User:ASedrati (WMF)/Monthly Reports/August-September/EN

All feedback is originating from 1:1 interviews

Advocacy

• WMF should add more visibility to the encyclopedia so that it attract diverse contributors
• For example add a link “learn more” about wikipedia directly from Google as Google are partners of the WMF.

Transparency recommendation:

When giving the community the right to decide the rules of contribution, there are points to consider:

1. The amount of experience and knowledge of the person and the movement of Wikimania and strategies
2. The suitability of these rules for time and space
3. Who do we mean by society? Are they old, new, or organization users?
4. Are the rules fixed or subject to change periodically? (Preferably changeable)

Single/Fixed entry points

• If a volunteer or participant wishes to initiate and advocate activities related to Wikimedia, he or she needs information and steps for a mechanism to do similar activities that he or she can rely on, such as a case study, without resorting to eliminating the idea solely from the difficulty of implementing in his or her community.
• The processes needed for decision-making will not be known and understood unless they are published, discussed, shared with the community, and most importantly be doable.

Mechanism of selection of the advocates according to my interviewee

• The Advocate shall be experienced and knowledgeable in the concerned community, known to all, and to undergo several tests to ensure his/her interest and the seriousness of the work to perform. It is good if it is an active and experienced user, flexible, withstanding the pressure and works for the benefit of the community. It is not necessarily to appear in the media or campaigns as they are not always permanent, but he/she shall be in direct contact with the movement and be known for their achievements and activity in order to deserve this work, with preferably a period of testing
• It would be good if the advocate is chosen by the community through elections or following a clear process, thus avoiding the case where community members feel that the advocate does not represent them or not as close to their opinions and plans as they wish.
• In addition to that, there should be a clear work to restructure how the community contributes to decision-making, including the necessary awareness and the adoption of neutrality as well as ensuring long-term decisions that are in line with the desire of the majority.

Diversity Recommendation

• The idea of ​​diversity as a whole needs additional thought in terms of respecting the cultures and habits of affiliated users.It is not easy to be brought together in one environment that will be different for all of them and may suit some but not others.
• Platforms fitting different cultures should be created in order to suit, and most importantly to fit with the desires of the respective communities. Communities shall feel that they are supported and that their voice is heard and not just ink on paper. When a user or any volunteer is sure that their requests or ideas will be taken into consideration, it is easier for him/her to communicate his/her ideas to newcomers, which will receive the same attention. This will bring in more active volunteers and support for the movement.

Global Conversations Recommendation

• One of the most important means of development and progress is the exchange of experiences and ideas as much as possible, through a work of correspondence. This work does not necessarily have to be weekly, but shall have a specific frequency that suits everyone according to their agreement, so that everyone is fully familiar with the proceedings, ideally using social media
• No matter how long the discussions will be, they will never be enough to discuss all the points intended. One idea is to have an annual meeting/conference to gather advocates from all communities.
• Each community needs one or two people to facilitate the support of some advocacy activities that need to be arranged months before their implementation, taking into account the environment to which this type of activity is targeted, which individuals, etc.

Knowledge Management

It is good to have a summary or place where successful and failed experiments are kept, to be used as much as possible by the advocates, which leads them to think differently than before, and to avoid previous mistakes and failures as much as possible. In addition, this information should be displayed in simple and accessible ways for everyone, so that they can change or correct them In proportion to their own experiences. This contributes to increase knowledge, exchange of views for the benefit of future users and advocates.

Advocacy Hub

The existence of a unified advocacy hub where supporters of the movement meet, to exchange ideas and experiences is essential and very useful on many levels. Each advocate can share problems and mistakes faced by their community with the hub, which will somehow transfer them to the broad movement, provided that its working structure is clear and is for the benefit of communities and advocates, and in a supportive manner to the local community.

Common Positioning

• This document can play the role of a founding book for the movement, i.e., a more ad hoc knowledge board, and more widely known to different individuals. When a person is fully familiar with the fundamentals of the movement, it will be easier for them to adhere to what is appropriate and to initiate activities appropriate to them according to the space available. Movement and society are two sides that are influenced by the same factors and both depend on each other.
• The document should be as clear and understandable as possible and subject to adjustment and updates when needed.

