3. Content
1. The Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN)
2. The .Africa Organization
3. Organizational Structure
4. Recommended Sponsoring Organization
5. Governance Structure
6. Interested sponsors
7. Next Step
• Africa
4. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers (ICANN)
A nonprofit organization that manages and
coordinates the Domain Name System.
ICANN focuses on preserving the stability of
the Internet; promoting competition; achieving
broad representation of global Internet
communities; and developing policy through
bottom-up, consensus-based processes.
• Africa
6. Need for an Africa-specific regional domain
Currently, Internet users in the Pan-Africa and
African region only have the option of utilizing a
generic TLD (gTLD) whose registrants are dominated
by US and European individuals and businesses, or
country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) that are intended for
local use
Current gTLDs also tend to focus on a vertical group
(e.g. commercial entities, network providers,
organizations , etc.) within the global Internet,
“.Africa” will embrace a horizontal perspective with
a clear brand to reach and enrich the broad global
community.
• Africa
7. Need for an Africa-specific regional domain,
cont’d
• Unlike ccTLDs, which provide for a local audience,
“.Africa” will allow the user to express membership in
the larger Pan African and African community.
• “.Africa” domain will also allow Africa to take its rightful
place alongside .EU, .ASIA and .LAC
• Also it complies with WSIS objectives on empowering
undeveloped countries using ICT, IOW it fits as an ICT4D
projects.
• “.Africa” complies with AU, UNECA and ADP policy of
development for the continent. • Africa
8. The DotConnecAfrica Organization
• DotConnectAfrica Organization is to be the
Sponsoring Organization and Registry Operator for the
.Africa sponsored Generic Top Level Domain.
• DotConnectAfrica is to be a not-for-profit, community-
based organization incorporated in Africa.
• DotConnectAfrica is to develop into a global force in
the international commercial, political and cultural
network.
• The .Africa domain aspires to embrace this dynamism
in the African Century to become a nucleus,
intersection and breeding ground for Internet activity
and development in the region
• Africa
9. The Mission
• To sponsor, establish and operate a continental
Internet namespace with global recognition and
regional significance, dedicated to the needs of
the Pan-African and African Internet community.
• To reinvest surpluses in socio-technological
advancement initiatives relevant to the Pan-Africa
and African Internet community; and
• To operate a viable not-for-profit initiative that is a
technically advanced, TLD registry for the Pan-
Africa and African community.
• Africa
10. Organizational Structure
Is a not-for-profit organization made up of different
sponsor organizations:
• Sponsor Members
• Co-sponsor Members
• Businesses
• Non-profit - NGOs
• Other relevant community organizations in the
region
• Africa
11. Organizational Structure, cont’d.
Members will make up of Board of Directors
• The BOD will be advised on policy matters by an
Advisory Council
• AC will be populated by one representative from
each Co-Sponsor organization.
• A proceeds Steering Committee (PROSCOM) will be
created and appointed by the Board to oversee the
allocation of surplus proceeds from registry
operations.
• Africa
12. Governance & Representation of Community
• The governance of the .Africa Organization is to be driven thru a
multistakeholder society and augmented by regional expertise.
• As a membership-based organization, the direct and close
involvement of many Government, Businesses , NGO’s ensures a
wealth of knowledge and expertise in the operational and policy
management of a TLD registry in the Pan-Africa and Africa region.
• Representation in governance from successful African Internet and
Information Technology groups provides broad representation and
relevance from the Pan-African regions
• The .Africa Organization intends to operate openly & transparently.
Governance model is to be adapted from the Africa’s
development policy model augmented with other geo names.
• Public Policy consideration will include direct input from policy
makers , therefore consulting with the AU/ECA/ADB on policy
matters. • Africa
13. Governance Structure
Key Pan Board of Directors
African
Sponsor Org
CO-Sponsor
• AU Chairman’s members
• UNECA Advisory y
• ADB Businesses
Council • Internet orgs,
• IT org,
• Teleco
• NGO,
CEO
• Non-profit,
Functional VPs • Other relevant
Africa-based
Marketing & Customer Admin
Support
orgs
Bus Dev Staff Etc..
• Africa
14. Interested Sponsors of Dot.Africa
• African Union (AU)
• Economic Commission for Africa
• African Development Bank
• African Internet Actors
• Individual ccTLDs
• National ICT Policy organs
• African Private Sector Actors
• African Non-Profits
• Other Pan-African Organizations
• Africa
15. NEXT STEPS
1. Complete the governance structure for .Africa, under
the proposed sponsoring Organization , and
consisting of selected interested organizations that
could assist and benefit Africa, CEO, CTO, Treasurer.
2 . Finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between parties involved in #1 as to roles &
responsibilities.
3. Consortium agreement with organizations that are to
be involved
4. Develop terms of reference for the SELECTED registry
operator
• Africa
16. • Africa
www.dotconectafrica.org
Thank you for your attention!
The Road Map to Africa
