Grants talk:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund/Wikimedia Bangladesh Annual activities 2025-26

Follow-up questions on your application

Hello Wikimedia Bangladesh,

Thank you for submitting your general support fund application. The SA regional funds committee has completed the preliminary review of your application and here are the consolidated responses, comments and questions.

As a next step, we would like to invite you to respond to the questions (and comments if you feel a response is needed) on the talk page. We require a response by 14 May 2025. We'll also be reaching out to invite you to join a conversation with the SA Funds Committee on 15 May 2025. More details to follow via email. Thank you.

Regards, Jacqueline on behalf of the SA Funds Committee

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A) Overall strengths of the proposal

1) The proposal is holistic. well-balanced and typical of activities usually done by a national Wikimedia chapter.

2) Experienced team, with past work record.

3) Well‑rounded six‑pillar framework that builds on proven programs (e.g. Amar Ekushey, WikiGathering).

• 3a) Strong emphasis on diversity, GLAM partnerships, and policy advocacy (FoP).
• 3b) Clear capacity‑building pipeline (ToT, WikiAmbassadors, WikiCamp) with measurable targets.

B) Community health and engagement

4) Could you provide more information on the process of putting together the 2025/2026 annual plan, consultation with communities and avenues of feedback from the community?

5) The project makes a clear case for advocacy as well as outreach and training of new editors/participants. These are important activities which can have learnings for other South Asian groups but there is nothing specified regarding documentation of their initiatives and the transfer of learnings/feedback/insights. For example, knowing what value a GLAM institution found in partnering with Wikimedia Bangladesh can be helpful for others in the community who hope to partner with GLAMs.

6) I would therefore like Wikimedia Bangladesh to reflect upon and share with us a plan for documentation of their findings/learnings.

C) Budget, Project deliverables, Team, Timeline

7) Could you provide more information on the process of putting together the 2025/2026 annual plan, consultation with communities and avenues of feedback from the community?

8) In your timeline, could you add one column to indicate if the proposed activity is new. Also, for existing activities, could you add another column and elaborate on areas of innovation? Could you also add a column on the people who will be leading the specific activity (i.e. Wiki User names)

9) Could you share what are the additional full-time equivalent roles that you would like to add in the 2025/2026 annual plan? Please also provide the job description of the proposed role(s).

10) Given you will be recruiting FTE staff as part of your annual plan, could you provide more information on the hiring, decision making process within the organization and also the expected reporting structure within the organization?

11) Based on utilisation rates of your recent projects, what are some of the factors that could limit your capacity/ implementation of your proposed annual plan?

D) Overall recommendations / or opportunities that the applicant could explore but have not?

12) Too many programs seem to rely on contests. This may tire the same set of volunteers who may participate in every contest and may diminish the participant interest and outcomes. This also has a risk of only attracting participants who short stay for rewards. There should be more innovative programs that kindle the natural passion of volunteers to contribute. Also, technical activities could be given more focus as there are a large number of Bengali speakers and they don't get the same patronage like Hindi. Also, the staff pay looks abysmally low. They should be compensated well.

13) Observation: This proposal is very broad and does not give a clear indication of the activities. For example, regarding advocacy work:

• 13a) "We will work to inform them about how these limitations undermine the preservation of cultural heritage and reduce the availability of openly accessible media." --- what the work is, is unclear - is it a workshop, is it a campaign, is it a meeting....?
• 13b) Again, "The third edition of WLBangla will take place in April 2026, continuing its mission to expand the digital representation of Bengali culture." --- I'm curious, culture is such a broad term - architecture and festivals included - but those are also so broad - there must be some focus area at least?
• 13c) Recommendation: The group can also think of communicating their work and appropriately budget for that; if they have a communication plan, it is not immediately clear from the proposal or budget. In the long run, one can continue to run the activities, but not spreading word about their impact can have a limiting effect on broader community participation.

14) Include a basic risk‑mitigation plan (e.g. community fatigue, legal shifts).

• 14a) Develop training modules for mobile editing to reach people not having laptops
• 14b) A cohesive plan for social‑media, local press and academic channels would maximize publicity for contests and campaigns, drawing in new contributors.

15) Perhaps they could share more about their governance system, including the roles and responsibilities, the decision-making process, and other relevant details, to ensure everything is clear and transparent.

