Programme
 
Introduction
This conference aims to contribute to the process of establishing the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) by facilitating an informed and constructive discussion. The IGF must depart from existing international initiatives and organisations in so far as it should both accommodate the working methods and approaches set by the developers of the Internet, while also taking account of existing international policy and legal systems. 
The conference will involve the participation of all major actors in the IG field, and will make use of available knowledge, expertise, and experience as inputs to the policy process. Given Diplo’s mission, specific emphasis will be placed on issues relevant to developing countries.

The methodology of the Malta Conference can be explained through an analogy with the computer game SimCity, in that we will be “building” the Internet Governance Forum. As in SimCity, we will draw from previous experiences and take pre-existing rules and principles into account. The construction process will be organised through the following six panels:

1. Experiences of Various Internet Bodies and other International Initiatives

2. Composition and Organisation of the Internet Governance Forum

3. The Working Methods of the Internet Governance Forum

4. Financial and Logistical Issues

5. Positioning the IGF within Existing Structures and Initiatives Related to Internet Governance

6. The Internet Governance Forum and Development
    
    

Thursday, 9th February 2006
19.00	Welcome reception hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malta and launch of the publication on  MULTISTAKEHOLDER DIPLOMACY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES These are the proceedings of the previous conference on Multistakeholder Diplomacy, published by DiploFoundation, edited by Jovan Kurbalija and Valentin Katrandjiev. Forward by the Hon. Dr. Michael Frendo, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

 

Friday, 10th February 2006
10.00 – 10.30	Official Opening and Welcome Address Welcome by Professor Dietrich Kappeler, President of DiploFoundation. Opening Address by The Hon. Dr. Michael Frendo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malta.
10.30 – 10.45	Conference Photo in the Foyer
	Coffee Break
11.00 – 12.00	Overview and Introduction   Speakers: Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation Dr Alex Sceberras Trigona, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta During the first day of the conference, we will set the stage for the building of the IGF. The outlining session will start with a broad range of reflections on networking as an organisational principle, highlighting key elements in the building of network-based decision making processes. The session will conclude by outlining the formal IGF requirements, as specified by the WSIS process. With these “requirements” set in place, the conference will explore which constructions/ideas can be borrowed from other initiatives, based on the principles of public interest and capacity building.
12.00 – 12.30	Presentation of Research: The Protection of the Public Interest with Regards to the Internet.
	Lunch
14.00 - 15.30	Internet Governance Capacity Building Initiative Presentation of the Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme (2005) as a model for capacity building and of the main research projects: IP Allocation and IPv6, The Role of Civil Society from Developing Countries in Internet Governance, The Protection of the Public Interest in Regards to the Internet.
	Coffee Break
16.00 – 17.30	Panel 1 Experiences of Various Internet Bodies and other International Initiatives   Speakers: Dr Jeanette Hofmann, Social Science Research Center, Berlin Mr Paul Wilson, Director General of APNIC, Australia Professor Wolfgang Kleinwächter, University of Aarhus, Denmark Ms Eskedar Nega, Global Knowledge Partnership Dr George Papadatos, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greece One feature specific to the Internet is its unique system of governance. The creation of the IGF should include governance mechanisms that have proven successful during Internet development. The first panel will focus on the experiences of various internet bodies, including IETF, ICANN, RIRs, and ISOC.
18.30	Excursion to Valletta and Grand Harbour Bus departs for Valletta from the hotel. There will be a guided tour along the scenic route from St. Julians to Valletta, through Sliema and views of the Grand Harbour.   The evening’s highlight will be to see the procession celebrating the feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck.
19.00	Initiative Working Dinner Preparatory meeting for those participating in the Internet Governance Capacity Building Initiative Meeting on Sunday.   Participants not attending the Initiative Working Dinner will have a free evening in Valletta and will have to make their own arrangements for dinner. A list of recommended restaurants is provided in your welcome pack.
22.00	Transport Bus departs Valletta to return to the hotels. Participants who wish to make their own way back to the hotels either earlier or later can make their own arrangements.

