Reports:Wikimedia UG Nigeria Grants/Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Community Support Fund/Report/Wikimedia Gombe Network’s 2024 End-of-Year Mini-Conference

Goals

We are happy with how the project went. The conference achieved its primary objectives of reflection, advocacy, and engagement. The active participation and enthusiasm from attendees were particularly encouraging, setting a solid foundation for future activities. While some adjustments will be made for better time management in future events, the conference was a significant milestone for the network.

Outcome

Please report on your original project targets. Please be sure to review and provide metrics required for Rapid Grants.

Target outcome	Achieved outcome	Explanation
Reflect and Plan: Review 2024 activities, challenges, and solutions to enhance future programming.	Achieved: Participants identified challenges and proposed actionable solutions during group discussions.	The group activity effectively facilitated brainstorming and solution generation to address network challenges.
Enhance Knowledge Advocacy: Develop strategies to expand awareness of open knowledge and Wikimedia projects in Gombe and surrounding regions.	Achieved: Strategies were discussed, and advocacy successes were presented in the year-in-review session.	The Program Officer’s presentation and community discussions helped set advocacy priorities for 2025.
Increase Community Engagement: Strategize on recruitment, retention, and engagement to keep our network active and growing.	Achieved: Networking activities and games fostered collaboration and strengthened community bonds.	High levels of participation and enthusiasm reflected growing engagement within the network.
Recognize Contributors: Appreciate and celebrate members who have shown exceptional commitment and consistency.	Not Achieved: Recognition of contributors was not conducted due to time and logistical constraints.	This target remains a priority for future events, with plans to address logistical challenges in subsequent programs.

Metrics and Outcomes

Metric	Target	Achieved
Number of participants	50	47
Number of group discussions	1	1
Number of actionable solutions generated	5	6
Number of advocacy strategies proposed	3	4
Level of participant satisfaction (survey)	80% rate event as positive	85% rated event as positive
Number of community engagement activities	2	2 (Networking + Games)

Prize Winners

For events that involve giving out prizes, Usernames of the winners should be listed

Learning

Projects do not always go according to plan. Sharing what you learned can help you and others plan similar projects in the future. Help the movement learn from your experience by answering the following questions:

What worked well?
What did not work so well?
What would you do differently next time?

What worked well?

1. Engaging Group Discussions: The group activity where participants identified challenges and proposed solutions was highly effective. It encouraged collaboration, critical thinking, and active participation, resulting in actionable recommendations for the network.

2. Year-in-Review Presentation: The Program Officer's year-in-review session provided a clear reflection on the network's achievements, challenges, and areas of focus for the future. It aligned well with the conference's goal of reflection and planning.

3. Community Bonding through Games: Including games in the program fostered camaraderie among participants and added a fun, interactive element that contributed to team-building and overall satisfaction.

4. Attendance and Participation: Despite challenges, a strong turnout of 47 participants showed the network’s commitment and interest in the event, with high levels of engagement throughout.

What did not work so well?

1. Time and Logistical Constraints: The schedule was tight, which led to the omission of contributor recognition. This was a missed opportunity to celebrate and motivate members who have shown exceptional commitment.

2. Limited Outreach to Potential Stakeholders: While the event was successful internally, there was limited engagement with external stakeholders or potential partners who could amplify the network’s impact.

3. Event Anchoring and Coordination: While the program flowed well overall, a more robust anchoring strategy could have ensured smoother transitions between sessions and better adherence to the schedule.

What would you do differently next time?

1. Allocate More Time for Key Activities: Extend the duration of the event or streamline the agenda to allow for essential components, such as contributor recognition, without feeling rushed.

2. Early and Broad Planning: Begin planning and coordination earlier to address logistical challenges and ensure more structured outreach to potential stakeholders and partners.

3. Incorporate Hybrid Participation: Explore hybrid options to include participants who may not be able to attend in person, broadening engagement, and inclusivity.

4. Strengthen Pre-Event Communication: Share a detailed agenda with participants ahead of the event to ensure they are well-prepared and sessions run more smoothly.

5. Introduce Feedback Mechanisms During the Event: Incorporate real-time feedback methods (e.g., quick polls) to gauge participant satisfaction and make on-the-spot adjustments if needed.

Finances

Grant funds spent

Please describe how much grant money you spent for approved expenses, and tell us what you spent it on.

Item	Description	Cost (NGN)
Venue Rental	Rental of space for one day	60,000
Refreshments	Food, drinks, and snacks for the day	3000 × 40 = 120,000
Transportation for Participants	Branded items, banners, and small gift items	1000 × 30 = 30,000
Transportation & Logistics	Transport for team, materials, and guest speakers	35,000
Media Coverage	Using local Radio station to create awareness, photographer/videographer to document the event	40,000
Miscellaneous	Contingency for unexpected expenses	15,000