D) Other general questions

16) Which tools or dashboards will you use to track contributor and content‑quality metrics?

• 16a) How will GLAM partnership agreements be formalized and sustained over time?

On a separate note, as your application contains public policy advocacy elements, we have also invited the relevant teams to participate in the review process and there could be further questions or feedback on this subsection of your application at a later stage.

JChen (WMF) (talk) 05:18, 7 May 2025 (UTC)

Responses to the feedback and questions

Hello @JChen (WMF): and the SA Regional Grants Committee, Thank you for your appreciation, thoughtful review and valuable feedback on our proposal. Please find below our detailed responses addressing the questions and recommendations raised during the review process.

4) Could you provide more information on the process of putting together the 2025/2026 annual plan, consultation with communities and avenues of feedback from the community?

The 2025/2026 annual plan was developed through a collaborative and consultative process involving members of the Wikimedia Bangladesh Executive Committee, active community leaders, and volunteers from diverse regional and thematic groups. The process began with an internal review of the previous year’s activities, outcomes, and lessons learned, followed by strategic planning sessions to align future initiatives with the Wikimedia Movement Strategy.

We engaged in community consultations through various channels, including regional meetups, online discussions, group calls, and the Bangla WikiConference 2025. These platforms allowed us to gather feedback and ideas directly from contributors across Bangladesh. Leaders from regional communities such as Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Mymensingh as well as thematic leaders played a key role in shaping the programmatic focus. For instance, the Bangla WikiConnect team submitted a structured activity plan for the calendar year, contributing to the overall alignment of community-led efforts with our annual goals.

The draft plan was shared with key community members for feedback before finalization. Going forward, we are committed to keeping the planning process open and transparent, ensuring community voices continue to shape our priorities and implementation.

5) The project makes a clear case for advocacy as well as outreach and training of new editors/participants. These are important activities which can have learnings for other South Asian groups but there is nothing specified regarding documentation of their initiatives and the transfer of learnings/feedback/insights. For example, knowing what value a GLAM institution found in partnering with Wikimedia Bangladesh can be helpful for others in the community who hope to partner with GLAMs.

We fully recognize the importance of documenting our advocacy and outreach initiatives—not only for internal learning and accountability but also to support peer learning among other South Asian affiliates and communities. To address this, we will implement the following documentation and knowledge-sharing measures:

• Post-activity reporting: For each major outreach, advocacy, including GLAM initiative, we will publish a post-activity report summarizing objectives, execution, outcomes, challenges, and reflections.
• Partner feedback documentation: We will conduct follow-up conversations or surveys with partner institutions (e.g., GLAMs) to capture their perspectives, assess impact, and understand the value they found in collaborating with Wikimedia Bangladesh.
• Knowledge repository on Meta-Wiki: A dedicated section will be maintained on Meta-Wiki where we will regularly publish learnings, success stories, key insights, challenges and adaptable program models.

Cross-regional learning session: At least one structured learning exchange (virtual or hybrid) will be organized in collaboration with other South Asian affiliates and user groups to facilitate knowledge transfer and encourage regional collaboration.

These steps will help ensure that the outcomes and insights from our work are not siloed but instead actively contribute to the collective capacity and strategic growth of the wider Wikimedia movement.

6) I would therefore like Wikimedia Bangladesh to reflect upon and share with us a plan for documentation of their findings/learnings.

Thank you for emphasising the importance of documentation. Wikimedia Bangladesh is committed to systematically capturing and sharing our findings and learnings throughout the grant period. Our approach includes:

• Monthly internal review meetings to assess ongoing progress and identify areas for improvement.
• Midterm and final narrative reports to document key outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Public learning reports to be shared on both the Wikimedia Bangladesh public wiki and Meta-Wiki, allowing broader access to our insights across the Wikimedia movement.
• Reflection sessions after each major program or campaign, involving organizers, volunteers, and participants to gather firsthand feedback, challenges, and actionable recommendations.
• Regular documentation of chapter activities on Wikimedia Bangladesh’s official Wiki site to ensure transparency and continuous accessibility.

Through these efforts, we aim to foster a strong culture of learning and accountability, while contributing meaningfully to collective knowledge within the movement.

7) Could you provide more information on the process of putting together the 2025/2026 annual plan, consultation with communities and avenues of feedback from the community?