Saturday, 11th February 2006
Constructing the Internet Governance Forum   With the background information in place, the second day of the conference will be dedicated to constructing the IGF.
9.00 – 10.30	Panel 2 Composition and Organisation of the Internet Governance Forum   Speakers: Rev. Prof Peter Serracino Inglott, former Rector of the University of Malta Mr Markus Kummer, the Internet Governance Forum Professor Ang Peng Hwa, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Ms Ayesha Hassan, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris Ms Karen Banks, Association for Progressive Communication The second panel will focus on the composition and organisation of the Internet Governance Forum, including discussions of such questions as: How can the structure of the forum appropriately involve various stakeholders and cover a wide range of issues? How can the forum promote a bottom-up and inclusive nature, while maintaining an efficiently operational organisation? What will be the most appropriate organisational form for the forum (e.g. open structure, secretariat, bureau)?
	Coffee Break
11.00 – 12.30	Panel 3 The Working Methods of the Internet Governance Forum    Speakers: Mr Amr Aljowaily, Permanent Mission of Egypt in Geneva Ms Avri Doria, Research Consultant, Providence, Rhode Island Dr Claudia Padovani, University of Padova Mr Adam Peake, GLOCOM - Tokyo The third panel will focus on the working methods of the IGF. In the past, working methodology has been a stumbling block in many multistakeholder initiatives. The panel will explore various innovative possibilities which could be achieved through a careful blend of UN rules of procedure and practice, used by the wider Internet community including the IETF. Decisions are usually the outcome of processes. What should be the form and status of decisions? Recommendations are one of the most likely forms of decisions. The panel will discuss the possibility of using examples, such as the OECD’s recommendations. Given the innovative nature of the IGF’s organisation, special emphasis will be placed on various monitoring mechanisms, including monitoring the preservation of the multistakeholder nature of the IGF.
	Lunch
13.40 – 14.00	Presentation of Research: IP Allocation and IPv6
14.00 – 15.30	Panel 4 Financial and Logistical Issues   Speakers: Mr Bertrand de La Chapelle, WSIS-Online.net, Paris Mr Guido Maccari, OECD, Paris Ms Karen Banks, Association for Progressive Communication, London Mr Robert Guerra, Privaterra, Toronto The fourth panel will move on to financial and logistical issues, which often make or break international initiatives, beginning with discussions on the financial aspects of the IGF (How should it be financed? What should be the role of various stakeholders when it comes to financing?). Next, panellists will discuss the organisation of the IGF’s activities. The IGF must “walk the talk” by utilising the Internet for its operation. This part of the discussion will focus on finding the right balance between traditional (face-to-face) and online interactions. The panel will explore the pros and cons of using various online platforms, applications, and techniques. Main emphasis will be on the full integration of online methods in the work of the IGF, including discussion of questions such as the formal status of online input, the response to online input, and bringing all the stakeholders to a similar level when it comes to the use of online tools.   Discussions should facilitate an “out-of-the-box” thinking, including the possibility of utilising the IGF’s online deliberation tools to bypass existing functional barriers to the full participation of developing countries, including the lack of funds to participate in numerous IG related meetings, small diplomatic missions, as well as limited and usually overstretched local expertise for covering IG issues.
	Coffee Break
16.00 – 17.30	Panel 5 Positioning the IGF within Existing Structures and Initiatives Related to Internet Governance   Invited Speakers: Ms Theresa Swinehart, ICANN Mr Latif Ladid, The New Internet based on IPv6 Dr William Drake, President of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, Geneva Dr Roberta Ritson, World Health Organisation, Geneva The fifth panel will focus on positioning the IGF within existing structures and initiatives related to Internet Governance. It is clearly stated in the WSIS’s “urban requirements” that the IGF should complement, not replace, existing forums, bodies, and initiatives in the field of Internet Governance. Discussions will focus on the relationship between the IGF and Internet related bodies (e.g. IETF, ISOC, ICANN), regional and international organisations, national governments, and academic/research communities.
After 19.30	Conference Dinner
	Hopefully, by the end of Saturday, the main IGF building blocks will be in place. The conference dinner will be another opportunity to discuss the two days’ events in a historical setting over an excellent meal.

Sunday, 12th February 2006
9.00 – 10.30	Panel 6 The Internet Governance Forum and Development   Speakers: Ms Eskedar Nega, UN Economic Commission for Africa Mr Waudo Siganga, Computer Society of Kenya Dr David Souter, Association for Progressive Communication On Sunday, the third day of the conference, the sixth panel will focus on the Internet Governance Forum and development. The IGF must ensure that developmental aspects are covered in the deliberation of Internet Governance issues. Capacity-building was unanimously supported during the WSIS/WGIG process as an important developmental issue. How can capacity building at various levels be ensured, including immediate (helping participants from developing countries to fully participate in the IGF) and strategic (introducing IG related training in the curricula of academic and training institutions, building research capacities, etc.)?
10.30 – 10.50	Presentation of Research: The Role of Civil Society from Developing Countries in Internet Governance
	Coffee Break
11.30 – 13.00	Conclusions Speakers: Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation Dr Alex Sceberras Trigona, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malta Rapporteurs The rapporteurs’ summaries will feed into the last session of the conference which will try to bring all the building blocks together in the construction of a virtual IGF "building". Concluding discussion.
	Lunch
14.00 – 17.00	After the conclusion of the conference on Sunday afternoon, the first meeting of the Internet Governance Capacity Building Initiative will be held, during which plans for training seminars and research activities in 2006 will be discussed.
19.00	Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme 06 - Drinks Informal gathering for those participating in the Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme 2006. Includes trainers, prospective participants, tutors, alumni.

MALTA
February 10-12, 2006

Organised by

 

Towards an Internet Governance Forum
The Sunday Times, 
Malta, 05.03.2006
 

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