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statusNot funded
Strengthening WikiFranca and Operationalizing the Francophone Hub
Fluxx IDR-HF-2511-21247
start date2026-07-01
end date2027-06-30
amount requested (local currency)96181.39 CHF
amount requested (USD)118437.76 USD [note 1]
fiscal year2025-26
roundRound 2
organization (if applicable)WikiFranca
contact(s)Geugeor (talk • accounts • contributions • edit count)

This is an automatically generated Meta-Wiki page. The page was copied from Fluxx, the web service of Wikimedia Foundation Funds, where the user has submitted their application. Please do not make any changes to this page because all changes will be removed after the next update. Use the discussion page for your feedback. The page was created by CR-FluxxBot.

Applicant information

[edit]
Organization or group name. (required)
WikiFranca
Provide your main Wikimedia Username. (required)
Geugeor (talk • accounts • contributions • edit count)
Have you contacted the Wikimedia Foundation Hub team before applying? (required)
Yes

Is your group legally registered in your country? (required)

Yes
Do you have a fiscal sponsor?
Yes
Fiscal organization name.
Wiki in Africa

Main proposal

[edit]
1. State the title of your proposal. This will also be a title for the Meta-Wiki page. (required)
Strengthening WikiFranca and Operationalizing the Francophone Hub
2. Proposed start date. (required)
2026-07-01
3. Proposed end date. (required)
2027-06-30
4. Where will this proposal be implemented? Provide the region or country names and any other information that is useful for understanding your proposal. (required)
French is currently spoken by approximately 321 million people on five continents, and this number could reach 700 million by 2050, with nearly 85% of them in Africa. We refer to this as "the Francophone Worlds (Mondes francophones)" at the suggestion of a Québec Wikipedian to illustrate the vast diversity present in our linguistic space.

This funded-project will be led by two staff members: one based in Geneva, Switzerland, (at 25%-time) and another in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, (at 100%-time), reflecting a commitment to have WikiFranca employees present across the Francophone Worlds.. 

The Geneva-based staff member will be responsible for planned activity A: Equitable Mobilization of Funds (finances). This will entail online coordination of, financial transactions related and microfinance programme. Geneva is a strategic location for WikiFranca for two main reasons. Firstly, in terms of the distribution of financial resources to members and non-members, Geneva allows WikiFranca to distribute funds to all WikiFranca members. Secondly, Geneva offers opportunities for partnerships with international organisations situated in Geneva and Europe with missions to democratise access to education, research, culture and teaching.

Finally, the full-time employee in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, will coordinate communications among WikiFranca members and beyond, and will support community capacity building. This person will be responsible for planned activities B. The Convergence of the Francophone Worlds (Communications).

5. Does your group have a theory of change for your proposal? If yes, please provide it. (optional)
Yes
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ree_6xh1o35iYZl-XV1jtnjypFZNH80wEb0j1kouvRg
6. Why do you believe your group is best positioned to drive this hub initiative? (required)

WikiFranca is the only international structure bringing together Wikimedia communities in the French-speaking world, with recognised legitimacy among the Wikimedia Foundation and its member associations.

  • It has a strategic plan (2026–2027). A consultation with members—including an anonymous survey and individual interviews—was conducted after its development in order to enrich it and strengthen its relevance (link to the meta page with the strategic plan:WikiFranca/Organisation/Plans-stratégiques/2026-2027 - Meta-Wiki).
  • It has already led or co-led collective projects including the Francophone WikiConvention (in collaboration with Wikimedia France, Wikimedia Tunisia, Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire, Wikimedia Benin, Wikimedia Canada and Wikimedia Belgium), the Francophone Contribution Month WikiCauseries (in collaboration with the Wikimedia Foundation) and the WikiFranca Rent.
  • The report on training and capacity-building needs demonstrates the strong demand from communities for structured resources, training, better coordination and improved communication.
  • Its headquarters in Switzerland give it the legal status of a charitable organisation, allowing it to issue tax receipts.
  • Its location in Geneva offers opportunities for partnerships with international organisations in Geneva and Europe with missions to democratise access to education, research, culture and teaching (e.g. UNESCO, UN Women, World Intellectual Property Organisation, World Meteorological Organisation, IFLA, LIBER, International Organisation of La Francophonie, Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, Agence parlementaire de la Francophonie, etc.).
7. Do you have a strategic plan that can help us understand your proposal? If your proposal relates to piloting a hub, share your piloting plan. If your proposal relates to research, share your research plan. (required)
Yes
https://w.wiki/Fp5t
8. Describe the specific activities that will be carried out during this project. If your proposal is related to piloting a hub, describe the services you plan to offer and include how you are drawing on community consultation and needs assessments to define your activities. (required)

The principal activities funded by this grant are divided into four strategic programmes:

A. Equitable mobilisation of funds (Finance)

B. The Convergence of the Francophone Worlds (Communications)

A. Equitable mobilisation of funds (Finance)  

Responsibility: led by the employee to be hired in Geneva in collaboration with the president of the current microfinancing commission of WikiFranca

Objective: to strengthen equitable access to financial resources within the French-speaking world.

