The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched a global Grant Programme granting innovators across Kenya and the world access to a $10 million fund.
The grant funds are aimed at supporting projects that advance an inclusive and transparent approach to developing resilient, user-friendly, and secure Internet infrastructure solutions. These projects will specifically focus on supporting the Internet’s unique identifier systems.
Introducing the #ICANN Grant Program. Discover how you can secure funding for projects that support a secure and globally accessible Internet. Learn more here >> https://t.co/UHXwMiZ1un #ICANNGrantProgram pic.twitter.com/eJkWywtmF3
— ICANN (@ICANN) January 9, 2024
Who can apply?
To be eligible applicants must:
- Be a charitable organization.
- Organizations within the U.S. must have a 501(c)(3) determination from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Applicants outside of the U.S. must be charitable in nature and be able to provide relevant governing and financial documentation, upon ICANN‘s request, to confirm equivalency to a U.S. 501(c)(3).
- Support ICANN‘s compliance with relevant U.S. laws, rules, and regulations.
- Have no conflicts of interest.
- Meet due diligence standards.
- Have a bank account in the applicant organization’s name.
ICANN is the private, non-government, non-profit corporation with responsibility for the Internet Protocol (IP) address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system (DNS) management and root server system management functions
Kenya hosts one of two mega data centres:
- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
- Numbers (ICANN) Managed Root Server (IMRS) clusters
in Africa. This is ICANN’s first-of-its-kind investment in Africa.
“With the rapid evolution of emerging technologies, businesses and security models, it is critical that the Internet’s unique identifier systems continue to evolve,” said Sally Costerton, Interim President and CEO, of ICANN.
“The ICANN Grant Program offers a new avenue to further those efforts by investing in projects that are committed to and support ICANN’s vision of a single, open, and globally interoperable Internet that fosters inclusion amongst a broad, global community of users.”
According to ICANN, the types of initiatives that the ICANN Grant Program will fund include those that support ICANN‘s mission by:
- Benefitting the development, distribution, and evolution of the services and systems that support the Internet’s unique identifier systems.
- Providing capacity development.
- Advancing developments, innovation, and open standards for the benefit of the Internet community.
- Contributing to diversity, participation, and inclusion across stakeholder communities and geographic regions.
The application cycle for the initial $10 million in grants will commence in March 2024. ICANN will start accepting grant applications on March 25, 2024. The application window will remain open until May 24, 2024.
An Independent Application Assessment Panel will be responsible for reviewing admissible and eligible applications. The tentative timeline for announcing the grantees of the first cycle is set for January 2025.
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