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This is the LACRALO SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) table prepared by the LACRALO Strategic Planning WG - draft by Dev Anand Teelucksingh and Alejandro Pisanty
Strengths- ALS in 15 17 countries in LAC region
- Level of expertise; middle
- Parliamentary experience of approximately 20% part of the members
| Weaknesses- Subregional divisions
- Language barrier to particapte participate in ALAC / At-Large WGs which work in English
- Language barrier makes it difficult for ALSes in LA (predominately Spanish) and Caribbean (predominately English) to understand each other and thus colloborate together
- Politics - groups in LACRALO compete for LACRALO Representatives. Groups can mobilise ALSes to vote in elections but not in ICANN policy development
- Different perspectives in how LACRALO should be administered ("sovereign")
- Individuals can only participate as observers (AP: I don't see this as a weakness)
- Lack of expertise above the middle level, in substantive matters(in knowledge of ICANN, substantive Internet issues, security, Internet Governance, IP addressing and underlying technology)
- Lack of parliamentary experience of approximately 80% part of the members
- A history of unresolved internal conflict, embodied particularly in the still unresolved General Assembly which was closed but left issues without making progress in them
- Complexity of rules
- Lack of deep knowledge of the applicable rulesets (Bylaws and others)
- Limited linkage of members (as individuals and organizations) to substantive ICANN issues
- Leadership failures
- Questioned legitimacy of Chair after 2013 election (internal; for external, see Threats)
- Insufficient/deficient management of conflict of interest and transparency
- Insistent formation of sub-regional "caucuses" despite protestations to the contraryChair's inability to manage sub-regional relationships, among other factors due to insufficient command of English
- Older members, more experienced and trained, do not cooperate
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Opportunities- have Need for At-Large representation in all 33 Countries in LAC region
- End users from a diverse range of countries with respect to history, language, culture, population size could bring unique perspectives into ICANN activities
- Fadi Chehade's discourse ICANN program towards geographical diversification (e.g. regional strategic plan, see below)
- Fadi Chehade's discourse towards more, and more effective, participation
- ALAC's increased standing under Olivier Crepin-Leblond's leadership
- Regional strategic plan for LAC region making progress (will soon become a threat if LACRALO doesn't adjust on time)
- Increasing interest in Internet Governance at government level (this is also a threat)
| Threats- Dissolution of LACRALO or at least severe questioning by third parties
- ALSes/individuals frustrated by the politics become disenfranchised with LACRALO and stop participating in LACRALO
- Perception by third parties of LACRALO as an improductive, problematic, and/or benefit-seeking organizations
- Need of ICANN to make budgets lean and require justification for spending which LACRALO may not be able to provide sufficiently
- Growth of visibility, influence and impact of NCSG, NPOC, and other groupings which compete for legitimacy, representation, attention space, participation in decision-making, budget, and seats in the governing bodies
- Questioning of the legitimacy and effectiveness of LACRALO and its members
- Lack of interest for the region in active ICANN processes (new gTLDs, IDNs, DNSSEC, Stability, Security and Resilience of the DNS, SSAC)
- Resistance against "US-based Internet Governance"
- Increasing interest in Internet Governance at government and intergovernmental level (this is also an opportunity)
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