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Enhancing the Effectiveness of ICANN's Multistakeholder Model

ICANN's multistakeholder model is a bottom-up system of governance where all stakeholders, no matter their backgrounds or experiences, have an opportunity to have their voices heard and shape policy. The ICANN stakeholder community comes together regularly to discuss challenges, opportunities, developments, dynamics and trends that impact the Internet's unique identifier systems, and to discuss policies that help to ensure the stable and secure operation of those systems.

One of the five objectives of ICANN's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2021–2025 is to improve the effectiveness of our multistakeholder model of governance – a model that grew to fit our needs. As ICANN continues to evolve, and as our environment becomes more complex, our governance model, including our deeply valued bottom-up decision-making process, must also evolve.

The "Enhancing the Effectiveness of ICANN's Multistakeholder Model" (MSM) Project was launched in 2019 to address this strategic objective. Working collaboratively with the community, the ICANN Board published the final version of the paper "Enhancing the Effectiveness of ICANN's Multistakeholder Model" (MSM Paper) on 14 October 2020. Subsequently, the MSM Project moved into the implementation phase.

The fact that almost all the projects included in the paper have evolved and continue to evolve led ICANN to reconsider the best way to continue to monitor the multistakeholder model, as the assessment of any project or initiative at a specific time might not capture its dynamism.

Therefore, ICANN has determined to embed a health check of ICANN's multistakeholder model in the yearly Strategic Outlook Trends exercise. Considering the dynamic nature of ICANN's multistakeholder model and the fast-evolving environment in which ICANN operates, the Strategic Outlook Trends Program allows ICANN to capture the strengths and weaknesses of the model, as well as new community needs and expectations, in a holistic and structured manner.

The "Enhancing the Effectiveness of ICANN's Multistakeholder Model" project closeout report aims to explain how the gaps identified in the MSM Paper and associated with one or more of the projects and initiatives listed under the six topics have been addressed or are being addressed by ICANN. The report is a snapshot of the evolution of several projects and initiatives as of January 2025.

ICANN's multistakeholder model remains the key pillar of ICANN's structure. Over the past several years, ICANN and its community have worked to address the issues identified in the MSM Paper, and to progress and refine the ongoing work that is instrumental to ensuring a healthy multistakeholder environment. Furthermore, certain principles and processes, such as prioritizing work and streamlining resources, are now at the forefront of ICANN operations.

ICANN's multistakeholder model and the projects and initiatives that support it are in a constant state of motion, meaning that change will remain the constant of ICANN and its community work. Owing to its capacity to evolve, the ICANN multistakeholder model will continue to grow stronger as it addresses future challenges.

See the MSM community workspace for more information.