APrIGF 2022 Call For Session Proposals

Under the hybrid model, you should indicate the preferable format of your session when submitting your proposal.

• Onsite at the venue (with online moderator for questions and comments from remote participants)
• Online only (with onsite facilitator who will help with questions or comments from the floor)
• Offsite from the venue at a local hub (with online moderator for questions and comments from remote participants)

Once your session is selected, the committee will provide the logistic details and a briefing session to ensure the smooth running of your session.

However, due to the dynamic situation with regards to Covid-19, the hybrid nature of the event is subject to change and the event organizer reserves the right to modify the event format. The event organizer will review the global circumstances regularly and make announcements of changes accordingly.

Session proposers must be fully aware that there is a possibility that the event could be fully virtual in the worst case scenario and should follow our updates closely.

Sessions are limited to 60 minutes in duration this year. Below are examples (in alphabetical order) of possible session formats. Organizers are welcome to suggest new format ideas.

• Birds of a Feather (BoF) – An informal discussion session designed to connect the participants of shared topic of interests without a pre-planned agenda.
• Fireside Chat – Share your experiences and ideas in an informal setting, and invite reflection or feedback.
• Panel – Presentation and/or sharing of viewpoints by speakers on a particular topic. The number of speakers on the panel shall not be more than 6 to allow sufficient time for interaction with the attendees.
• Roundtable – Interactive dialogue involving all participants with designated moderators and not more than 2 speakers.
• Showcase – An open space for any organizations to share their recent Internet governance activities, research findings or any new initiatives to seek engagement or collaboration within the Asia Pacific Community.
• Tutorial – A capacity building or peer-learning session on specific issues for the participants. The format of delivery and target audience shall be clearly described in the proposal.
• Workshop – A more hands-on session with small break out groups. e.g. role-play discussion, fishbowl discussion.
• Other – You can also create your own formats, as long as they fit within the allocated times and spaces.

Deadline of Session Proposal Submission: 28 April 2022 (Thu) 16 May 2022 (Mon)
21 March – Finalise the overarching theme and thematic tracks
1 April – Open call for session proposal (4 weeks)
16 May – Deadline for session proposal submission
2 June – Deadline for session evaluation
By June – Announce selected session proposals
July – Release final program
August – Briefing sessions for session organizers
12-14 September – APrIGF 2022

The Program Committee 2022 within the Multistakeholder Steering Group (MSG) is responsible for evaluating all the session proposals received. A preliminary list of selected session proposals will be announced by June 2022 after which session organizers are expected to finalize their speakers and/or coordinate on a merged session (if required) within a month. The program agenda will be published by July 2022.

1. Relevance
Are the specific issues to be addressed by the proposal clearly correlated to the thematic tracks and relevant to the overarching theme of the APrIGF 2022?

2. Detail & Clarity
Does the proposal provide all information requested in the submission form, specifically: fully expounded issues, intended discussion outcomes, viable approach to discussion, and the choice of moderator/speakers (and their availability). The status of confirmation and relevance of panelists to the issues discussed will also be taken into consideration.

3. Inclusion and Diversity
Does the proposed session represent viewpoints from multiple stakeholders and provide diverse cultural, gender and geographical perspectives? Are there multiple stakeholder groups on the panel? Are the listed panelists qualified to represent various distinct stakeholder groups? Does the session contribute to the overall diversity of the APrIGF event? In particular, the Program Committee would like to see proposals that represent diversity in both the issues presented and the speakers nominated with respect to gender, disability and stakeholder groups.

4. Engagement
Does the format selected, the number of speakers and the length of the proposed session support participation from the audience? Does the proposal provide details of how the session will be run to promote discussion and engagement from the audience? Does the proposal state how to incorporate remote participation and contributions into the discussion? Does the proposal include plans of the session content preparations and distribution of topic issues among the speakers/panelists/organizers prior to APrIGF event?

Additional Note
The MSG would like to see more collaborative discussions among the participants and panelists. A description of how you intend the session to be conducted i.e. a clear objective, method/process and scope for participation (from attendees) would help the Program Committee better understand your proposal.

The MSG strongly encourages each organizer to focus on submitting quality proposals to enhance the chance to be selected.

*Session Mergers: Upon evaluation, the MSG may suggest selected session organizers with thematically similar proposals to form mergers. This is to accommodate more diverse and quality sessions on the program agenda. Organizers are under no obligation to accept a merger, but may carry a risk of losing the opportunity to conduct their session.

• Be inclusive and foster new connections among participants.
• Respect diversity of opinion, belief, experience and background.
• Design your session to fit under the APrIGF theme and tracks.
• Provide promotional materials per the request of the Secretariat for social media use.
• Make sure your moderators, speakers and you register for the event.
• Respect your time allocation, ensure sufficient time availability to engage with audience and remote participants and plan to maximize the use of the time available.
• Ensure that speakers are diverse in terms of gender, geography and stakeholder group; invite different organizations or projects to collaborate on the session with you; remember diversity is key.
• Promote APrIGF 2022 among your network along with your session.
• Submit the session summary report within 2 weeks after the conference.
• Participate in the Synthesis Document development and contribute with the insights from your session discussions. (recommended)

Join the APrIGF community discussion mailing list to seek collaboration or speakers. You may send a subscription request to the Secretariat at [email protected].

Remember that MSG members are always happy to help proposers by sharing feedback and suggestions of speakers for a session. Do not hesitate to send a message to the Secretariat and get advice.

Fireside Chat: Digitally-led, Inclusive Growth in the Age of COVID-19

Panel Discussion: Helping Kids Learn in Times of Pandemic

Roundtable: Decrypting the Encryption Debate in Asia-Pacific

Showcase: The Internet’s Technical Success Factors

All sessions will be attended by MSG or Program Committee volunteers and a post-evaluation will be completed based on the following criteria:

• Compliance to the session evaluation criteria with contents of proposal submitted and the actual session presentation, including:
• Relevancy to the thematic tracks and relevant to the overarching theme of the APrIGF 2022
• The actual result of the session in accordance to the Detail & Clarity originally submitted;
• The final composition of the speakers or panelists in terms of inclusion and diversity;
• The actual engagement of the audience by the moderator during the session.
• Time management
• The evaluation will be submitted to the Secretariat for incorporating into the final post-session report for record keeping purposes and to review the quality of sessions for future reference.