Already answered at question no 03.

8) In your timeline, could you add one column to indicate if the proposed activity is new. Also, for existing activities, could you add another column and elaborate on areas of innovation? Could you also add a column on the people who will be leading the specific activity (i.e. Wiki User names)

The timeline has been updated, two more columns are added.

9) Could you share what are the additional full-time equivalent roles that you would like to add in the 2025/2026 annual plan? Please also provide the job description of the proposed role(s).

Wikimedia Bangladesh currently does not have any full-time equivalent staff roles. However, for the upcoming 2025/2026 fiscal year, we plan to onboard three full-time equivalent contractors, as outlined in our budget plan. These roles include:

1. Program Coordinator – To oversee the implementation of programs, coordinate with stakeholders, and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
2. Program Support Associate – To manage administrative and logistical tasks, including event coordination, procurement, and inventory tracking.
3. Communications and Documentation Associate – To lead our communications strategy, manage social media and public outreach, and document all program activities for reporting and visibility.

In addition to these roles, we may engage short-term project-based contributors or stipended community members for specific tasks depending on program needs. Their compensation will be covered under program-specific expenses. These roles are essential to strengthen our operational capacity, reduce volunteer workload, and ensure the effective and sustainable delivery of our growing program portfolio.

The job description of the proposed roles can be found here: WMBD Staffing Plan 2025-26.

10) Given you will be recruiting FTE staff as part of your annual plan, could you provide more information on the hiring, decision making process within the organization and also the expected reporting structure within the organization?

As Wikimedia Bangladesh prepares to recruit full-time equivalent (FTE) staff for the first time in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, we are committed to maintaining a transparent, inclusive, and accountable hiring and reporting process.

Hiring & Decision-Making Process:

The recruitment process will be overseen by the Executive Committee (EC) of Wikimedia Bangladesh, in accordance with our governance policies. A Hiring Committee, composed of EC members and experienced community representatives, will manage the end-to-end process — including drafting job descriptions, publishing open calls for applications, shortlisting candidates, conducting interviews, and making final selections.

All hiring decisions will be made either through consensus or majority vote within the Hiring Committee, and will be ratified by the Executive Committee to ensure integrity and transparency.

Recruitment will be conducted via open calls published on Wikimedia channels, our official website, and social media platforms to attract a diverse and qualified pool of candidates. Selection criteria will focus on both professional qualifications and alignment with Wikimedia values and community engagement experience.

Reporting Structure:

All recruited staff will report to the Program Coordinator, who will be responsible for day-to-day program implementation and internal coordination. The Program Coordinator will report directly to the Executive Committee, specifically the General Secretary and President, for strategic alignment, oversight, and performance tracking. Financial matters and reporting will be coordinated closely with the Treasurer.

This reporting framework is designed to ensure operational efficiency while maintaining strong organizational oversight and accountability to the broader community. Regular performance reviews and learning reflections will be embedded into the workflow to support continuous improvement.

11) Based on utilisation rates of your recent projects, what are some of the factors that could limit your capacity/ implementation of your proposed annual plan?

Based on the utilisation rates of our recent projects, several key factors could potentially limit our capacity to fully implement the proposed annual plan:

1. Limited Staffing and Volunteer Burnout: As a primarily volunteer-driven organisation, our capacity largely depends on a small core group of dedicated contributors. Sustained engagement over the course of a year can lead to burnout, especially as volunteers juggle Wikimedia responsibilities with personal and professional commitments. To address this, we plan to onboard part-time program staff or paid volunteers and decentralise responsibilities among community leaders to foster shared ownership and reduce pressure on individuals.
2. Delays in Recruitment and Onboarding: Timely recruitment and onboarding of program associates are essential for maintaining momentum and ensuring the smooth implementation and documentation of activities. Any delays in these processes—especially in administrative and communications roles may temporarily slow progress.
3. External Dependencies and Bureaucratic Processes: Some initiatives, particularly those involving partnerships with government agencies or GLAM institutions, are subject to external approval and bureaucratic processes. These can be unpredictable and occasionally result in project delays beyond our control.
4. Socio-Political and Environmental Factors: Political instability, changes in regulations (such as potential restrictions on Freedom of Panorama), or unforeseen environmental events could disrupt planned activities—particularly regional or in-person engagements.

