Today, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced a new initiative in memory of a former ICANN Fellow. The Paul Muchene Fellow Award is a tribute to Paul Muchene, an ICANN Fellowship Program participant and ICANN organization staff member who passed away in August 2022.
An active participant in the Internet community in his native Kenya and throughout Africa, Muchene frequently volunteered his time and technical expertise to local and regional initiatives. His passion for the Internet and for finding unconventional solutions to technical challenges led him to pursue a computer science degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Muchene quickly applied the knowledge gained through his studies to his work for ICANN and the broader Internet community.
"Paul was selfless and always happy to help other fellows," said Mistura Aruna, Muchene's ICANN Fellowship Program mentor. "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, he reached out to us repeatedly to make sure we were well. We will all miss him."
The ICANN Fellowship Program was established in 2007 to strengthen the diversity of the multistakeholder model by fostering opportunities for individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities to become active participants in the ICANN community.
Fellows are exposed to the workings of the ICANN community, are assigned a mentor, and receive training across different areas of knowledge and skill building before, during, and after an ICANN Public Meeting.
The first recipient of the Paul Muchene Fellow Award will be seated at the ICANN76 Community Forum. The Paul Muchene Fellow Award will be presented at every future ICANN Public Meeting.
The recipient of the inaugural Paul Muchene Fellow Award will be selected from among the ICANN76 Fellows by the Selection Committee. Selection Committee members are appointed by the Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees.
Qualified candidates will:
- Be selected for the ICANN Fellowship Program.
- Possess a technical background.
- Live or work in the Africa region.
The first Paul Muchene Fellow Award recipient will be announced on 7 November 2022 on the ICANN website together with the selected ICANN76 Fellows.
About the ICANN Fellowship Program
The ICANN Fellowship Program is open to all individuals interested or already engaged in the various aspects of ICANN's work, such as policymaking, the operation of the Domain Name System, and the security and stability of the global Internet. The goal of the program is to help create a more diverse and a broader base of knowledgeable constituents who can engage in the ICANN multistakeholder process and become the new voices of experience in their regions and on the global stage.
For more information on the program, please visit the Fellowship Program page.