  • Manage an immediate microfinance programme.
    • Increase the microfinance budget from €25,000 to €45,000 in order to meet the growing demand for micro-grants and better support the projects of WikiFranca's 27 members. It should be noted that the budget has not been increased for at least four years.

History of accepted applications: The high rate of refusal (around 50%) is due to limited funding availability and not necessarily due to the quality of the grant applications.  

      • Year 2022-2023: 18 applications accepted out of 28, representing an amount of €20,619.47 out of a total requested of €44,474.21 (an acceptance rate of 46.36%).
      • Year 2023-2024: 18 applications accepted out of 32, representing an amount of €25,550.24 out of a total requested amount of €51,215.33 (an acceptance rate of 49.88%).
      • Year 2024-2025: 20 applications accepted out of 26, representing €24,440.23 out of a total requested amount of €46,088.38 (an acceptance rate of 53.03%).
    • Plan several separate periods for submitting microfinance applications.
    • Develop and implement a policy governing microfinance applications in collaboration with the microfinancing commission and the board of WikiFranca.
    • Work closely with the microfinance committee that selects projects.
    • Ensure good communication between different funding organizations within the Wikimedia Movement to prevent duplicate funding requests for the same project.
    • Follow up on feedback and manage activity reports for supported projects with the microfinance committee to monitor and report on short, medium and long-term outcomes and impacts of the microfinancing programme. 
    • Learn about the Wikimedia Foundation's rapid grants management process and gather all relevant information for the future.
    • Ensure that internal directives and compliance procedures related to sanctions laws are fully applied.
  • Increase the microfinance budget from €25,000 to €45,000 in order to meet the growing demand for micro-grants and better support the projects of WikiFranca's 27 members. It should be noted that the budget has not been increased for at least four years.
  • History of accepted applications: The high rate of refusal (around 50%) is due to limited funding availability and not necessarily due to the quality of the grant applications.  
  • Year 2022-2023: 18 applications accepted out of 28, representing an amount of €20,619.47 out of a total requested of €44,474.21 (an acceptance rate of 46.36%).
  • Year 2023-2024: 18 applications accepted out of 32, representing an amount of €25,550.24 out of a total requested amount of €51,215.33 (an acceptance rate of 49.88%).
  • Plan several separate periods for submitting microfinance applications.
  • Develop and implement a policy governing microfinance applications in collaboration with the microfinancing commission and the board of WikiFranca.
  • Work closely with the microfinance committee that selects projects.
  • Ensure good communication between different funding organizations within the Wikimedia Movement to prevent duplicate funding requests for the same project.
  • Follow up on feedback and manage activity reports for supported projects with the microfinance committee to monitor and report on short, medium and long-term outcomes and impacts of the microfinancing programme. 
  • Learn about the Wikimedia Foundation's rapid grants management process and gather all relevant information for the future.

Expected impact: broader and more equitable access to funding, enabling Francophone communities, including emerging ones, to carry out local and regional projects, with rejection rates based on the quality of the application rather than a lack of funding. 

Observed impacts of the Microfinancing Programme in selected communities:

  • Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso's 2023–2025 micro-grant pattern reveals a strategic pattern. Firstly, thre are funding requests for recurring events (Mois de la contribution francophone) and a request to develop essential assets to contribute to Wikimedia Commons (the Canon PowerShot G16). This focus on both infrastructure and training contributes to increasing the number of local contributors, contributing to sustainable growth of the Wikimedia Movement in Burkina Faso.
  • Madagascar: Since its creation in December 2022, the Wikimedia Madagascar community has experienced rapid growth, culminating in its recognition at the WikiConvention Francophone, where it received the award “Communauté membre d’honneur de l’année”. Grants received over three consecutive years (2023, 2024, and 2025) were intended to contribute to this development. They enabled the expansion of community activities, the strengthening of internal capacities, and increased visibility. They supported the training of new contributors, the geographic expansion of initiatives, the promotion of Malagasy cultural and sports heritage, the creation of a community identity, and the strengthening of partnerships with local institutions. Funds have been instrumental in consolidating Wikimedia Madagascar. 
  • Tchad: The Chadian community has benefited from WikiFranca's guidance and financial support since 2019 (date of their first participation in the Francophone WikiConvention). Although the community did not have official affiliation (i.e., a user group), its members have been able to access several micro-grants to organize workshops and activities since then (such as the #SamediCestWiki campaign in N'Djamena and the Francophone Contribution Month). These can be found at this link [1]. Thanks to that, the Chadian community has able to maintain its activity, which ultimately led to its recognition as UG in 2023.