Despite these potential challenges, our team remains committed to proactive planning, adaptive management, and open communication. We have a proven track record of resilience and flexibility, which enables us to deliver impactful outcomes even under constrained circumstances.

Too many programs seem to rely on contests. This may tire the same set of volunteers who may participate in every contest and may diminish the participant interest and outcomes. This also has a risk of only attracting participants who short stay for rewards. There should be more innovative programs that kindle the natural passion of volunteers to contribute. Also, technical activities could be given more focus as there are a large number of Bengali speakers and they don't get the same patronage like Hindi. Also, the staff pay looks abysmally low. They should be compensated well.

We fully acknowledge the concern that an over-reliance on contests may fatigue recurring participants and attract only short-term contributors. In our grant proposal, we have included only those programs that are directly dependent on funding support, some of which are contests or campaign-based activities due to their effectiveness in outreach. However, beyond the grant-supported activities, Wikimedia Bangladesh runs several volunteer-driven programs throughout the year that are designed to encourage sustained engagement and align with contributors' intrinsic motivations. These include:

• Edit-a-thons on occasions such as International Women’s Day and International Museum Day
• Awareness-focused events like the Mental Health Awareness Week edit-a-thon
• Thematic programs during the Open Access Week edit-a-thon
• And the ongoing publication of WikiBarta, our community newsletter, which strengthens internal communication and celebrates volunteer contributions

These activities are run without external funding and reflect our broader commitment to community health and organic participation. In terms of technical engagement, we fully agree that more emphasis is needed. As part of this proposal, we have included plans for Wikidata workshops, localisation of tools and templates, and technical skill-building initiatives to better support the large Bengali-speaking contributor base, which has historically received less technical support compared to communities like Hindi.

Finally, we appreciate your concern regarding staff compensation. As we are in a growth phase, we aim to move forward step by step. Based on the outcomes of the first year, we plan to review and adjust the budget in future cycles to ensure fair and adequate compensation that aligns with local standards and role responsibilities. We recognize that equitable compensation is essential for sustaining program continuity and providing consistent professional support to our community.

13) Observation: This proposal is very broad and does not give a clear indication of the activities. For example, regarding advocacy work:

13a) "We will work to inform them about how these limitations undermine the preservation of cultural heritage and reduce the availability of openly accessible media." --- what the work is, is unclear - is it a workshop, is it a campaign, is it a meeting....?

We agree that a clearer articulation of planned activities will strengthen the proposal. For the advocacy component, we plan to implement a multi-pronged approach, including:

• Policy roundtable meetings with legal experts, digital rights organisations, and policymakers to discuss the impact of current copyright laws and propose reforms (especially concerning Freedom of Panorama).
• Workshops and webinars aimed at educating stakeholders, such as cultural institutions, journalists, and civil society, on how restrictive policies affect access to knowledge.
• Public awareness campaigns (online and offline) using social media, blog posts, and printed materials to explain the importance of open access and cultural preservation.
• Research briefs and policy papers to present comparative insights from other countries and offer evidence-based recommendations.

These activities will be coordinated under our advocacy program and scheduled throughout the year to ensure sustained engagement and measurable impact. We will revise the proposal to better reflect this structure and provide more clarity across all program areas.

13b) Again, "The third edition of WLBangla will take place in April 2026, continuing its mission to expand the digital representation of Bengali culture." --- I'm curious, culture is such a broad term - architecture and festivals included - but those are also so broad - there must be some focus area at least?

Wiki Loves Bangla (WLBangla) is dedicated to showcasing the richness and diversity of Bengali culture and heritage, and serves as a key initiative under the Bengali Culture and Heritage Collation Program. While “culture” is indeed a broad term, we intentionally keep it open to allow flexibility and inclusivity in representation.

To provide structure and thematic depth, each edition of WLBangla focuses on a specific aspect within this broader cultural framework. The first edition in 2024 highlighted “Bengali Cuisine”, celebrating the region’s culinary traditions and local delicacies. The 2025 edition, titled “Birds of Bengal”, emphasized biodiversity and the natural heritage of the region. The proposed theme for 2026, “Festivals of Bengal”, aims to document the vibrancy, rituals, and diversity of celebrations across various communities.

