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Enhancing ICANN Accountability: Reviews & Special Projects

This page provides a high-level overview of initiatives conducted to maintain and improve ICANN’s effectiveness.

The ICANN Reviews Program encompasses the management of Specific Reviews and Organizational Reviews, including any resulting implementation work that relates to improving the reviews process. These review efforts assess how certain aspects of the ICANN ecosystem are performing, including how ICANN org, Board and the community fulfill various commitments.

On 19 May 2025, the Board directed ICANN org to initiate work to design a review program that is fit for the intended purposes of enhancing ICANN’s accountability, transparency, and effectiveness.

  • The Board identified a community dialogue to develop a shared understanding of the areas and issues as a first step.

  • The Board identified a path forward that includes:

    • Supporting the progress of the Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) work and the deferral of Organizational Reviews until completion of one CIP cycle, as defined in the CIP Framework to be published by the CIP-CCG.

    • Concluding the Pilot Holistic Review to allow further ongoing work in the Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs) on continuous improvement activities and broad community participation in a community dialogue on reviews.

    • Continuing the deferral of the Fourth Accountability and Transparency Review (and all other Specific Reviews) pending a community dialogue that will focus on what commitments and other work of ICANN should be reviewed, to enable progress on the future of ICANN reviews.

  • NEWS: On 25 August 2025, ICANN Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs) submitted a final charter for a Review of Reviews Cross Community Group to the ICANN Board Chair. More information can be found on the dedicated Review of Reviews workspace.

Specific Reviews (Section 4.6 of the ICANN Bylaws)

The Operating Standards guide how current and future Specific Reviews are conducted.

A set of proposed improvements to Operating Standards for Specific Reviews were submitted for Public Comment on 23 December 2024. The set of updates, or refinements thereof, will not be presented to the Board for adoption at this time. More information here. More information may be found on the Lifecycle of Reviews and Operating Standards pages.

Specific Reviews (Section 4.6 of the ICANN Bylaws)

The Operating Standards guide how current and future Specific Reviews are conducted.

A set of proposed improvements to Operating Standards for Specific Reviews were submitted for Public Comment on 23 December 2024. The set of updates, or refinements thereof, will not be presented to the Board for adoption at this time. More information here. More information may be found on the Lifecycle of Reviews and Operating Standards pages.

Organizational Reviews (Section 4.4 of ICANN Bylaws)

Organizational Reviews assess the effectiveness of ICANN’s supporting organizations and advisory committees. Organizational Reviews are conducted by independent examiners to assess: (i) whether that organization, council or committee has a continuing purpose in the ICANN structure; (ii) if so, whether any change in structure or operations is desirable to improve its effectiveness; (iii) whether that organization, council or committee is accountable to its constituencies, stakeholder groups, organizations and other stakeholders.

Organizational Reviews (Section 4.4 of ICANN Bylaws)

Organizational Reviews assess the effectiveness of ICANN’s supporting organizations and advisory committees. Organizational Reviews are conducted by independent examiners to assess: (i) whether that organization, council or committee has a continuing purpose in the ICANN structure; (ii) if so, whether any change in structure or operations is desirable to improve its effectiveness; (iii) whether that organization, council or committee is accountable to its constituencies, stakeholder groups, organizations and other stakeholders.

The ICANN Board accepted the final implementation report of the second At-Large Review (At-Large2) implementation was considered complete by the ICANN Board in September 2020 on 10 September 2020  The third ALAC/At-Large Review (ALAC3) was deferred on 12 June 2022. On 19 May 2025, the Board confirmed that Organizational Reviews, including ALAC3, are deferred until the first CIP cycle is complete.

The Board called for a proposed set of Bylaws changes as anticipated to implement the recommendations from the organizational review on 7 November 2019. The third Address Supporting Organization Review (ASO3) was deferred on 12 June 2022. On 19 May 2025, the Board confirmed that Organizational Reviews, including ASO3, are deferred until the first CIP cycle is complete.

The Board accepted the status of implementation of recommendations from the second Country Code Names Supporting Organization Review (ccNSO2) on 28 October 2021. The third Country Code Names Supporting Organization Review (ccNSO3) was deferred on12 June 2022. On 19 May 2025, the Board confirmed that Organizational Reviews, including ccNSO3, are deferred until the first CIP cycle is complete.

