Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Conference Fund/WikiArabia Conference Qatar 2026
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Applicant details
[edit]- A. Are you applying as a(n)
Group of individuals not registered with an organization
- B. Full name of organization presenting the proposal.
Wikimedians of Kuwait group
- F. Do you have an account on a Wikimedia project?
Yes
- F1. Please provide your main Wikimedia Username.
روتانا
- F2. Please provide the Usernames of people related to this proposal.
User:روتانا
- G. Are you legally registered?
Yes
If you are applying as an individual or your group is not a legally registered nonprofit in your country, we require that you have a fiscal sponsor.
- I. Fiscal organization name.
Kiwix
Objectives and Strategy
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal.
WikiArabia Conference Qatar 2026
- 2.1. When will the event begin? Please enter the event start date.
2026-11-06
- 2.2. When is the last day of your event?
2026-11-08
- 3.1. When will you begin preparing for your event?
2026-01-15T00:00:00Z
- 3.2. When will you expect to complete your last event payment?
2026-12-30T00:00:00Z
- 4. In which country will the conference take place?
Qatar
- 4.1. In which city will the conference take place?
Doha
- 5. Is it a remote or in-person event?
In-person only event
- 5.1. What will be the total number of participants at the event? (including scholarship recipients + organizing team + other guests + self funded guests) (required)
200
- 6. Please indicate whether your work will be focused on one country (local), more than one or several countries in your region (regional) or has a cross-regional (global) scope.
International
- 6.1. If you have answered regional, please write the country names and any other information that is useful for understanding your proposal.
MENA, Guests from countries that may be Europe or Asia
- 7. If you would like, please share any websites or social media accounts that your group or organization has.
Meta: https://w.wiki/DARL Instagram: wikimedia_kuwait Facebook: Wikimedia Kuwait X: @WikimediaKuwait
- 8. Do you work with any thematic or regional platforms such as WISCom, CEE, Iberocoop, etc.
Yes
- 8.1. Please describe what platforms and your work with them.
Wikimedians of Kuwait User Group is collaborating with the WikiArabia Steering Committee and have followed guidance from the WikiArabia Steering Committee to conduct a risk assessment to choose the appropriate location for the conference. Three members of the WikiArabia Steering Committee are also members of the core organizing team so there is close coordination and communication with the committee. Members of the WASCom may volunteer for roles where support is required. The organizing team will continue to keep them informed about ongoing needs and potential areas where their support can be valuable throughout the planning and organization period.
- 9. Please describe the target participants for this event.
To achieve our regional conference goals, this WikiArabia is targeting three types of audiences, and this will be reflected in the programmatic component of the conference: 1-Newcomers 2-Existing community members, particularly users with extended rights 3-External mission-aligned partners
Target Audiences by categories: 1-Wikimedians: including existing contributors, Newcomers and Users with extended rights. 2-Non-Wikimedins: including local partners, lectures, students from Qatar.
- 10. Please provide the link to the event's page if you already have one.
The following questions (11-14) will refer to the Community Engagement Survey which is required in order to submit a proposal. Here is the survey form that you can copy and use (if the link does not work): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ieEI8EFf2vxjD9wN_h8-srYeRCp4fhSp7_1_wiR2jh8/edit. This survey is required to access a Conference grant.
- 11. How many people did you send the community engagement survey to?
200
- 11.1. When did you conduct the survey, and for how long?
From 31/10/2025 to 3/11/2025
- 12. How many people responded to the survey?
67
- 13. What are the main objectives of the event?
The conference objectives are two-fold: 1- Expand Wikimedia awareness and engagement in the Gulf 2- Strengthen and celebrate the Arab Wikimedia community
Objectives:
- Raising awareness about the Wikimedia Foundation brand in the Gulf countries and increasing understanding of our projects, mission, and objectives.
- Raising awareness about how people consume knowledge today, and helping readers become more informed about how to search for and evaluate information effectively.
- Raising awareness about how Wikipedia works, and how individuals can contribute and become part of the free knowledge movement.
- Inspire non-Wikimedians and external partners to become future Wikimedians and active contributors.
- Discuss how the Wikimedia Foundation projects in general, not only Wikipedia, can help students, readers and academics in their works.
- Discuss the potential establishment of the Wikimedians of Qatar User Group.
- Establish new partnerships in Qatar to support our objectives.
- Raise awareness in the existing community about all Wikimedia projects by offering support, workshops, and training sessions.
