SIC
SIC is the abbreviation for Structural Improvements Committee. It was established at the Cairo meeting in November, 2008. SIC is responsible for reviewing policies and providing oversight, as part of ICANN's ongoing organizational review process. SIC conducts the reviews as per the bylaws of ICANN and uses the reviews to evaluate whether any given committee, organization, etc has a persistent purpose in the structure of the ICANN. SIC also provides recommendations from time to time with the sole objective of enhancing the effectiveness of the structure.[1][2]
The SIC reviews the performance of the each of the organization associated with ICANN. There is an appointed staff of ICANN which provides the necessary support to the entire process of the periodic review and the functions of the SIC. The SIC consults the Advisory Committee, Supporting Organizations and the Nominating Committee with respect to the various reviewing aspects of any such organization associated with ICANN. [3]
Structure
SIC is comprised of a minimum of two voting Board Directors. It also contains not more than one Liaison Director, who is appointed annually by the Board. These directors need to comply with the Conflicts of Interest Policy. The voting directors of SIC are the voting members of the Committee. These voting directors serve at the discretion of the Board. The SIC also has the full right to organize itself into subcommittees so as to complete their work.[4]
Responsibilities
The Structural Improvements Committee sets forth the following responsibilities, as well as other actions as prescribed by the Committee’s purposes or as stated by the Board:
- From time to time reviews ICANN’s policies and suggests changes to standardize and streamline those policies. It also processes the governing organizational review of ICANN.
- Oversees work in combination with the ICANN staff. It checks the content and the quality of the work produced for ICANN and pursues all the necessary follow-up.
- Coordinates with Working Groups and estimates the recommendations that come from the reviewing processes. It points out the inconsistencies and the recommendations presented by the various bodies.[5]
Activities
The SIC coordinates the ongoing review processes with the help of Working Groups (WGs). It also reconsiders the current review processes and formulates a wide set of proposals that will help to streamline the processes, enhance the interaction with the community, increase the accountability and transparency and increase the value of all the outputs of all the ICANN organizations. [6]