Capacity Building

Building Capacity for Capacity Building

It is good to highlight the aspects of capacity building of individuals which suit their context. This contributes to creativity and to the development of a final product. Each user with a specific ability can transfer it to others through the preferred methods of qualification and training- Moreover,to being an important aspect contributes to The movement offers improved capacity to shareholders, both Wikimedia and new contributors.

Matching human assets and online knowledge resources

• To emphasize the desire for homogeneity that could be feasible, a comparison can be made between two sides: the first is homogeneous while the other is heterogeneous, then the results can be monitored before adopting adopting the side that will be in the interest of movement and the convenience of users.
• People are constantly changing, those always used to the same people, knowledge and means, will not have efficient results in their work.
• Qualifications and capacities need to be harmonized with specific specifications and not based on age. In terms of knowledge resources, the total internal resources mobilized by the movement and coordinated with external resources is an effective resource package to address the situation and develop the competencies of users.

Capacity Building should occur in context

In-person conferences contribute a lot to capacity building,particularly by integrating and mixing of different aspects of knowledge and interests, on the condition that the training and qualifications are appropriate for each individual context. Give time and effort to translate or transmit the ideas in ways which suit cultural and linguistic differences, also do not only solely rely on theory, but employ rather the practical aspect to apply trainings to reach the desired results.

Provide Capacity Building for Organizational Development

• Individual and collective activities contribute to the development and advancement of organizations, and then to a strong network of institutions supported by various resources and methods. The latter becomes a basic pillar on which the movement can rely to work and identify what can be developed, changed or applied in different ways.
• A good idea is that these institutions collaborate with their local communities and share their needs with the movement, including activities from the individual,the local community until the group of institutions and the larger global movement.

Resources for Capacity Building

Funding and its sources are one of the most important prerequisites for the implementation of all activities in any community. There should be consistent support for diverse activities without singling out a specific area. Funds can come from multiple partnerships or individuals or groups or Institutions that support volunteer activities and projects.

Evaluating Capacity Building

There should be an integral evaluation system, taking into account a set of points agreed upon by a committee or group of individuals having different interests and participating in different actions in the movement. The system shall be in line with future plans to ensure their sustainability as long as possible. This evaluation system should measure the failure or success of the projects, as well as it follows up the news and developements.

Online Training

Internet is the primary platform connecting all our contributors and participants worldwide. It shall be used more to connect members to discuss a particular activity, have online workshops, or video calls, to ensure a diverse participation.

Mentoring and Leadership development

There shall be a mentoring program which includes a conceptual plan that facilitates processes. This plan should enable the selection of the right leaders with the right skills in the right place. Qualifications should be the main determinant of this choice.

Recognizing and supporting Individuals

• There are many individuals who give great efforts in Wikimedia projects, but in return, do not get the recognition they deserve, compared to others who may be less involved but are more supported
• There should be more fairness towards contributors, especially newcomers, and especially in the financial aspect. For new volunteers coming from emerging communities, receiving more support will enable them to increase their activity in the movement. Not all support shall be material, it can also be training activities or through collaborations with other (more experienced) members.

Independently Governed Capacity Building Unit

The interviewee emphasizes this recommendation with a structure overseeing capacity-building activities throughout the Movement. Not only to oversee the implementation of the recommendations is needed, but also to pave the way for and advise on new capacity-building tools and technologies and to monitor the extent to which capacity-building programs contribute to changing the movement towards strategic direction, while updating this structure to meet the desired objectives.

Community Health

A joint set of rules we all agree to live by (a.k.a. Code of Conduct)

• A good behavioral environment that guarantees freedom of expression without repression is particularly important for new members who cannot stand an improper approach to keep them away from contributing and makes them leave the movement.
• When a set of rules are compulsory for all, this will facilitate the process of achieving an effective debating and expression environment. People tend to love and appreciate working more when they feel that they are defended (by these rules in this case).
• One of the things that the experienced contributors use are going to solve problems is to direct users with objections and complaints to the so-called village pump, where they can share their opinions smoothly, logically and impartially. Such a place ensuring users’ right is important.

