ICANN Meeting Fellowships
The ICANN Meeting Fellowship program is one example of how ICANN is supporting the next generation of community members. To continue in its mission to build capacity within the ICANN multistakeholder model, this program seeks to create a broader and more diverse base of knowledgeable constituents.
Priority is given to candidates currently living in underserved and underrepresented communities around the world, those who represent diversity of gender, sector, region, experience, and expertise, and/or have established financial need. Participation in the Program at an ICANN meeting is a "fast-track" experience of engagement into that community model, with presentations designed to facilitate understanding of the many pieces and parts of ICANN while providing opportunities to network and promoting interaction with ICANN community and staff.
Each candidate selected into the Program through the online application and assessment process is provided a grant of support that covers the cost of economy class airfare, hotel and a stipend. Fellowship recipients are expected to engage prior to, during and after the ICANN meeting with the ICANN Fellowship office, Program Alumni, Newcomer Coaches and their selected peers, as well as begin to actively contribute to ICANN processes upon completion of the Program.
For more information please see the Program's Process and Terms
Who may apply for and be awarded a fellowship?
Candidates from all regions and sectors are welcome to apply to the ICANN Fellowship Program. The Program is targeted at individuals who: show awareness of, but are either new to the ICANN environment; are familiar with ICANN but have yet to attend a face-to-face meeting; have started participating in ICANN through the Program or by successful applicants will have demonstrated: other means but need travel support and/or an additional Fellowship opportunity to broaden their knowledge and deepen their engagement. Candidate backgrounds are diverse: government, the ccTLD community, civil society, academic, legal, technical, and security, commercial and non-commercial sectors. These individuals must NOT be involved in or associated with other ICANN supported travel programs at time of selection.
Successful applicants will have demonstrated:
- Desire and ability to utilize the experiences gained from the Fellowship to become an active member of the next generation of ICANN's volunteer community
- A role or interest in the Internet space, specifically as it relates to the work of ICANN
- An interest in contributing to:
- ICANN policy development processes
- The ICANN Fellowship Alumni network
- ICANN outreach in their sector, community and region
- An ICANN supporting organization, advisory committee, stakeholder group or constituency
- A returning Fellow (Alumni) who can provide documented support from community leaders and/or ICANN regional staff as to their continued engagement and work related to their Fellowship and ICANN experiences, as well as articulate specific goals for a particular meeting which may include Newcomer Coach
How are the fellowships awarded?
Fellowships are assessed by an independent selection committee based on the ability of the individual applicant to meet the Applicant criteria, and ranked through a scoring process that prioritizes those applicants who not only meet the criteria but also show: diversity in gender, sector, experience, expertise; that they are a member of an underrepresented or underserved community; with consideration given to financial need. Applicant experience and references also may affect final selection.
ICANN Fellowship Selection Committee
Fellowship Application Assessment Process
Current Program Status
The following individuals successfully participated at ICANN59 held 26-29 June 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa:
- Adeel Sadiq – Pakistan – Technical
- Adetola Sogbesan – Nigeria – Business
- Alagie N Ceesay – Gambia – Technical
- Amrita Choudhury – India – Civil Society
- Anand Raje – India – Technical