B. Convergence of Francophone worlds (communication) 

Responsibility: led by the employee to be hired in Côte d’Ivoire in collaboration with the current communications commission of WikiFranca

Objective: to strengthen links between associations, promote the sharing of practices and strengthening capacities through a newsletter and a formation program.

B.1. Newsletter

Importance of a Newsletter for WikiFranca: Creating a newsletter is essential for WikiFranca, as it helps structure communication among its 27 member communities across several continents by ensuring regular and consistent dissemination of important hub information. It strengthens internal cohesion by reducing information gaps and reinforcing a sense of belonging to a unified francophone network.

It also supports the implementation of the 2026–2027 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes the need to improve external visibility, develop partnerships, and ensure clear communication about WikiFranca’s activities, decisions, and internal processes (notably regarding finances and redistribution).

A newsletter also helps highlight community initiatives, share resources and training opportunities, and foster participation in capacity‑building programs. It thus becomes a key tool to support the professionalization and autonomy of member groups.

Finally, by offering an information channel fully accessible in French, the newsletter contributes to one of WikiFranca’s core objectives: strengthening multilingualism and inclusion within a largely English‑speaking Wikimedia movement.

Newsletter Plan – WikiFranca

1. Frequency

  • Monthly: the ideal rhythm to follow hub updates without overload.
  • Special edition: for important announcements (General Assembly, calls for projects, international events).

2. Structure (Sections)

1) Monthly Editorial

  • Short message from the WikiFranca Committee or a guest member.
  • Objective: create a human connection, provide direction, and explain current priorities.

2) WikiFranca News

  • Updates on the strategic plan, commission information, official announcements, recent decisions, microfi/rapid grants.
  • Ensures transparency and understanding of hub operations.

3) Opportunities & Calls for Participation

  • Upcoming trainings (Wikidata, copyright, leadership, etc.).
  • Calls for projects, calls for applications, workshops, partnership proposals.
  • Encourages communities’ active participation

4) Community Spotlight

  • Highlighting a member group (profile, achievements, recent activities).
  • Quick tour of local initiatives across different countries.
  • Strengthens cohesion and recognition of on‑the‑ground efforts

5) Resources of the Month

  • New guides, tutorials, document templates, training recordings.
  • Direct links to the hub’s resource center.
  • Supports continuous skill development

6) Francophone Agenda

  • Upcoming events: WikiConvention, Contribution Month, trainings, international conferences.
  • Provides a clear view of key upcoming deadlines.

7) Partnerships & Advocacy

  • Announcements of new institutional partnerships.
  • Francophone presence in international bodies or events.
  • Reinforces the hub’s visibility.

8) Wikimedia Tips

  • Small practical section:
    • Best practices on a project (Wikidata, Commons, Wikipedia).
    • Simple and useful technical tips.
  • Best practices on a project (Wikidata, Commons, Wikipedia).
  • Encourages continuous learning.

3. Editorial Style

  • Clear, inclusive, and in international French to ensure understanding across all communities.
  • Collaborative tone: highlight member initiatives, encourage mutual support.
  • Short format: concise paragraphs, simple sentences, links to longer resources.
  • Consistent visual identity: WikiFranca logo, colors, harmonized layout.
  • Accessibility: light text, limited images, clear links, mobile‑friendly.

4. Format and Distribution

  • Distributed via:
    • Email (WikiFranca mailing list)
    • Telegram (preview + link)
    • Meta‑Wiki (newsletter archive page)
  • Email (WikiFranca mailing list)
  • Telegram (preview + link)
  • Recommended format:
    • Lightweight HTML + plain‑text version
    • Dedicated Meta page for archiving
  • Lightweight HTML + plain‑text version

5. Roles and Process

  • Editorial team: 2–3 committee members + invited contributors.
  • Content collection: through a simple form or internal channel.
  • Quick proofreading: coherence, spelling, link verification.
  • Publication: at the beginning of each month (fixed date = habit for members).

B.2. Formation

  1. Context & justification: Member communities (particularly the 8 most recently affiliated communities) benefited from an initial capacity‑building cycle during La Rentrée 2024 ([2]), covering the movement’s DNA, funding and management mechanisms, and community leadership.These learnings had a direct impact on WikiFranca:

Context : 

The first edition of Rentrée de WikiFranca was organised to support the seven new communities recently joined the network. The aim was to provide them with the necessary foundations for structuring and developing a Wikimedia community.