Building the leadership of the future

• To support investment in community building, we need equitable education resources that are equitably distributed in all environments and communities, as well as the necessary guidance.
• It is very important that the experienced members have a good behavior toward the new ones if they want them to remain in the movement. Some new members, if receiving a good treatment, will be leading other members in the future. This is why we have to make sure that the continuity of this process will be positive.
• The idea is as follows: "If a good and clear idea about Wikipedia / Wikimedia is developed in the minds of new members, then they will in their turn transfer it to others in the future." Suppress criticism that may contribute to progress and development no matter what. The goal is to gain new recruits and train them to become the leaders of tomorrow, as well as to encourage them to contribute both on the individual and community level. It is also important to suppress constructive criticism as it may contribute to progress and development.

Privacy and security for everyone

• It is important to attach great importance for privacy and safety so that users are not endangered when participating in displaying community activities of the movement will be an obstacle in the future to continue such activities.
• In many countries where governments monitor everything in Internet, and do not allow basic freedoms, it is important to engage a political discussion because it is the only way to solve the situation (may involve Advocacy WG as well).

Support community health with a central structure

• Community health is affected by support, especially if directed to individuals and communities
• It is essential to have a centralized structure to support individuals, monitoring, decision-making, reviewing, adopting and transferring it to the public, and applying it to a group of individuals to ensure its long-term feasibility, as well as new and technological technologies that can support individuals with disabilities, but have a passion and passion to participate and join.

Diversity

• WMF should add more visibility to the encyclopedia so that it attract diverse contributors
• For example add a link “learn more” about wikipedia directly from Google as Google are partners of the WMF.

Agree on a common code of conduct

• It is important to agree on the existence of a document or contract that determines the conduct of users. Everyone should then commit to it. It is one of the easiest ways to ensure a calm environment for discussion and exchange of views, thus ensuring the right of everyone to be involved in activities.
• It is not fair to exclude groups from the movement just because they have violated the Code of Conduct once or twice. More chances should be given, but with clear metrics and conditions.
• There are some groups that apply very strictly and rigidly the rules and policies. They should be trained about how to be more flexible, indulgent and understanding (involves Community Health as well).

Guidelines and metrics for measuring content diversity

It is good for communities and contributors to have a diversity of content that helps to guide views and opinions to be representative, or even debatable, because they help to appreciate and give right to areas that may be marginalized and not really cared for by all.

Digitize and prioritize resources for marginalized groups - Privacy and security for all

• Resources for increasing diversity and investing funds for it shall be prioritized. All versions of the encyclopedia shall be made more accessible to readers and editors
• Digitization initiatives and campaigns contribute to supporting and identifying marginalized groups, enhancing thus their participation in the movement.

Quotas in affiliates

Users do not agree on these percentages. It would be better to have 45% females, 45% males and 10% for people with special needs and others. For the amendment of the grant agreement, it will certainly be submitted by those who agree to its terms, but we have to make sure that the change shall be in the interest of all.

Identify barriers for Wikipedia editing - Social diversity

• Obstacles can be identified more clearly and comprehensively, by conducting surveys and questionnaires in specific geographical locations, determining their types and whether it is an economic, social, etc. policy that prevents participation in Wikimedia.
• Identifying barriers contributes to the creation of specific regulations or mechanisms to tackle them in a second phase.

Apply parameterized user pages to measure and encourage community diversity

• It is good to suggest adding specific technologies to users' pages so that they can get to know each other based on diversity and interests. They can even organize joint activities if they are from the same community or location.
• Organizing projects with the same purpose and interests facilitate the process of diversity and community renewal, making Wikimedia “a base for diversity”.

Introduction of Ombudsman role

• The ombudsman is a good idea. It contributes to simplify communication between the community and the Foundation. It will also improve community health.
• The person chosen for this role shall be be reliable, flexible and a clear voice for the community away from personal interests.

Creation of Oral Wikipedia

• The idea of wiki oral is extraordinary from several perspectives:
• Many people do not have time to fully read articles. Having them oral will shorten the time to hear the article (and do something in parallel). It will also increase the chances to bring more editors who will participate and correct when they are free.
• The possibility of providing content in more dialects, which contributes to empowering diversity of the movement.
• Helping people who cannot contribute in writing by providing them an opportunity to hear articles, and to edit them by speaking.

Use inclusive language in the bylaws, policies and communications of users and affiliates

• The use of inclusive language in all bylaws, guidelines and policies promotes diversity and participation of all voices, thereby strengthens the movement and the knowledge infrastructure, while moving them away from prejudices and stereotypes that are unfit for Wikimedia project structures.
• Bylaws and policies must be comprehensive, supportive and do not conflict with each other.