This evolving thematic approach enables us to explore different dimensions of Bengali identity over time, contributing to a dynamic and structured digital archive that reflects both the depth and diversity of our cultural heritage.

13c) Recommendation: The group can also think of communicating their work and appropriately budget for that; if they have a communication plan, it is not immediately clear from the proposal or budget. In the long run, one can continue to run the activities, but not spreading word about their impact can have a limiting effect on broader community participation.

We fully agree that effectively communicating our work is vital for increasing visibility, attracting new contributors, and sustaining community engagement. While we included a Communications and Documentation Associate role in the staffing plan, we recognize that a clear communications strategy and dedicated budget for outreach efforts were not explicitly detailed in the proposal.

Moving forward, we are committed to developing a more structured communications plan, which will include defined goals, key messages, target audiences, and the use of channels such as social media, local media, blogs, academic networks, and WikiBarta—our volunteer-led community magazine that highlights Wikimedia activities of Bengali Wiki Community. We will also ensure that future budgets allocate specific resources for content creation, media partnerships, and promotional campaigns. Strengthening our communications will help amplify the impact of our work and foster broader participation across the movement.

14) Include a basic risk‑mitigation plan (e.g. community fatigue, legal shifts).

14a) Develop training modules for mobile editing to reach people not having laptops

14b) A cohesive plan for social‑media, local press and academic channels would maximize publicity for contests and campaigns, drawing in new contributors.

To address potential risks such as community fatigue, we plan to rotate leadership roles, diversify engagement formats beyond contests, and emphasize interest-based, collaborative, and mentorship-driven activities. We also aim to expand offline events to encourage dialogue and strengthen local collaboration.

We appreciate for pointing out to develop training modules for mobile editing. This is certainly under our consideration. In fact, we have already been incorporating mobile editing as part of our offline workshops since 2023, and we plan to expand and formalize this component further in the coming year.

While we already use social media and local press to promote our campaigns, this year we will expand our outreach to academic channels by integrating more education-focused activities and partnerships with educational institutions.

15) Perhaps they could share more about their governance system, including the roles and responsibilities, the decision-making process, and other relevant details, to ensure everything is clear and transparent.

The governance structure of Wikimedia Bangladesh is clearly defined in Article X of the Memorandum of Association, which outlines the roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes of the organization. At the core of this structure is the Executive Committee, which is entrusted with overseeing the strategic direction, approving programs, managing financial matters, and ensuring meaningful community engagement.

The Executive Committee operates through regularly scheduled meetings, where decisions are made collectively. Each member has voting rights, and all major decisions are subject to a formal voting process to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability. In addition, subcommittees or working groups may be formed as needed to handle specific tasks or initiatives, further supporting participatory governance.

This system ensures that the organization remains aligned with its mission while being responsive to the evolving needs of the Wikimedia community in Bangladesh.

16) Which tools or dashboards will you use to track contributors and content‑quality metrics?

16a) How will GLAM partnership agreements be formalized and sustained over time?

To track contributors and content quality metrics, we will utilize a range of Wikimedia and community-developed tools. Programs & Events Dashboard, Fountain, Montage, Checkmate, and the Hashtags Tool will be used to monitor participation, edits, and article improvements during campaigns and edit-a-thons. For more in-depth analysis of editor activity and content quality, we will also rely on tools such as XTools and Pageviews Analysis. Together, these tools enable us to measure both quantitative and qualitative outcomes across various Wikimedia projects.

For GLAM partnerships, we plan to formalize collaborations through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) or Letters of Intent with institutions such as museums, libraries, and archives. These agreements will clearly define shared objectives, roles, and content-sharing protocols. To ensure sustainability, we will prioritize ongoing communication, co-organize training or capacity-building events, and involve the Wikimedia community through outreach and engagement. Dedicated volunteers or liaisons will be assigned to manage relationships and support long-term collaboration.

On a separate note, as your application contains public policy advocacy elements, we have also invited the relevant teams to participate in the review process and there could be further questions or feedback on this subsection of your application at a later stage.

We are committed to conducting our advocacy efforts in a collaborative, transparent, and responsible manner, fully aligned with the values and legal frameworks of the Wikimedia movement. We welcome the opportunity to engage with the relevant teams and are prepared to provide any additional information or clarification as needed during the review process.

