Since 2016, the RIPE NCC Community Projects Fund (CPF) has been supporting projects of value to the operation, resilience and sustainability of the Internet. Following a decision by the RIPE NCC Executive Board, the CPF will be paused in 2025 for a review and to gather community feedback, aiming to improve its effectiveness for future projects.
In a recent decision by the RIPE NCC Executive Board, it was resolved to temporarily pause the RIPE NCC Community Projects Fund (CPF) for the year 2025. This strategic move is designed to achieve the objective of conducting a thorough review of project management processes.
RIPE NCC Community Projects Fund Paused for 2025
The RIPE NCC established the Community Projects Fund in 2016 to support projects that enhance the resilience and overall health of the Internet, focusing on the technical Internet community in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Since its inception, the CPF has funded 50 projects with a total expenditure of EUR 1,659,953, addressing critical issues and advancing the Internet ecosystem.
Community Feedback and Critiques
The CPF has faced criticism from the community regarding transparency in funding allocation, accountability, and post-funding sustainability. In response, the RIPE NCC has implemented measures such as transparent disclosure of funding amounts, mandatory publication of RIPE Labs articles, and improved project tracking. However, challenges remain, including:
- Difficulties in linking the RIPE community with certain projects
- Ensuring clear project reporting
- Providing ongoing support
- Attracting more projects from outside Western Europe
Over 60% of the projects selected were managed in Western Europe. However, the projects themselves generally have a global impact.
While we have hosted a number of RIPE NCC Open House events focused on the winning projects, there has been somewhat low interest from the community. This is something we would like to improve.
We’ve also struggled to get project teams to publish regular updates on RIPE Labs.
Achievements and Success Stories
Despite these challenges, the CPF has supported numerous impactful projects since its inception in 2016, including:
Krill: An open-source project developed by NLnet Labs to improve Internet routing security by deploying Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI). Krill simplifies the process for network operators to create and manage RPKI certificates and Route Origin Authorizations (ROAs), significantly reducing the risk of route hijacking and misconfigurations.
ARTEMIS: The Automatic and Real-Time dEtection and MItigation System (ARTEMIS) provides effective measures against BGP hijacking, a major Internet security threat. By using real-time monitoring and automatic detection, ARTEMIS helps network operators quickly respond to BGP prefix hijacking events, maintaining the integrity and security of Internet routing.
Internet Health Report: This initiative offers crucial data on the global Internet infrastructure's performance, including metrics such as latency, packet loss, and connectivity. The insights provided help stakeholders identify and address issues affecting Internet reliability and efficiency.
Trust and Stewardship
As the Secretariat for the RIPE community, trust is our most valuable currency. We serve as the trusted steward of the open, inclusive, collaborative Internet model. This trust is built and maintained through community-building activities, engaging with our membership, and coordination and collaboration efforts with technical, governmental, and standards bodies to deliver insights into the Internet's operations and potential threats.
The decision to pause the CPF reflects our commitment to being responsible stewards of our members' money while continuing to do good for the Internet. By addressing community feedback and enhancing transparency, the RIPE NCC aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the Community Projects Fund, ultimately benefiting the broader Internet community.
Call to Action: Community Involvement Needed
We believe the input and engagement of our community are crucial to the success of this review process. We invite all members of the RIPE community to provide feedback, share ideas, and offer suggestions on how we can improve the CPF. Your involvement will help us better understand the community's needs and ensure that our projects are impactful and sustainable. We will be organising a RIPE NCC Open House towards the end of the year to start the discussion and continue these talks at RIPE 90 in May 2025.
The selection committee will be heavily involved in the review process, and we look forward to collaborating with the community. Together, we can ensure the long-term success and effectiveness of the RIPE NCC Community Projects Fund.
Please note that the 2025 pause of the Community Projects Fund will not affect applications submitted for the 2024 cycle.
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