Process Documentation
The Process Documentation Initiative began in January 2017 when the ICANN organization realized the need for additional clarification and documentation of existing processes, including implementation and associated roles and responsibilities. Processes identified for this initiative included those related to policy development, advice, reviews, and the newly formed Empowered Community.
The purpose of this initiative is to improve organizational and community effectiveness by addressing areas of uncertainty and confusion within and across core engagement mechanisms. Input came from a number of sources, including the ICANN organization, Board of Directors, and ICANN community.
We devised a "phased" approached to identify and align the process flowcharts to break down the processes for each area in an understandable format. We created more detailed illustrations to facilitate conversations to capture the various steps, substeps, and areas of possible confusion. Subject matter experts (SMEs) verified each step to ensure consistency. In June 2017, we presented the overall processes to the community for feedback at ICANN59 in Johannesburg.
As a result of this initiative, these materials now serve as easy-to-follow introductions to the key processes conducted across ICANN's multistakeholder model. The processes fall into these categories: Reviews, Advice and Correspondence, Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees, and Empowered Community Powers.
This page gives you a visual (flowcharts) and narrative (handbooks) overview of these processes before you delve into the detailed supporting documentation, which includes the respective standard operating procedures (if applicable) and the new ICANN Bylaws. These new bylaws were part of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) stewardship transition, and reflect hundreds of hours of work by the ICANN community and legal team.
The flowcharts and corresponding text-based handbooks posted here will be updated as needed and monitored yearly in coordination with the community. If you have any feedback, questions, or concerns about any of these processes, email us at processdocumentation@icann.org.
Latest Updates, Blogs, and Meetings
29 Jun 2017 | Meeting | Review of ICANN Process Documentation Initiative |
16 Jun 2017 | Blog | ICANN Process Documentation Initiative (Community Feedback Requested) |
9 May 2017 | Meeting | ICANN Process Mapping Initiative at the GDD Summit |
Flowcharts, Handbooks, and Source Documents
- Address Supporting Organization (ASO)
- Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO)
- Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO)
- At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC)
- Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Advice
- Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC)
- Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)
- Initiate Mediations
- Approve Approval Actions
- Community Independent Review Process (IRP)
- Rejection Actions
- Initiate a Community Reconsideration Request
- Remove Nominating Committee Directors
- Remove Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees (SO/AC) Directors
- Recall the Board
Reviews
Specific Reviews
Source Documents
- Specific Reviews icann.org page (reference tables at bottom of page)
- Enhancing ICANN Accountability and Governance wiki page (reference Specific reviews space on left, and child pages for each specific review)
Organizational Reviews
Source Documents
- Organizational Reviews icann.org page (reference tables at bottom of page)
- Enhancing ICANN Accountability and Governance wiki page (reference Organizational reviews space on left, and child pages for each specific review)
Advice and Correspondence
Board Advice
Source Documents
Correspondence
Source Documents (None)
Supporting Organizations
Address Supporting Organization (ASO)
Handbook (In progress)
Source Documents
- ASO Global Policy Development Process
- Operating Procedures of the Address Council of the Address Supporting Organization
- ASO Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
- ASO Regional Documents
- The Number Resource Organization's (NRO's) Regional Internet Registries Overview
- (APNIC's) Asia Pacific's Regional Internet Registry's Policy Development Process
- ARIN – American Registry for Internet Numbers' Policy Development Process
- RIPE – Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia's Policy Development
- AFRINIC – Internet Numbers Registry for Africa's Policy Development
- LACNIC – RIR for Latin America
Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO)
Source Documents
- Section 10 of the ICANN Bylaws
- Annex B of the ICANN Bylaws
- Annex C of the ICANN Bylaws
- Guideline: ccNSO Working Groups
Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO)
Source Documents
- Infographic of policy development process (PDP)
- PDP manual
- GNSO Non-PDP Working Group Final Report on Policy and Implementation (the ICANN Board adopted Section 6 and Annex L of the report)
- ICANN's Consensus Policy Implementation Framework
- Section 11 of the ICANN Bylaws
- Annex A of the ICANN Bylaws
Advisory Committees
At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC)
Handbook (In progress)
Source Documents
Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Advice
Source Documents
Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC)
Flowchart (In progress)
Handbook (In progress)
Source Documents
Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)
Flowchart (In progress)
Handbook (In progress)
Source Documents
Empowered Community
Initiate Mediations
Source Documents
Approve Approval Actions
Source Documents
Community Independent Review Process (IRP)
Source Documents
Rejection Actions
Source Documents
Initiate a Community Reconsideration Request
Source Documents
Remove Nominating Committee Directors
Source Documents
Remove Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees (SO/AC) Directors
Source Documents
Recall the Board
Source Documents