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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
Monday named Westlake Governance Limited to conduct an independent review of
the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), reports ITRealms.
This review, ITRealms gathered is part of ICANN's
commitment to continuous improvement, accountability and transparency.
ITRealms notes
that GNSO serves
an important function as an organisation within the ICANN community responsible
for developing and recommending to the ICANN Board substantive policies
relating to generic top-level domains (gTLDs).
ITRealms recalled
that the purpose of the review is to evaluate organizational effectiveness of
the GNSO, acknowledge areas that are working well, identify areas that need
improvement and propose needed changes. This review, like reviews of other
structures within ICANN, is mandated by ICANN's Bylaws.
The GNSO Review, ICANN officials confirm would address the
new, improved approach to conducting reviews. Stressing that the GNSO will be a
protagonist in this inclusive process: in keeping with ICANN's bottom-up,
multistakeholder approach, this review process will incorporate a
"self-review" by the GNSO community and its direct involvement.
“An online survey will collect feedback from other ICANN
structures and community members, the Board and staff. Westlake will collect
both quantitative and qualitative data through various work methods to develop
a sufficient basis for formulating findings and recommendations. The review
will begin immediately and is expected to conclude in January 2015,” ICANN
official told ITRealms.
The selection of an independent examiner was done in
accordance with the process defined in SIC Systematization of Organizational Reviews Processes and
involves organizational review staff and the Structural Improvements Committee
of the Board.
“Seven proposals were carefully evaluated and the
evaluation results and scores were presented for consideration and action by
the ICANN Board Structural Improvements Committee. The selection criteria
included: Knowledge and Expertise (including knowledge of ICANN),
Qualifications of the Professional Team Assigned (including ability to act
independently, without conflict of interest); Proposed Methodology; Ability to
Deliver High Quality, Useful Report and Recommendations; and Costs.
Westlake Governance is a globally-focused, New
Zealand-based consulting firm, serving clients from a wide cross-section of
not-for-profit, commercial and government-owned sectors. The firm has performed
reviews of ICANN's At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) and the Root Server System
Advisory Committee (RSSAC).