The sessions attracted between 25 and 35 participants and focused on two key themes.

1. Funding and financial management

Participants learnt about:

• the various funding channels available within the Wikimedia movement and within WikiFranca;

• the full funding application process;

• best practices for drafting a strong application;

• the principles of community financial management (bank accounts, supporting documents, reports, African challenges).

The Microfis committee has committed to supporting each community in preparing its next application.

2. Community leadership

This session aimed to strengthen the leadership skills of new community leaders.

Discussions focused on:

• defining the role of a leader within the movement;

• steering a vision;

• the importance of strategy and planning.

Participants undertook a practical exercise: drawing up a six-month strategic activity plan, including a vision, objectives, target audience and budget.

It is essential to continue with training initiatives, as francophone communities still face critical skills shortages, as confirmed by the 2024 Rentrées, the findings of the Research Grant, and the requirements of the 2026–2027 Strategic Plan. These areas must be strengthened to ensure robust governance, sound financial management, and fully operational francophone participation within the Wikimedia movement.

  1. Strengthening of internal governance: a better understanding of the role of leaders and strategy supported the development of the 2026–2027 Strategic Plan, in particular its “Finance” and “Advocacy & Partnerships” axes.
  2. Increased financial capacity: the sessions on funding enabled WikiFranca to formalize ambitions such as managing micro‑funds, redistributing rapid grants, and opening a bank account.
  3. Community capacity building: feedback from the MSIG program highlights that capacity strengthening remains a priority need and that the “Rentrées” were useful but must be systematized.

Problem to solve:Previous trainings created a common foundation, but heterogeneous skill levels, volunteer turnover, and increasing administrative complexity (e.g., financial redistribution, reporting compliance) call for a sustainable system that:• professionalizes leaders and administrators;• scales local autonomy through francophone trainers;• aligns methods and deliverables with the 2026–2027 strategy.

  1. General objectiveEstablish a hybrid, certifying francophone capacity‑building program that professionalizes governance, financial management, and technical/pedagogical capacity among member communities, in order to increase autonomy, secure redistribution, and strengthen the representation of francophone communities within the WMF movement.
  2. Specific objectives (≥ 12 months)
  • Train 40 leaders (4 regional cohorts) in vision, planning, mobilization, and external communication. Content aligned with the 2024 leadership session and the advocacy/partnership needs of the strategic plan.
  • Certify 30 Wikidata trainers / 20 “Law & Licenses” focal points / 20 Wikisource facilitators, to support local skill diffusion (train‑the‑trainer approach).

Context 

Following on from the discussions and capacity-building sessions offered during La Rentrée de WikiFranca event, a presentation was given on the community support initiatives set up by Wikimedia France for francophone communities. This session highlighted the tools, training courses and support mechanisms available, whilst also reminding attendees that registration was open for the Wikidata MOOC, which was then in the midst of its awareness-raising campaign: [3]

Discussions focused on several key areas for communities wishing to strengthen their technical skills and their ability to contribute:

• a presentation of the technical tools available, notably the Live RC patrolling tool;

• an introduction to methods for detecting disinformation, including the use of AI-based prompts;

• the announcement of two training sessions dedicated to patrolling, with the opportunity for participants to be assessed following a period of independent practice between the two sessions.

This session also provided an opportunity to encourage participants, particularly those from African communities, to take part in the AdminConf organised by Wikimedia France, details of which are available here: [4]

  • Equip 40 project managers (treasury, budgets, WMF requests, monitoring & evaluation, reporting) to prepare for redistribution (micro‑funds, rapid grants) and documentation compliance.
  • Publish a resource center (guides, budget templates, compliance checklists, workshop kits) and a partner communication kit (presentation, identity, key messages).
  1. Target audiences & segmentation• Leaders & coordinators (local boards, program managers) — for governance, strategy, and advocacy. • Administrative & financial managers (treasurers, project managers) — for redistribution, reporting, and WMF compliance.• Trainers & facilitators (Wikidata, law, Wikisource, education) — for local capacity replication.
  2. Architecture (modules + certificates)Axis A — Movement & Leadership (institutional)• A1. Wikimedia Movement & ecosystem (values, roles, WMF mechanisms)• A2. Community leadership & strategy (vision, planning, mobilization, communication)Axis B — Finance, compliance & grant management• B1. Grant engineering (budgets, outcomes, risks)• B2. Financial operations & reporting (micro‑funds, rapid grants, supporting documents, internal controls, request–report alignment)Axis C — Wikimedia technical skills• C1. Wikidata train‑the‑trainer (2 cohorts, pedagogy + technical workshop)• C2. Copyright & licenses (CC, exceptions, reuse; local legal focal points)• C3. Applied Wikisource (digitization, OCR, workflow, quality)Axis D — Education & partnerships• D1. Partnership development & advocacy (value proposition, partner kit, relationship management)Axis E — Resources & knowledge center• E1. WikiFranca resource center (“Wikimedien” guides, “In‑person event” guides, templates, materials), publication and maintenance.
  3. Method & timeline (12 months)• Hybrid format: online courses + synchronous workshops + “office hours” clinics (monthly rhythm, 2–3 active modules, replays & forum).• Regional cohorts (West/Central Africa, Maghreb, Europe/Canada, Caribbean), adapted schedules.

