Grants talk:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Wiki in Africa Multi-Year General Support 2023-25

Feedback from the Middle East and Africa Regional Funding Committee on your proposal

Hello User:Anthere and User:Islahaddow,

Thank you for preparing a comprehensive and clear proposal. We are excited to see you continue with your work and seek to grow it as well including bringing and scaling new programming. We appreciate your effort in putting together a SWOT analysis that allowed us to learn and share in your awareness of the capacity you hold and the environment in which you work and seek to collaborate with. We thought the timeline shared was well detailed and indicated a sense of feasibility of the projects to be done. We also recognize the value and impactful nature of the projects you propose to work on and share in how important they are and especially now. We see your tproposal contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations including Providing for Safety and Inclusion, Coordinate Across Stakeholders, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development

We continue to acknowledge your efforts in forming partnerships with different organizations and stakeholders in promoting reach and enrichment of your projects.

• To support us in our next review processes, we would like to learn more about the rationale behind the 49% increase from the previous grant budget and the basis for the staff costs [ 54% of the budget] which we find high taking into account the regional context. We recognize there is a rationale for this costs hence us reaching out to understand and also knowing this has not been the case in the past, we are approaching this with a sense of curiosity and learning. We also were keen to learn on any thoughts you may have had with regards to the sustainability of such similar future budget increases?
• In the previous annual grant, we recommended looking into diversifying your board in relation to representation and we wanted to learn on the progress you are making on this goal.
• Lastly, we encourage you to review the metrics section to also align with the learning questions you have indicated. What metrics can you use to help you capture what you need to support your learning.

We highly recommend you getting in touch with the regional program officer to support you in understanding the questions raised or if you find useful to meet with the committee as well, please them know and they can organize a conversation meeting.

Thank you and we look forward to receiving your responses to support us in the next steps. On behalf of the MEA Regional Committee and Staff --VThamaini (WMF) (talk) 15:22, 24 October 2022 (UTC)

Thank you @VThamaini (WMF):.

This is noted. Anthere (talk) 15:52, 24 October 2022 (UTC)

Answers

To support us in our next review processes, we would like to learn more about the rationale behind the 49% increase from the previous grant budget and the basis for the staff costs [ 54% of the budget] which we find high taking into account the regional context. We recognize there is a rationale for this costs hence us reaching out to understand and also knowing this has not been the case in the past, we are approaching this with a sense of curiosity and learning. We also were keen to learn on any thoughts you may have had with regards to the sustainability of such similar future budget increases?

Thank you for this opportunity to further explain our expectations of growth. To be clear, in this section of your comment, there are three elements for which you are requesting clarification:

1. 49% increase in budget from the previous grant
2. the basis for the staff costs which amount to 54% of the budget
3. the sustainability (possibility) of such similar future budget increases (in the future)

Element of answer #1. 49% increase from the previous grant budget

Our calculations place this 2023 budget as a 33% increase in the annual budget over 2022. Perhaps you are using different figures?

As mentioned in the linked Wiki In Africa: Multi-Year Plan: 2023-25, the 2023 budget includes the addition or expansion of the following:

• 10% of the budget increase can be attributed to the incorporation of the 2023 continuation (production and release) of the highly successful Inspiring Open podcast series (that was externally funded in 2021-22),
• 6.7% of the increase is earmarked for the expansion of an existing education project, WikiChallenge Ecoles d’Afrique, beyond its externally-funded countries to other territories and, potentially, languages,
• a two-prong advancement and development plan to better place the organization for external funding and long-term security towards sustainability over the long term (accounts for 1.5% of the increase),
• the addition of dedicated project staff to provide consistent support for our two most active and intensive projects (both account for 3% increases respectively), and
• inflation and position adjustments for current staffing to ensure long term growth, consistency and organisational security (staffing increased by 13.7%, see point 2 for further explanations).

Elements of answers #2. The basis for the staff costs which amount to 54% of the budget

The staffing costs for 2023 represent a 13.7% growth on the 2022 budget. As you mentioned, it represents 54% of the budget, a reduction from the 71% of the 2022 budget. However, to be entirely transparent, new project-dedicated staff have been assigned to the project budgets. In part due to this, the project budget has increased the overall projects ask from 17% in 2022 to 33% of the total budget in 2023.

As outlined in the linked Wiki In Africa: Multi-Year Plan: 2023-25, our staffing goals for 2023-2025 are to:

• Develop the Wiki In Africa team to provide year-round support to ensure project development and growth
• Create opportunities within the organisation to ensure long term security and growth
• Increase the knowledge and skills of staff through strategic training and learning opportunities
• Ensure that remuneration keeps up with inflation
• Ensure that remuneration keeps abreast of demonstrable growth in skills and experience

To achieve the above staffing goals over 2023 we would like to retain the five existing staff members (https://www.wikiinafrica.org/about/) to further develop their skills and ensure the continued growth of programs through more strategic and focused responsibilities.

We would also like to grow the staff by 3 more individuals to ensure our key projects have dedicated, consistent year round attention and support from within the Wiki In Africa team. This allows for the project to build on the experiences and ideas revealed by previous years. The additions include:

1. Wiki Loves Africa Facilitator
2. Wiki Loves Women Facilitator
3. Communications manager

We would like to make it clear that although the staff at Wiki In Africa currently sits at 5 part-time members, 3 of which are non-dedicated interns. The projects that we administer and provide support for are far greater than the Wiki In Africa budget.

