Multistakeholder Model

A Multistakeholder Model is an organizational framework or structure which adopts the multistakeholder process of governance or policy making which aims to bring together the primary stakeholders such as businesses, civil society, governments, research institutions and non-governments organizations to cooperate and participate in the dialogue, decision making and taking action in providing solution to a problem or in achieving a common goal. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is an example of a multistakeholder model organization. ICANN is composed of different internet stakeholders around the world and practices a consensus-based policy development also known as "bottom-up" model. ICANN's governs on the principle of cooperation and collaboration with the different internet stakeholders worldwide to be able to effectively and efficiently carry-out its responsibility as the international internet governing body.

ICANN Organizational Structure

The diagram below shows the diversity of the internet stakeholders comprising ICANN. As the global inernet governing body, ICANN's primary role is to coordinate the internet naming system worldwide. According to ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom, the ICANN multistakeholder model serves as the catalyst for the internet and he describes it as open, inclusive, balance, effective and international.

Characteristics of Multistakeholder Process

A multistakeholder process has the following characteristics:

• Involvement of stakeholders in the learning process
• Stakeholders work towards a common goal
• Works involve different sectors and scale
• The objective is focused to bring about change
• Deal with structural changes
• Agreements are created based on cooperation
• Stakeholders deal with power and conflict consciously
• Botton-up and top-down strategies are integrated in governance and policy making