Expected concrete results – impact of the new programThe new program will produce institutional, operational, and community‑level impacts, measurable and aligned with WMF requirements and the strategic plan.

7.1. Organizational impact on WikiFranca• Increased capacity to manage redistribution (micro‑funds + rapid grants) thanks to strengthened training for managers and treasurers.→ Faster implementation of the 2026–2027 financial orientations.• Standardization of procedures: budgets, monitoring, reports.→ Fewer errors and better compliance with WMF standards.

Note : 

The training sessions will help to reduce financial errors (missing or incorrect supporting documents, missed submission deadlines, incomplete documentation for the WMF, etc.), narrative errors (lack of indicators or measurable results, inaccurate or unverified data, etc.), and administrative and planning errors, by improving the quality of reports, the consistency of projects, organisational transparency and WikiFranca’s ability to meet WMF standards.• Professionalization of partnerships and advocacy.

→ Improved visibility of francophone communities in a movement dominated by English (a key expectation of the strategic plan).

Note : 

This expectation is set out in Strategic Theme 2 – Advocacy and Partnerships, which explicitly calls on WikiFranca to enhance its international visibility, promote Francophone interests and support multilingualism in order to ensure equitable representation within a predominantly English-speaking movement.

7.2. Impact on member communities• Greater autonomy thanks to the training of local trainers (Wikidata, law, Wikisource).→ Reduced dependence on external experts.• More professional administrative and financial management.

Note : 

Improvements in administrative and financial management will be assessed on the basis of the quality of reports, budget compliance, the use of standardised procedures, community autonomy, and a comparative assessment of skills before and after training.→ Ability to submit more complete and solid WMF requests.• Harmonization of skill levels through cohorts and the resource center.

→ Improved quality of regional projects.

Note : 

The ‘improvement in the quality of regional projects’ will be measured by:

- Better project design (objectives, budget, indicators);

- More structured implementation (timelines, consistency, monitoring);

- A greater number of higher-quality contributions;

- Clearer and more compliant reports.

These elements will enable a concrete assessment of the impact of the training programmes on francophone communities.

7.3. Impact on the global Wikimedia movement• Strengthening of the francophone voice in international spaces and global discussions, through better‑trained leaders and a more structured advocacy strategy.• Contribution to multilingualism, aligned with strategic orientation 2.3.

→ Increased participation of non‑English‑speaking communities.

Note : 

Greater participation means a stronger presence of francophone communities at conferences (Wikimania, WikiConference NA/EU, etc.), consultations, committees (Universal Code of Conduct, etc.) and international campaigns within the Wikimedia movement.

This will be measured by:

the number of francophones present and active in these spaces;

the number of contributions, edits or translations produced;

the number of non-English-speaking communities involved in global initiatives.

We will focus the ‘increased participation’ indicator on three key areas: global consultations, international events and contributions on Meta-Wiki. A baseline will be established at the start of the programme, and we will then aim for a 20–30% increase in Francophone participation in these areas over the funding period.

7.4. Main indicators (expected)• 40 leaders trained• 70 specialized trainers certified• 40 managers able to produce WMF‑compliant budgets & reports• A functional francophone resource center• +20% increase in funding requests from communities• Reduced error rate in financial reports• Increased external visibility and documented partnerships.

7. Community involvement in editing

  • Group discussions on Meta-Wiki and at the 2025 Francophone WikiConvention in Cotonou. A 45-minute session on Saturday 4 October 2025 and a second 45-minute session on Sunday 5 October 2025 (link to notes taken).
  • Consultations on the strategic plan with member associations through questionnaires and online meetings.
  • Use of the training needs report as a basis for prioritisation (Reda report).
  • Participation in the community members' strategy weekend (Wikimedia Senegal, Wikimedia Canada, Wikimedia France).
  • Some affiliates for financial matters (WMFR, WMCH, WMCA).

