Project Spotlight: Metagov Groundwork Fellowship Artifacts and Documentation
Reports and artifacts on the Dynamic Partnership Protocol, delegation-based curation app Shuffle, a secure and private communication system for communities in Myanmar, and the DisCO Governance Model
Welcome to another Metagov Project Spotlight
In today’s special edition of Project Spotlights we are excited to share our documentation of the Metagov Groundwork Fellowship, an initiative that brought together community-based researchers to explore and reshape the landscape of internet governance.
Overview of the Fellowship
The Groundwork Fellowship, a year-long online fellowship with a three-month development period, hosted by Metagov with support from the Henry Luce Foundation, was designed to address the challenges faced by under-represented communities in internet governance. By inviting four community-based research fellows to explore how internet infrastructure design affects the ability of these communities to self-determine their gathering, decision-making, and resource-sharing practices, the fellowship aimed to foster more inclusive and responsive online governance.
Contributions and Artifacts
To illustrate the impact of the fellowship, we have documented the artifacts and reports that fellows produced as part of the fellowship. Each fellow has addressed not only the specific governance processes, needs, and practices of their communities but also contributed to broadening the discourse on digital governance. The following artifacts highlight the diverse approaches taken by the fellows:
Ammar Manla Hasan tackled the challenges within decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) by developing the Dynamic Partnership Protocol, which emphasizes labor contributions over capital.
Wanjiru Ngure / [MONRHEA] developed Shuffle, a software tool that aids in the organization of events for Kenya's underground music scene, aiming to make the curation process more equitable and efficient.
Pumsuanhang (Michael) Suantak focused on creating a secure and private communication system for communities in Myanmar, enhancing their ability to communicate securely despite their challenging circumstances and internet shutdowns.
Stacco Troncoso worked on refining the DisCO Governance Model, which prioritizes mutual support and collective care within organizational structures.
Seminars and Community Engagement
Throughout the fellowship, our weekly seminar series provided a platform for fellows to present their work and engage in dialogue with the Metagov community and other experts. These interactions enriched the fellows’ projects with diverse perspectives and critical feedback, helping to refine their approaches and broaden their impact.
Reflections and Future Directions
As we reflect on the past year, we recognize the significant strides made towards understanding and improving the governance of digital spaces. The fellowship has highlighted the importance of diverse voices and approaches in shaping internet governance frameworks that are truly inclusive.
Each fellow brought unique insights to the fellowship and developed transformative projects during the fellowship that make rich connections with their communities as well as the broader field of internet governance.
Here are some reflections from our fellows.
Ammar Manla Hasan:
The fellowship encouraged me to think about internet governance from the lens of accessibility, and introduced me to several approaches that seek to broaden the scope of governance to include previously excluded or marginalized groups. The feedback I received from the Metagov community on my own research highlighted the complexity of our governance and ownership model at Taxir, and encouraged us to explore ways to streamline it and develop a better UI around it.
Wanjiru Ngure / [MONRHEA]:
My participation in the fellowship empowered me to engage with my topic of interest outside the circle of people I already had access to. For example, I organized an impromptu discussion with curators who I met at an international festival, inviting them to talk about their thoughts on the topic of organic curation and how they go about curation themselves. This gathering contributed to the development of my project and has been integrated into my research findings.
Pumsuanhang (Michael) Suantak:
The fellowship connected me with experts in internet governance, digital rights, and technology, refining my approach and making my research more practical for Myanmar. I'm expanding my research to develop robust communication systems in Myanmar using sBitx v3 and HERMES due to political instability, natural disasters, and limited infrastructure. sBitx v3 is an open-source SDR transceiver for long-distance HF communication, adaptable for remote regions. HERMES is an open-source digital system using HF radio signals for secure, resilient communication, transmitting text, audio, images, and GPS in infrastructure-limited areas.
Stacco Troncoso:
The fellowship has been key in advancing DisCO Governance and has brought up many more questions and discussions around the topic. Many of these will be reflected in the DisCO Pink Paper and other platforms
The Full Report
Detailed documentation of the fellows' work, including seminar presentations and reflections, is available in our comprehensive fellowship report. This document not only captures the outcomes of the fellowship but also serves as a resource for ongoing and future initiatives in the realm of internet governance.
Looking Forward
We are grateful to the fellows, partners, and all who contributed to the Groundwork Fellowship. As we move forward, we remain committed to exploring and supporting initiatives that empower communities and promote fair governance in digital and physical spaces alike.
If you want to see more of these kinds of fellowships, reach out to hello@metagov.org to explore potential collaborations.
For more on the range of other online and digital governance research that fellows were able to engage with through their fellowship with Metagov, as well as to stay engaged with our future projects, please visit www.metagov.org and consider joining our community of researchers, practitioners, and activators of digital governance.
We look forward to continuing these important conversations and collaborations in the field of internet governance.
Thank you for your interest and support in fostering a more inclusive digital future.
- Cent