- Provide a forum for the Arab Wikipedia community; a welcoming space to express opinions, share experiences, and engage in open dialogue.
- Create an opportunity to talk about what’s happening in the near future (2026), from the impact of artificial intelligence and new technologies, to how the community is thinking about and using these tools.
- Celebrate the Arab community’s achievements, including new projects, campaigns, and other milestones.
- Encourage more interaction between new and experienced contributors, and help newcomers stay informed about what’s going on in the community.
- Help the community build skills in partnership development, editing, and technical areas through workshops and meetings designed for that purpose.
- Celebrate 25 Wikipedia Birthday, by conducting edit-a-thons and celebrations.
Objectives by Days:
1-Pre-day: Wiki Camp and Women Summit Wikicamp: This day will focus on introducing newcomers and engaging partners. Activities will include raising awareness about the Wikimedia movement, offering training sessions, and supporting the idea of forming a local user group in Doha. The program will also provide an overview of how Wikipedia works, aligned with the Wikimedia Foundation’s (WMF) vision of promoting free knowledge worldwide.
WomenSummit: As part of our "Wiki for She" initiative; which is dedicated to supporting Arab women within the Wikimedia movement, closing the gender content gap, and empowering women, we will dedicate a space during this day for women to share their experiences, exchange knowledge, and express their voices within a supportive environment.
- Day 1: Arabic Language + AI (All wikimedia projects)
The first day will explore the intersection of Arabic content and AI. Discussions will address how AI tools affect the accuracy of the Arabic language, both positively and negatively, while also examining how these developments align with global trends. Sessions will feature updates related to Arabic content across Wikimedia projects and showcase tools designed to support Arabic speakers and contributors.
How? On Day 1, the conference will focus on Arabic language and artificial intelligence, highlighting how AI tools affect Arabic content on Wikimedia projects. The day will include workshops, discussion panels led by experts from the community to show how AI can be used to support editing, translation, and content creation. Participants will explore both the benefits and challenges of using AI with Arabic language, learn about current tools, and discuss how to improve them. The goal is to help contributors better understand how AI can support their work while ensuring content remains accurate, inclusive, and relevant to Arabic speaking communities.
We will have a welcoming dinner and other sessions on the same day.
- Day 2: Wiktionary + Technical issues (different languages)
Day two will highlight the role of Wiktionary in enriching the wider Wikimedia ecosystem, emphasizing its contribution to language documentation and open knowledge. Participants will also engage in discussions about the technical challenges faced by contributors, such as tools, infrastructure, and access issues, with the goal of identifying practical solutions.
How? On Day 2, the focus will be on Wiktionary and technical challenges in the Wikimedia ecosystem. Sessions will explore how Wiktionary supports language preservation and open knowledge, especially for Arabic. Workshops will guide participants on how to contribute to Wiktionary, while panels and discussions will address technical issues like tool limitations and access barriers. Developers and contributors will work together to find practical solutions to improve the editing experience and support language focused projects.
- Day 3: Partnerships and improving skills
The final day will focus on creating partnerships with schools, cultural groups, and tech organizations, showing examples of how working together can enhance Wikimedia’s impact. It will also offer workshops to help the community build new skills, such as using advanced editing tools, understanding user rights, and learning how to grow and support Wikimedia work in the Arab region.
How? On Day 3, the conference will center on workshops that teach participants how to build and manage partnerships. Sessions will cover both hard and soft skills needed to grow Wikimedia communities, including group management and collaboration techniques. The day will also feature meetings for sharing experiences and best practices, helping participants strengthen their ability to support and expand Wikimedia projects in the Arab region.
25 Wikipedia Birthday, on this day we will conduct activities related to birthdays, edi-a-thons, and celebrations.
- 14. Based on survey responses, what are the most important things your community should do at the conference to achieve these objectives?
-Design and implement a high-impact program aligned with key priorities and emerging global trends.
- Deliver targeted workshops aimed at developing soft skills, technical expertise, and professional competencies.
- Facilitate specialized training sessions and edit-a-thons focused on enhancing contributions to Wikipedia and other Wikimedia platforms.
- Organize hackathons and datathons to foster innovation, improve technical skills, and promote collaborative problem-solving.
- Invite subject matter experts to deliver keynote lectures and provide insights on relevant and emerging topics.
- Host panel discussions featuring Wikimedia Foundation staff to share organizational updates, strategic orientations, and future plans.
- Conduct community led discussion panels to strengthen collaboration, share experiences, and increase engagement among user groups.