8. Communication and coordination with other initiatives

  • Regular consultations with the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF)
  • Consultations at Wikimania
  • Consultations at the 2025 Francophone WikiConvention
  • Collaboration with Wikimania 2026 organisers
  • Consultation on existing grant applications (CEE Hub, ESEAP Hub, West Africa Hub and Edu Hub)

9. Target audience

  • French-speaking Wikimedia associations that are members of WikiFranca (Africa, Europe, North America).
  • Existing French-speaking communities beyond Wikimedia associations (e.g. Wikipedians, Wikitarians, Wikisourcers, etc. outside of associations).
  • Emerging communities wishing to benefit from funding, training, support and guidance.
  • Institutional partners in the French-speaking world (libraries, archives, museums, universities, NGOs).

10. Governance

The salaried position will be supervised by the members of the WikiFranca Committee in accordance with the statutes filed in Switzerland. 

The main guidelines will be decided collectively; the person employed will be responsible for operational coordination.

Establishment of an advisory/strategic committee [to be developed by the first quarter of 2026 following a mapping of the skills of the members of the WikiFranca Committee].This advisory committee has the goal of providing the WikiFranca Committee (board) with skills and competencies complementary to those already found on the board of WikiFranca. Additionally, this advisory committee can also counsel the board of WikiFranca on issues, opportunities, etc. that go beyond the expertises of the board.

11. Team for the first year

  • A coordinator based in Geneva (25%-time, 1-year renewable fixed-term contract): responsible for implementing the two strategic programmes : finances, and advocacy-partnership.
  • A second employee, based in Abidjan (100%-time, 1-year renewable fixed-term contract): responsible for implementing the strategic programme : communications (which includes offering training to the WikiFranca in collaboration with WikiFranca member association).
  • WikiFranca Committee (Board): supervisory and strategic guidance role (volunteers).
  • Commissions?
  • Member associations: operational partners, co-organisers of activities, direct beneficiaries.
  • A network of strategic consultants and specialists advising the WikiFranca Committee and employees (volunteers).

12. Timeline

  • Q1 2026 (April - June)

Recruitment and onboarding (April):

      • Recruitment, onboarding and integration of a salaried coordinator (part-time, with a clear definition of short-, medium- and long-term tasks).
      • Establishment of a mentoring committee for the employee coordinator.

Launch of microfinancing:

      • Launch of the first microfinance campaign (with an annual budget [for both microfinance campaigns] increased to €45,000).
      • Development of a new procedure for evaluating microfunding applications to facilitate the evaluation and obtaining of funds to carry out projects.
      • Coordination with the Wikimedia Foundation for the use of application submission software.

Communication and tools:

      • Implementation of a monthly newsletter (co-created and translated with the Wikimedia community).
      • Rethinking communication channels (exploring Slack/Discord/Telegram/WhatsApp).
      • Beginning to map foundations, sponsors and other potential sources of funding for WikiFranca and its member associations.
      • Monthly spotlight on a WikiFranca member in a communication campaign that promotes member associations' projects on an international scale.

Capacity and skills building

      • Preparation of two modular training courses for WikiFranca members.

Strategic Intelligence

      • Begin identifying potential financial and partnership opportunities for WikiFranca member associations and emerging communities that can be integrated in the WikiFranca newsletter
  • Recruitment and onboarding (April):
  • Recruitment, onboarding and integration of a salaried coordinator (part-time, with a clear definition of short-, medium- and long-term tasks).
  • Launch of microfinancing:
  • Launch of the first microfinance campaign (with an annual budget [for both microfinance campaigns] increased to €45,000).
  • Development of a new procedure for evaluating microfunding applications to facilitate the evaluation and obtaining of funds to carry out projects.
  • Communication and tools:
  • Implementation of a monthly newsletter (co-created and translated with the Wikimedia community).
  • Rethinking communication channels (exploring Slack/Discord/Telegram/WhatsApp).
  • Beginning to map foundations, sponsors and other potential sources of funding for WikiFranca and its member associations.
  • Capacity and skills building

Q2 2026 (July –September)

  • La Rentrée WikiFranca:
    • Preparation (July-August) and relaunch (September) of WikiFranca’s conference and training series in September La Rentrée WikiFranca.
  • Microfinancing
    • Consultation with members on the new procedure for evaluating microfinance applications to facilitate the evaluation and obtaining of funds to carry out projects.
  • Capacity and skills building
    • Offer the first modular training course (approximately 4 modules, 2 hours per module, 1 module per week).
    • Preparation of two modular training courses for WikiFranca members.
  • Offer the first modular training course (approximately 4 modules, 2 hours per module, 1 module per week).
  • Communication and visibility:
    • Communication of member associations' activities to strategic international organisations.
  • Strategic Intelligence
    • Integrate in the WikiFranca newsletter financial and partnership opportunities for WikiFranca member associations and emerging communities
    • partner institutions and implementation of pilot projects.
  • Integrate in the WikiFranca newsletter financial and partnership opportunities for WikiFranca member associations and emerging communities
  • 6-month report (September)
    • Prepare report on meta and obtain community feedback
  • Q3 2026 (October - December)

6-month report (December)

      • Finalize report on meta

Support for associations:

      • Establishment of online forums to answer questions about microfinance.
      • Facilitation of networking between communities for fiscal sponsorship.

