Strengthening Policy Dialogue and Bottom-Up Governance: Highlights from the AFRINIC-36 Public Policy Meeting and Board-Community Engagement Session

AFRINIC-36 Public Policy Meeting (PPM) was held online on 10 December 2025 under the joint convening of the AFRINIC Board and the Court-appointed Receiver. The meeting attracted 168 participants, reflecting a strong community interest in the AFRINIC Policy Development Process. Discussions centred on policy matters within the AFRINIC Policy Development Process (PDP), with participants engaging openly on issues that shape the management of Internet number resources across the region.

A notable outcome of the meeting was the community endorsement of Mr Vincent Ngundi and Mr Darwin Da Costa, who were serving as the outgoing Co-Chairs of the Policy Development Working Group (PDWG). The PDWG Chairs tenure was discussed on the Resource Policy Discussion (rpd) mailing list prior to the start of the meeting. Through an online poll, participants agreed that Mr Vincent Ngundi and Mr Darwin Da Costa would co-chair the AFRINIC-36 PPM and continue moderating the Resource Policy Discussion (RPD) Mailing List on an interim basis, until new PDWG Co-Chairs are elected. This decision reflected a collective preference for continuity and stability during a transitional phase.

The meeting opened with an address by the Chairman of the AFRINIC Board, setting the tone for constructive engagement and reaffirming the Board’s commitment to transparency and collaboration. This was followed by a focused discussion on endorsing the PDWG Chairs, during which community members exchanged views and debated recommendations on interim leadership arrangements within the PDP. Participants also received an update from the Policy Liaisons who presented historical data on policy participation and engagement, offering a perspective on community involvement over the recent years. In addition, AFRINIC’s Head of Member Services shared a Policy Implementation Experience Report, with practical insights from policy execution. Open discussions on the PDP were later facilitated by Mr Ngundi and Mr Da Costa, allowing for broader community input.

Throughout the PPM, participants were encouraged to reflect on the strengths and shortcomings of the Policy Development Process, and to propose practical ideas for improvement. The session also emphasised the importance of this PPM in meeting ICP-2 requirements.

View the video of the AFRINIC-36 PPM

Earlier in the day, the AFRINIC Board hosted an online Community Engagement Session, which drew 261 participants. This open forum created space for direct and candid exchanges between Board members and the community, enabling participants to voice concerns, ask questions, and provide feedback on matters affecting the organisation.

Key operational and governance issues were discussed during the session, including AFRINIC’s legal status and that of the Official Receiver, the organisation’s emerging strategic direction, and efforts underway to rebuild the Policy Development Process. Participants also raised questions and shared perspectives on IPv4 address usage outside the African region, the need for rebuilding trust through consistent engagement, the recruitment of a new AFRINIC Chief Executive Officer, and the moderation of the community-discuss mailing list, among other topics.

Both online sessions were marked by high levels of participation and interaction, with attendees actively contributing through the live chat, Q&A segment, and open microphone discussions. The strong turnout and depth of engagement reflected the community’s desire to see AFRINIC regain stability and move forward after a prolonged period of difficulty. Many participants also expressed interest in having similar forums held more regularly.

Members of the full AFRINIC Board, who were present throughout the engagements, reiterated their commitment to listening carefully to community feedback and incorporating it into their work. There was broad agreement among both Board members and participants that sustaining this level of engagement is essential—not only for addressing governance challenges but also for ensuring AFRINIC’s long-term effectiveness and credibility.

The openness of the discussions generated clear takeaways that will help shape AFRINIC’s next steps. This positive outcome was further reflected in post-event survey results, which showed that 83% of respondents were satisfied with both sessions, signalling renewed confidence and cautious optimism across the community.

View the Video of the Board Engagement session

In the evening, the Board and the Receiver also met with AFRINIC members in Mauritius. The Directors outlined AFRINIC’s commitment to be closer to its Members to better address concerns. The exchanges took place in a friendly atmosphere during a cocktail organised for members.