The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced today that the Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG) finalized and published the Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) Framework. The framework provides a new model for community-led evaluation and enhancement of ICANN's structures and processes.
The CIP Framework was created in response to a recommendation from the Third Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT3), which called for evolving ICANN's Organizational Reviews into a more dynamic continuous improvement process. ATRT3 is the third ICANN-mandated review assessing ICANN's accountability and transparency, and the effectiveness of its Board governance, public input, and policy processes.
This milestone marks the culmination of 18 months of dedicated work by the CIP-CCG that brought together community volunteers from Supporting Organizations (SOs), Advisory Committees (ACs), and the Nominating Committee (NomCom) with diverse perspectives and deep expertise.
"We appreciate the CIP-CCG's dedication and shared commitment to helping to advance continuous improvement across the ICANN community," said Theresa Swinehart, Senior Vice President, Global Domains and Strategy. "Their work has laid a strong foundation that the community can build upon – one that balances accountability with the flexibility needed to adapt and evolve."
With the framework now published, the work of the CIP-CCG is complete and the CIP enters the implementation phase, during which each SO and AC, and the NomCom will begin planning and executing an assessment of the CIP.
ICANN invites all community members to review the CIP Framework and engage with their groups to shape continuous improvement efforts going forward. For more information, please visit the Continuous Improvement Program community wiki.
Background
The CIP-CCG developed a model for assessment rooted in ICANN's Bylaws (Article 4.4) that is designed to support rigorous, tailored assessments of ICANN's organizational structures and promote continuous improvements aligned with each structure's charter and priorities. The program will be iterative, progressing through multi-phase cycles that allow flexibility in timing. To ensure accountability and transparency, each group is expected to report on its CIP progress at the end of each cycle or within a three-year period.