- 15. Please state if your proposal aims to work to bridge any of the identified CONTENT knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select up to THREE that most apply to your work.
Content Gender gap, Language, Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial
- 15.1. In a few sentences, explain how your work is specifically addressing this content gap (or Knowledge inequity) to ensure a greater representation of knowledge. (optional recommended).
For Women: Through the Arabic Women Summit, we are actively addressing the gender content gap and broader knowledge inequity by creating dedicated spaces for Arab women to contribute, collaborate, and share their stories. By empowering women to participate in the Wikimedia movement, we ensure that their knowledge, perspectives, and experiences are represented and accessible to a global audience.
For Minorities: We will include a dedicated session in this conference to highlight our ongoing work addressing knowledge inequity among minority communities. This session, led by Rotana and Ravan who manage the "Wiki for Minorities" initiative in the MENA region, will showcase our efforts to increase representation and inclusion of minority voices within Wikimedia projects. It will also provide attendees with guidance on how to join and contribute to this important movement, fostering greater participation and awareness.
- 16. Please state if your proposal includes any of these areas or THEMATIC focus. Select up to THREE that most apply to your work and explain the rationale for identifying these themes.
Education, Human Rights, Culture, heritage or GLAM , Open Technology
- 17. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities?
Not applicable
- 18. Do you intend to invite or engage with non-Wikimedian individuals or organizations? If so – can you explain your intention for this outreach?
Yes, we plan to invite non-Wikimedians, especially for the pre-conference day of WikiCamp, as part of our efforts to engage the local and wider public community in this event. To achieve this, we will focus on building strong partnerships by actively reaching out to libraries, universities, and NGOs, creating meaningful connections that support participation and awareness of the Wikimedia movement.
- 19. What will you do to make sure participants continue to engage in your activities after the event?
For existing Wikimedians, we will continue to engage with them through our established communication platforms, including Diff posts, workshops, training courses, and organized events.
For local individuals interested in joining the movement, we will follow a proven approach similar to our successful experience in Oman. We will invite them to join dedicated community groups, where we can begin planning activities, workshops, and initiatives that foster deeper engagement. For example, in Oman, we launched the Wiki Loves Earth 2025 campaign and invited local participants to contribute. As a result, the community uploaded over 900 images, demonstrating strong interest and impact.
- 20. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select a maximum of THREE options that most apply.
Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement, Improve User Experience, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development, Identify Topics for Impact, Evaluate, Iterate, and Adapt
Logistical Aspects
[edit]- 21. Do you have any proposed venue for the event?
We are in conversations with local partners and are hoping to confirm this at a later stage.
- 22. Is the event venue and hotel accessible for people with physical disabilities?
Yes
- 23. How many scholarships would you like to offer?
85 seats including the COT
- 24. What expenses will the scholarship cover?
Round-Trip flight, Visa, Accommodation, Social activities.
- 25. How will scholarship recipients be selected?
We will appoint a dedicated Scholarship Coordinator and establish a Scholarship Committee to work collaboratively in selecting participants. We are committed to ensure that scholarship recipients are selected fairly and based on transparent criteria. The selection process will be based on applicants' activity history, experience, and contributions to the Wikimedia movement. For this conference, we aim to increase the number of scholarships allocated to our existing newcomers, in order to encourage their continued involvement and engagement.
Additionally, we are committed to ensuring balanced representation, with a strong focus on gender equity and equitable participation from across different countries in the region.
- 26. In which ways can Wikimedia Foundation staff support your event onsite?
Wikimedia Foundation staff will be directly involved in the program, leading sessions on key topics related to the Foundation’s work and addressing areas that require focused attention and visibility. Wikimedia Foundation staff will also be supporting partnerships development and ongoing strategic collaborations with local partners.
- 26.2. Do you intend to invite any WMF staff members to your event? (please note that all WMF staff travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the foundation). Please indicate what is the limit number of WMF staff members you would like to welcome at your event.
Yes, from 5 to 6 WMF staff
- 27. Please outline the roles and responsibilities of the organizing team for the conference.
-Rotana, Conference Manager: Overseeing overall event planning and execution, managing stakeholder engagement, sponsorships, and budget control, ensuring trust and safety protocols are in place, coordinating the work of other team members, and leading contingency planning to ensure a smooth and secure conference experience. And will make reports, meta pages support.
- Serine Ben Brahim, Partnerships and Logistics Lead: working directly with Rotana, WMF Liaison (incl. Travel team support), rooming, budget management, partnership management, contingency planning, venue management, stakeholders meeting.
