - imperfect as it may be - has community involvement in the selection of fellows. This olive branch from GSE, however, will see ICANN staff choose the newcomers that are brought to ICANN 62.
>
> I do not want to bore you with our internal discussions. What I do want to note is that the GSE seems to be using resources now to bring community members to ICANN meetings. We have confirmed off-list that the community members funded through this programme will be funded from the GSE budget and not from the fellowship programme. My concern, therefore, is that this is a new backdoor into the fellowship programme.
>
> In the FY19 budget I was pleased to learn that the number of fellowship slots had been cut to 30 (which is still more fellows than I think the community has the capacity to onboard). However, with the GSE now funding the travel of newcomers from their budget, I am concerned that there may not be a reduction at all in the number of supported travellers participating in ICANN-funded capacity building programmes.
>
> I just want to flag this. I am not sure if you will agree that this is something the Council should comment on (though it is my view that it should), but I think it is something we should monitor. When we are told in the budget that there will be 30 fellows, I think it is reasonable to expect that there will be just 30 fellows - not 30 fellows funded through the fellowship programme, and more funded through alternative line items. This is a sensitive issue in some stakeholder groups/constituencies, particularly ones where many fellows gravitate after the fellowship programme (as returning fellows are required to indicate on their application form if they have joined an ICANN community, though they are not required to show any level of engagement), and not one which I think everyone would be able to comment on at the stakeholder group/constituency level.
>
> Food for thought,
>
>  Ayden
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