Preparation of the second grant application

      • Draft and submit a grant application for year 2 of the WikiFranca strategic plan following further consultations (survey, focus groups, individual interviews, etc.) with the WikiFranca membership.

Microfunding

      • Implementation of the new microfunding application evaluation procedure to facilitate the evaluation and obtaining of funds to carry out projects.

Communication and visibility:

Capacity and skills building (December 2027)

      • Offer the first modular training course (approximately 4 modules, 2 hours per module, 1 module per week)
  • 6-month report (December)
  • Support for associations:
  • Establishment of online forums to answer questions about microfinance.
  • Preparation of the second grant application
  • Microfunding
  • Q4 2027 (January - March)

Interim evaluation and adjustments:

      • Evaluation of activities carried out (microfinance, communities of practice, WikiCauseries, communication).
      • Adjust programmes and activities based on feedback and success indicators.
      • Preparation of the WikiFranca Association's annual report.

Capacity and skills building (March 2027)

      • Time permitting, offer the second modular training course (approximately 4 modules, 2 hours per module, 1 module per week)
  • Interim evaluation and adjustments:
  • Evaluation of activities carried out (microfinance, communities of practice, WikiCauseries, communication).
  • Adjust programmes and activities based on feedback and success indicators.
  • 2027: Consolidation and ramp-up of programmes
  • Increase in the number of microfinance grants awarded 
  • Continuous improvement of internal and external communication (annual survey of membership needs and satisfaction with WikiFranca).
  • Increase of at least 15% in the number of active French-speaking contributors outside France thanks to projects supported by microfinancing and communities of practice.

13. Communication

  • Monthly newsletter.
  • Half-yearly reports published on Meta-Wiki.
  • Presentations at French-speaking WikiConventions and other conferences.

14. Success indicators (examples)

  • Number of microgrants awarded (target: 20 in year 1 with 25% allocated to emerging communities).
  • Number of Infolettres (newsletters) (12 - one a month)
  • Number of members present at la Rentrée WikiFranca activities (target: 50% of member associations).
  • Perceived improvement in internal communication (6-month survey and end-of-grant survey).

15. Budget (to be detailed)

Attached here:2025-2026_Budget-WikiFranca

16. Additional information:

Answers to a few questions 

  1. How will Wikifranca’s work make a difference to people?
  • More contributions to Wikimedia projects, and of a higher quality.
  • Fewer errors in reports, budgets and grant applications.
  • Greater autonomy for groups in organising and managing their projects.
  • More local projects successfully completed and better structured.
  • Increased participation in international forums (consultations, events, committees).
  1. How the services are changing what people do
  • More substantive contributions: participants produce more articles, Wikidata items and Commons files, and make fewer errors.
  • Better project management: groups use structured plans, budgets and indicators, which improves the quality and reliability of local projects.
  • Well-written reports: participants submit comprehensive financial and narrative reports that are compliant and accepted without corrections.
  • Greater autonomy: communities manage their own funding, workshops and activities without relying on external support.
  • Tangible international engagement: more public speaking, contributions on Meta and active participation in global forums (consultations, events).
9. Did you involve communities during the drafting of this proposal? Share which specific communities you involved, the process you used to involve them, and how they will participate in this proposal. (required)
  • Group discussions on Meta-Wiki and at the 2025 Francophone WikiConvention in Cotonou. A 45-minute session on Saturday 4 October 2025 and a second 45-minute session on Sunday 5 October 2025 (link to notes taken).
  • Consultations on the strategic plan with member associations through questionnaires and online meetings.
  • Use of the training needs report as a basis for prioritisation (Research report by Reda).
  • Participation in the community members' strategy weekend (Wikimedia Senegal, Wikimedia Canada, Wikimedia France).
  • Some affiliates for financial matters (WMFR, WMCH, WMCA).
10. Are you in communication with other initiatives or groups that either support similar communities or offer similar services to the ones in your proposal? Provide information about any initiatives, affiliates, and/or hubs that have the potential to duplicate or overlap with your proposal. (required)
  • Regular consultations with the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF)
  • Consultations at Wikimania
  • Consultations at the 2025 Francophone WikiConvention
  • Collaboration with Wikimania 2026 organisers
  • Consultation on existing grant applications (CEE Hub, ESEAP Hub, West Africa Hub and Edu Hub
11. Who is your primary audience(s)? List the communities, affiliates, and groups. (required)
  • French-speaking Wikimedia associations that are members of WikiFranca (Africa, Europe, North America).
  • Existing French-speaking communities beyond Wikimedia associations (e.g. Wikipedians, Wikitarians, Wikisourcers, etc. outside of associations).
  • Emerging communities wishing to benefit from funding, training, support and guidance.
  • Institutional partners in the French-speaking world (libraries, archives, museums, universities, NGOs)
12. If your proposal relates to piloting a hub, share the governance structure you plan to establish. If this governance structure is not yet in place, share how you are making decisions in the interim. (optional)