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Thank you once again for your time, insights, and continued support. We look forward to your feedback and to working together in advancing the Wikimedia movement in Bangladesh. On behalf of Wikimedia Bangladesh.--ROCKY (talk) 06:39, 13 May 2025 (UTC)

Additional feedback from Global Advocacy Team

Hello Wikimedia Bangladesh,

As promised, sharing the additional feedback from the Global Advocacy Team for your response.

Would it be possible to get back by 19 May? This is so that we have sufficient lead time to gather the relevant responses and publish the funding outcomes by the proposed timeline.

In the event that you require more time to respond, drop me an email and we can work through the timeline/ details.

Thank you.

Regards,

Jacqueline on behalf of the Global Advocacy Team

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The GA team welcomes this application from Wikimedia Bangladesh, a group that has not yet applied for public policy advocacy funding. The legislation identified indicates that the group is monitoring recent policy developments and aware of opportunities available to our movement.  In September 2023, the Parliament in Bangladesh passed the Copyright Act 2023, replacing the previous Copyright Act of 2000. When a bill has so recently become law, there is a risk that the discussion is done for another 20+ years. Not in this case, however, since there is much debate about how it would benefit from further reforms to address ongoing challenges such as enhanced public education campaigns and more details about the implications of AI on copyright law. Both of these are areas where our movement has valuable expertise to add to the conversation. We would like to better understand the tactics they plan to use to influence these bills, especially related to copyright reform.

A) How will you build on existing learnings and experiences?  Freedom of Panorama is a challenging topic for many reasons; our research of Wikimedians’ copyright advocacy efforts has shown that we are more successful when we focus on reforming other issues in the copyright space, such as upload filters, value for public education, or issues related to AI and Copyright. Wikimedia Bangladesh is well positioned to advocate on behalf of these issues first, and then mention Freedom of Panorama. They can learn valuable lessons and access talking points from groups with more experience in these conversations such as Wikimedia Australia or Wikimedia Sweden. How might you focus on these strengths of our movement - education, AI and copyright - to gain more relevance in the conversation than you would if you only focus on FOP?

B) Who will you work with? You mention “collaboration with Wikimedian communities and allies” - which ones do you have in mind, and what will that collaboration look like? We have also received similar proposals related to FOP from PhilWiki community, Wikimedia Taiwan, and Shared Knowledge Asia Pacific. How will you make sure there is a united FOP campaign in the region? You also mention engaging with policymakers, legal experts, and relevant government bodies. Do you already have existing contacts? If not, how do you plan on identifying and approaching the relevant stakeholders? Are there next steps related to the calls to add reforms to the newly passed law - are there public consultations or private roundtables in which you can engage? If not, how will you try to create this opportunity? JChen (WMF) (talk) 05:53, 15 May 2025 (UTC)

Response to the feedback from Global Advocacy Team

Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging feedback. We appreciate the Global Advocacy Team’s recognition of our interest in public policy and copyright advocacy and are glad to have this opportunity to clarify our current intentions and approach.

A) Building on Existing Learnings and Focusing on Awareness

We understand that Freedom of Panorama (FoP) is a complex issue with limited political traction in many countries, including Bangladesh. In our first year, we do not intend to push for significant legislative change. Instead, our primary goal is to initiate the process, raise awareness, and begin mapping the landscape for long-term advocacy.

Rather than focusing solely on FoP, we will take a broader approach by highlighting issues such as the role of copyright in public education, access to cultural heritage, and the emerging challenges of AI and copyright. These themes are more relatable to a wider range of stakeholders and offer a more strategic entry point for dialogue.

We plan to build on learnings from other affiliates, including Wikimedia Australia as well as Wikimedia Sweden, and will consult available resources such as the Copyright Advocacy Mapping Report 2023. These will help us shape our messaging and better understand how to align our work with the movement’s broader policy goals.

B) Partnership Development and Stakeholder Engagement

This year, our primary focus is to identify and engage potential partners and allies. We are not aiming for immediate policy influence or legislative outcomes. Instead, we want to understand the local context, build relationships, and create a foundation for future collaboration.

We have begun reaching out to civil society organizations (e.g., The Carter Center), academic experts, and journalists. We also aim to learn from other affiliates in the region to explore the potential for a more unified regional conversation around FoP and copyright reform.