Here’s one example: the number of communities officially hosting events across Africa for Wiki Loves Africa in 2022 was 26 communities. The collective total of Wiki Loves Africa 2022-focused rapid grants funded by the WMF amounted to USD$60,315.32. This does not include the budget line items for communities where Wiki Loves Africa is part of their year-round Community Funded program (we do not have access to that information).

This year (every year before it has been less), a team of 4 part time, non-dedicated staff –two of which are interns – and various contracted supplier/s for communications elements assist with the support, mentor and upskill 26+ teams, 1500+ photographers (80% of which, on average, are new to Wikimedia), provide on-wiki set up, filter and quality control on Commons, facilitate jury process, and run an on-wiki and off-wiki communications campaign in 3 languages there is. The contest is growing and becoming more relevant to the continent, and as Africa’s Wikimedia community expands, more layered and complex support is needed. The current, intense event-based process is not a sustainable way for the project to grow the community, whilst also ensuring quality submissions to Commons and deliver nuanced visual impact for the Wikimedia projects (and beyond). It also means that we miss vital opportunities to grow knowledge and increase consistent contributions outside the contest period.

Projects are people managed and people led. It is impossible to do the variety of the work we have been doing, given the growth of the community and participants year-round needs and development without ensuring adequate compensation for those who are organising, managing, supporting and training. And, as shown above, the majority of the on-the-ground costs for this and other projects, like SheSaid, are being covered in each participating community’s rapid grant application (which we have no involvement with, beyond facilitating the occasional fiscal sponsorship).

I (Isla) am also curious as to why “regional context” is raised year after year. Should people be paid less than their colleagues because they are African? This is not really the space to discuss global inequalities, bias and the financial and intellectual burden of developing countries, but if you wish to gain some insight into the general burdens of this space, please review this Open Street Maps Africa keynote presented by our co-lead to the Open Street Maps Africa (and again, Libya) conference last year. On average, African participants must combat the highest connectivity, technology, and often shoulder preventative measures (ups, generators, etc.) costs in the world. They must daily navigate intermittent energy, politicised internet access, etc. as well as be at a far higher socio-economic level in order to even attempt to contribute consistently and constructively to the Wikimedia projects.

If you take these individual amounts and put them in a commercial or even non-profit remuneration space, these figures are below average rates. For a detailed rationale as to the figures used, please refer to the responses provided to similar questions asked last year for the Community Fund Grant application. We believe this might cover any other questions you might have about salary choice.

Element of answer #3. The sustainability of such similar future budget increases

As mentioned in the linked Wiki In Africa: Multi-Year Plan: 2023-25, we do not anticipate any major additions or adjustments in 2024 and 2025 (certainly not beyond the WMF mandated 20%). The annual plan (including budget) in subsequent years will be focused on achieving maximum potential for each of our projects, and ensuring sustainable longterm funding into the future. Further, the work on the “two-prong advancement and development plan” will ensure that any additions to projects or new projects will be externally funded, as they have in the past.

In the previous annual grant, we recommended looking into diversifying your board in relation to representation and we wanted to learn on the progress you are making on this goal.

It is great that you raised this issue (again), as previously mentioned in the multi-year plan (linked above) and the Wiki In Africa strategy, expansion and diversification of the Board of Trustees is one of our key organizational priorities. In fact, a key focus for 2023-25 is to “Review and expand the Board and program Advisory Committees to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with”. If you wish to refresh your memory about the complexity of this issue, please review our previous responses to the fifth question asked last year for the Community Fund Grant application process.

With this issue always top of our mind, we have already moved forward and invited two Wikimedians in great-standing to join the Board of Trustees. They both agreed and we will start onboarding shortly!

We have identified a further two more candidates to approach in November/December of this year. We are actively looking for two candidates that fit specific criteria (residence in South Africa, being most key). We would welcome volunteers, nominations or suggestions – please contact us.

We will keep you posted on the progression of this element into 2023.

Lastly, we encourage you to review the metrics section to also align with the learning questions you have indicated. What metrics can you use to help you capture what you need to support your learning.

We expanded in what we had in mind.

Thanks. Florence and Isla (submitted Nov 5)

Wikimedia Community Fund approved in the multi-year amount of 162,000 USD

Hello Wiki in Africa ,

Congratulations! Your multi-year grant is approved in the amount of 162,000 USD, with a grant term starting January 2023-December 2025.

Thank you for submitting your application seeking General Support Funds - Wikimedia Community Fund. The Middle East and Africa Regional Committee and Staff have reviewed your application and recommended multi-year funding in the amount $162,000 per year for the 3 year period of January 2023 - December 2025 .

We continue to find value in the programs you have stated out to implement and the impact you achieve with different communities in Africa and beyond. We are pleased to see a clear intention to align and inform the achievement of Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations including Providing for Safety and Inclusion, Coordinate Across Stakeholders, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development. We are excited to see you identifying mission aligned partners that are able to support your work to some extent and hoope that with the multi-year funding, you will find a sense of certainty, flexibility that can translate to more partnership and resources development efforts to compliment the funding from Wikimedia Foundation and especially given your capacities. We also hope that the multi-year funding will support you in your long term planning and effective implementation of your projects and support for the team working on the projects. We are keen to continue learning how the partnerships you form with the different communities in the region translate into organizational capacities that live beyond the engagement of the projects you spearhead especially knowing that you have a breadth of expertise that can be shared with the community, through spaces of learning and sharing such as Let’s Connect.

We wish you the very best in your project and look forward to learning about the impact of you achieve.

Best regards from the MEA Regional Committee and Staff --VThamaini (WMF) (talk) 11:32, 1 December 2022 (UTC)