The ICANN Board accepted the final implementation report of the second Generic Names Supporting Organization Review (GNSO2) implementation on 27 January 2019. The third Generic Names Supporting Organization Review (GNSO3) was deferred on 21 June 2021. On 19 May 2025, the Board confirmed that Organizational Reviews, including GNSO3, are deferred until the first CIP cycle is complete.

The Board accepted the status of implementation of recommendations from NomCom2 Review on 16 March 2023. The third Nominating Committee Review (NomCom3) was deferred on 12 June 2022. On 19 May 2025, the Board confirmed that Organizational Reviews, including NomCom3, are deferred until the first CIP cycle is complete.

The Board  accepted the final implementation report of the second Root Server System Advisory Committee Review (RSSAC2) on 22 September 2022. The third Root Server System Advisory Committee Review (RSSAC3) was deferred on 12 June 2022. On 19 May 2025, the Board confirmed that Organizational Reviews, including RSSAC3, are deferred until the first CIP cycle is complete.

The second Security and Stability Advisory Committee Review (SSAC2) implementation was considered complete in March 2021. The third Security and Stability Advisory Committee Review (SSAC3) was deferred on 12 June 2022. On 19 May 2025, the Board confirmed that Organizational Reviews, including SSAC3, are deferred until the first CIP cycle is complete.

Implementation Projects

Implementation Projects

Scope: Recommendation 3.5 from a community-led Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT3) calls for the creation of the Holistic Review, a new Specific Review, to consider the effectiveness of the continuous improvement program of Supporting Organizations (SOs), Advisory Committees (ACs), and the Nominating Committee, the accountability of SOs and ACs or their constituent parts to their members/constituencies, and whether the SOs, ACs and the NomCom have a continuing purpose as they are currently constituted. The work to implement the Holistic Review is beginning as a pilot, based on the 29 April 2024 direction from the ICANN Board.

Status: The PHR work was concluded on 19 May 2025. See Board action for more information.

  • Continuous Improvement Program

    Scope: Recommendation 3.6 from a community-led Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT3) requires the evolution of Organizational Reviews into a Continuous Improvement Program for the SOs, ACs, and the NomCom. The work to implement the Continuous Improvement Program will begin as a pilot, based on the direction from the ICANN Board.

    Status: The Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG) published a draft CIP framework for Public Comment from 21 November 2024 till 13 February 2025. Public Comment summary will be available here. The CIP-CCG will consider the input received, address improvements as needed, and finalize the Continuous Improvement Program Framework. The CIP-CCG will then share the framework with each SO, AC, and NomCom for adoption.

Operational Reviews

Operational Reviews

IANA Naming Functions Review (IFR)

Implemented in 2016 to review the performance of the IANA Naming Function against contractual requirements and in relation to the needs and expectations of its naming customers.

Enhancing ICANN Accountability - Work Streams

Enhancing ICANN Accountability - Work Streams

Enhancing ICANN Accountability - Work Streams

The project was created as initial discussions of the IANA Stewardship Transition were taking place to provide assurance that ICANN remains accountable in the absence of any contractual relationship with the U.S. Government:

  • Work Stream 1 of the Cross-Community Working Group on Enhancing Accountability (CCWG-ACCT) was approved and implemented.

  • Work Stream 2 entails accountability and transparency-related recommendations which cover a range of topics, such as diversity, human rights, the ICANN Office of the Ombuds, and transparency.

Status: Work Stream 2 in implementation -  Learn more about the progress in implementing WS2 Recommendations.

Special Projects

Special Projects

Enhancing Effectiveness of ICANN’s Multistakeholder Model 

“Enhancing the Effectiveness of the ICANN’s Multistakeholder Model” project originated in 2019 with the objective to refine and further improve the ICANN’s multistakeholder model of governance. The analysis conducted on the model identified six overarching areas and gaps that should be addressed to improve the functioning of the model. The following three areas were prioritized for a more immediate-term investigation: Prioritization of the work & efficient use of resources; Precision in scoping the work; and consensus, representation, and inclusivity.