- April Tinhorn – United States – Business
- Aris Ignacio – Philippines – Academic
- Arsene Tungali Baguma - Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The – Civil Society
- Benjamin Akintunde Akinmoyeje – Nigeria – Internet End User
- Bonface Witaba – Kenya – Civil Society
- Catherine Niwagaba – Uganda – Government
- Christopher Momanyi – Kenya – Academic
- Claire Craig - Trinidad And Tobago – Academic
- Dejan Djukic – Serbia – ccTLD Operations
- Dessalegn Yehuala – Ethiopia – Academic
- Elsa Saade – Lebanon – Civil Society
- Etuate Cocker - New Zealand – Technical
- Evelyn Namara – Uganda – Civil Society
- Fotjon Kosta – Albania – Government
- Gazi Zehadul Kabir – Bangladesh – Technical
- Hasnaa Soraya Melyani – Morocco – Internet End User
- Ines Hfaiedh – Tunisia – Academic
- James Bidal - South Sudan – Civil Society
- John Sushil Chand – Fiji – Technical
- Karel Douglas - Trinidad And Tobago – Government
- Kasek Galgal - Papua New Guinea – Academic
- Khalid Samara – Jordan – Security
- Lacier Dias – Brazil – Technical
- Lia Marcia Solis Montano - Bolivia, Plurinational State of – Technical
- Lianna Galstyan – Armenia – Civil Society
- Mahdi Taghizadeh - Iran, Islamic Republic Of – Technical
- Mamadou LO – Senegal – Business
- Manmeet Pal Singh – India – Internet End User
- Maria Gabriela Gijón – Argentina – Academic
- Maryan Rizinski – Bulgaria – Business
- Mathias Etheyemon Houngbo – Benin - Security
- Michael Ilishebo – Zambia – Government
- Monica Romero Chacon – Costa Rica – Government
- Mubashir Hassan – Pakistan – Civil Society
- Nadira Alaraj - State of Palestine – Civil Society
- Nenad Marinkovic – Serbia – Civil Society
- Oarabile Mudongo - South Africa – ccTLD Operations
- Pascal Guillaume Bekono – Cameroon – Government
- Rao Naveed Bin Rais - United Arab Emirates – Academic
- Priscilla Kevin - Papua New Guinea - Business
- Ricardo Holmquist - Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic Of – Civil Society
- Said Marjan Zazai – Afghanistan – Civil Society
- Sanjay Bahadoorsingh - Trinidad And Tobago – Academic
- Sarata Omane – Ghana – Academic
- Shavkat Sabirov – Kazakhstan – Civil Society
- Sourakatou Ramanou Biaou – Benin – Technical
- Stanley Osao - Papua New Guinea – Civil Society
- Wen Zhai – China – Civil Society
Regional Newcomer Fellowship Pilot Program Participants
- Anderson Joel Kgomotso – Botswana – Business
- Chancelle Mbara Nkoissou - Republic of Congo – Business
- Comoe Christiane Esther Anaky - Republic of Cote d'Ivoire – Civil Society
- Elolo Emmanuel Agbenonwossi – Togo – Business
- Eric Victor Charles Contayon - Ivory Coast – Business
- Fiona Adongo Ongeso – Kenya - ccTLD
- Frederico John Links – Namibia – Civil Society
- Judith Samantha Tchimmoe Fezeu – Cameroon – Business
- Kobla Edem Nunekpeku – Senegal – Civil Society
- Koliwe Majama – Zimbabwe – Civil Society
- Muriel Stanislas Tonankpon Alapini – Benin – Civil Society
- Ousmane Moussa Tessa – Niger – Academia
- Raihanth Bandele Adjoke Gbadamassi – Benin – Civil Society
- Serge Parfait Goma - Republic of Congo - Academia
- Silas Ngabirano – Uganda – Government
ICANN60 (Meeting C) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to be held 28 October - 3 November 2017
- Application Round open: 29 March 2017 at 23:59 UTC
- Application Round close: 10 May 2017 at 23:59 UTC
- Selected Fellows announcement: 26 July 2017
ICANN61 (Meeting A) in San Juan, Puerto Rico in North America to be held 10 - 15 March 2018
- Application Round open: 4 August 2017 at 23:59 UTC
- Application Round close: 15 September 2017 at 23:59 UTC
- Selected Fellows announcement: 1 December 2017
ICANN62 (Meeting B / Policy Forum) in Panama / LAC to be held 25 – 28 June 2018
- Application Round open: 3 November 2017 at 23:59 UTC
- Application Round close: 15 December 2017 at 23:59 UTC
- Selected Fellows announcement: 9 March 2018
*Meeting B Application Round will be a program for Alumni of the ICANN Fellowship Program only, therefore only those who have successfully completed an ICANN Fellowship are eligible to apply for this particular round.