- Faisal, Communications liaison: Communication, volunteers management, Speaker Communication, On-site communication channels.
- Reda Kerbouche, Scholarship Coordinator: Main person of contact with the Scholarship committee, responsible for coordinating the Scholarships, and meta pages support.
- Michel Bakni, Program Coordinator: Main person of contact with the program committee, responsible for coordinating the program, and meta pages support.
- Diaa (logistic vendor): in-the-ground coordinator in Qatar, managing direct communication and logistics with local vendors and service providers. He will work closely with both Rotana and Serine to ensure smooth coordination and execution of all in-person arrangements.
- Conference Committee: Five members will be selected based on their relevant experience, strong connections with Wikimedia communities, and a clear understanding of the conference’s purpose and objectives.
- 28. Do you have plans to co-organize the event with other Wikimedia communities, groups or affiliates?
No
- 28.1. If yes, can you please explain how you are going to co-organize the event and what responsibilities each partner will have.
- 29. What kind of risks do you anticipate and how would you mitigate these?
-Hosting the conference with no active Wikimedian community: One significant risk is hosting the conference in a country without an active Wikimedia community, which may limit local participation and sustainability after the event. We are mitigating this by actively engaging individuals and institutions in Qatar ahead of the conference, with the aim of fostering interest, building local capacity, and encouraging the reactivation of the Qatar User Group.
- Lack of awareness of Wikimedia projects in the Gulf sub-region: low level of awareness of Wikimedia projects within the Gulf sub-region, which may impact the level of engagement from potential partners and stakeholders. To address this, we are investing in targeted outreach and communications efforts prior to the conference, including tailored messaging and engagement with local media, universities, and cultural institutions to raise visibility and build interest in Wikimedia’s mission and relevance.
- Risks with regards to visa:Visa related challenges have also emerged in previous WikiArabia conferences, impacting participant attendance. To mitigate this, we are beginning the visa application process as early as possible, working closely with local authorities and institutions to facilitate visa issuance, and providing participants with timely documentation and support throughout the process.
- Biased representation at the WikiArabia conference:We recognize the potential for biased representation stemming from personal conflicts within the Arabic Wikimedia community. To ensure a balanced and inclusive environment, we are implementing a transparent and criteria based participant selection process, guided by diversity, regional representation, and equitable participation. We are also establishing clear codes of conduct and conflict resolution mechanisms to ensure the conference remains a safe and welcoming space for all attendees.
- 30. Friendly space policy - Please add the link to the friendly space policy that your community will be using for this event.
Friendly space policies: https://w.wiki/Wuf
Learning, Sharing, and Evaluation
[edit]- 31. What do you hope to learn from your work organising this conference?
Through organizing this conference, I hope to learn whether our strategies effectively increased awareness and understanding of the Wikimedia movement among participants, particularly newcomers. I want to assess if attendees left with clearer knowledge of Wikimedia’s mission, values, and projects, and whether they felt inspired to continue contributing.
A key learning area is whether participants, especially those from Qatar, are now more motivated to engage with or reactivate local communities and whether the event led to meaningful new partnerships with institutions.
I also want to understand if the sessions helped participants gain practical skills, understand future opportunities, and connect more deeply with the Arab Wikimedia community.
And if the conference created lasting impact: sparking future engagement, strengthening community bonds, and positioning the Arab Wikimedia movement to better navigate global trends and challenges.
- 32. Main open metrics
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Participants | 85 scholarship recipients, 30 of which are newbies | N/A |
| Start of Qatar User Group | 1 new user group established | N/A |
| Female Representation | 40% of participants are female | N/A |
| Participant Learning Outcomes | 50% of participants report achieving learning goals | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
Financial Proposal
[edit]- 33. What is the amount you are requesting from Wikimedia Foundation? Please provide this amount in your local currency.
820441
- 34. Select your local currency.
QAR
- Requested amount in USD
- 228357.67 USD [note 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.
- 35. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1x_mMVnBbtrAfo1zoOtm0Sq8h88gOtI-vIoyAfvzyw7k/edit?usp=sharing
- 36. Do you expect to receive funding for this conference from other organizations to support your work?
No
- 36.1. If yes, what kind of resources are you expecting to get?
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
- Please use this optional space to upload any documents that you feel are important for further understanding your proposal.
- Other public document(s):
Endorsements and Feedback
[edit]Please add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.
Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:
- Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
- Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
- Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
- Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
- Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).