At the local level, we will focus on awareness-raising activities, including workshops, small roundtable discussions, and community dialogues. If opportunities arise to join public consultations or closed-door discussions related to the Copyright Act 2023, we will explore them. However, we are also prepared to create these opportunities ourselves through partnerships with educational and legal institutions.

Summary of Our Approach (2025-26)

• No major policy or legal reform campaigns planned this year.
• Focused on initiating the conversation, building relationships, and raising awareness.
• Exploring partnerships with local stakeholders and international affiliates for capacity building and knowledge exchange.
• Using this year to learn, listen, and lay the groundwork for future advocacy in alignment with the movement’s strategic direction.

We hope this clarifies our approach. We deeply value the guidance of the Global Advocacy Team and look forward to continued collaboration and learning as we begin this important journey. On Behalf of Wikimedia Bangladesh--ROCKY (talk) 04:01, 19 May 2025 (UTC)

Your application has been approved

Hello Wikimedia Bangladesh,

Thank you for your responses to the follow-ups questions and for joining the conversation with the SA Regional Funds Committee. Congratulations! Your grant application has been approved in the amount of BDT 6,345,000 (excluding proposed budget for global advocacy) from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. Please add a revised budget tab into your proposed budget sheet based on the approved amount and inform your programme officer when it's completed.

Here are some comments from the review team that were captured from the final deliberation round

• Looking forward for more collaborative projects and events with other communities from Wikimedia Bangladesh
• Best wishes for the Wikimedia Bangladesh Chapter's first General Support Fund
• We appreciate the responses that you provide on a talkpage and hope that you can include the tracking of the additional components mentioned on the talkpage in your final report. Do explore this further with the Programme Officer.

Recommendations

• We would recommend reviewing the questions and comments from the review process with your Programme Officer.
• We would also suggest working closely with your programme officer to identify 1-2 priority areas that you plan to work on for organisational development based on your annual plan. Where possible, do provide regular updates on this talkpage when you have made progress in these areas with links to other relevant pages for further details.
• Feedback from Global Advocacy Team: Their current plans (see application) focus on laying the groundwork for policy change and do not indicate any direct contact with government officials. We understand that priming allies and other likely supporters about a topic is an important first step in advocating for public policy change, however, we wish to see more direct engagement and concrete plans to change legislation. For this reason we welcome WM Bangladesh to pursue this work, make progress, and reapply next year when there is more progress on the topic. We do not recommend its proposed current initiatives around global advocacy be funded.

Disbursement of Funds

To facilitate the funds disbursement process, we seek your prompt response on Fluxx and via emails with the WMF Grants Administrator team (grantsadmin@wikimedia.org). We highly encourage you to submit all supporting documents and endorse the grant agreements within the stipulated time frame. When in doubt, proactively reach out to the WMF Grants Administration team and copy your programme officer.

Change in implementation plan

We know even the best thought through plans may change. In the event that there are changes to your implementation schedule, you can reach out to request for a grant extension (i.e. extend end date). Similarly, if there is a surplus budget or changes to your planned budget, you can reach out to me about reallocation (via email and on this talkpage). There is also the option to have the unspent funds deducted against a future grant. More details here: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Return_unused_funds_to_WMF

Additional resources which may be useful

• The reporting requirements and templates for the grant can be found here. All reports are to be completed and submitted via Fluxx.
• Timelines for reporting can be found in your grant agreement or on Fluxx.
• Instructions for post award: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Processing/Grantee_Portal/Post_award
• Documenting project expenses: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Documenting_project_expenses

We thank you for your participation in the grant application process and hope to continue to journey with you as you embark on this project. Good luck!

Regards, Jacqueline on behalf of the SA Regional Funds Committee JChen (WMF) (talk) 03:18, 23 May 2025 (UTC)

@JChen (WMF), Thank you for the confirmation and the valuable comments from the review team. We are enthusiastic about taking the chapter’s activities to the next level and are committed to fulfilling all requirements in a timely manner.

I would like to bring to your attention a small clarification regarding the revised grant amount. While it has been noted as BDT 6,345,000 (excluding the proposed budget for global advocacy), the actual amount after accounting for the fiscal sponsor fee would be BDT 6,325,000. Kindly review this and let us know if any further clarification is needed. -- ROCKY (talk) 09:37, 24 May 2025 (UTC)