The salaried position will be supervised by the members of the WikiFranca Committee in accordance with the statutes filed in Switzerland. 

The main guidelines will be decided collectively; the person employed will be responsible for operational coordination.

Establishment of an advisory/strategic committee [to be developed by the first quarter of 2026 following a mapping of the skills of the members of the WikiFranca Committee].This advisory committee has the goal of providing the WikiFranca Committee (board) with skills and competencies complementary to those already found on the board of WikiFranca. Additionally, this advisory committee can also counsel the board of WikiFranca on issues, opportunities, etc. that go beyond the expertises of the board.

13. Describe your team. (required)
  • A coordinator based in Geneva (25%-time, 1-year renewable fixed-term contract): responsible for implementing the two strategic programmes : finances, and advocacy-partnership.
  • A second employee, based in Abidjan (100%-time, 1-year renewable fixed-term contract): responsible for implementing the strategic programme : communications (which includes offering training to the WikiFranca in collaboration with WikiFranca member association).
  • WikiFranca Committee (Board): supervisory and strategic guidance role (volunteers).
  • WikiFranca Commissions
  • Member associations: operational partners, co-organisers of activities, direct beneficiaries.
  • A network of strategic consultants and specialists advising the WikiFranca Committee and employees (volunteers).
14. Upload a timeline of activities or provide a link to it. Timeline (operational calendar) is for your programs and activities. (required)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cLg2z5HJml5bapSP2Ao51NNG63iD2s3sBUJRM3RGPLo
15. How do you intend to keep communities updated on the progress and outcomes of the project? Share your communication plans. (required)
  • Monthly newsletter.
  • Half-yearly reports published on Meta-Wiki.
  • Presentations at French-speaking WikiConventions and other conferences.
16. If your activities include community discussions, what is your plan for ensuring that the conversations are productive, inclusive, and safe? Provide a link to a Friendly Space Policy or UCoC that will be implemented to support these discussions. (optional)


17. Are there any other details you would like to share? Consider providing rationale, research or community discussion outputs, and any other similar information that will give more context on your proposed project. You can also upload any additional documents in the section below. (optional)


Metrics

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18. Share quantitative and/or qualitative metrics that you plan to measure in order to showcase the impact of your activities. (required)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pyW6RI4mRGaY2S8XPJw69ofyxIN0G-dEO57jw47GvG0

Budget

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19. Your local currency. (required)
CHF
20. What is the requested amount in your local currency? (required)
96181.39 CHF
Requested amount in USD
118437.76 USD [note 1]
  1. ↑ a b The following amount in US dollars was calculated by Wikimedia Foundation staff using the fixed currency rates. This amount is approximate and may not reflect the actual currency exchange rates on the day of submission or distribution. If the application is funded, the funding will be sent in the recipient’s local currency.
21. Does this proposal include compensation for staff or contractors? (required)
Yes
21.1. How many paid staff members and contractors do you plan to cover through the Hub Fund? (required)

Include the number of staff and contractors during the proposal period as well as their work status (full-time/part-time, indefinite/fixed). If you have short-term contractors or staff, please include them separately and mention their terms (period of work).

There will be two staff members: one full-time and one part-time (25%). 1.25 FTE
22. Provide an overview of your overall budget categories in your local currency. (required)
Budget category Amount in local currency
Staff and contractor costs 60850 CHF
Operational costs 11331.39 CHF
Programmatic costs 24000 CHF
23. Upload your detailed budget or provide a link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NLppftXwVxsIfqhj9OrnnvmI7dBDAJSJe7zQgQrtWGM/edit?usp=sharing


By submitting your proposal/funding request you confirm that you have read and agree to the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy, and the Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

Feedback

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