Wikimedia Europe/Strategy renewal 2025

Introduction

Wikimedia Europe has been following the strategic direction outline of the EU policy and advocacy work carried out in and from Brussels, since its founding in 2022.

At the General Assembly 2025 strategy workshop in Prague, members came together to reflect on values, explore priorities, and offer input into the direction of our 2030 strategy. Participants emphasized the need for clearer focus, more proactive engagement, and coordination across policy, capacity building, and fundraising. The workshop was the first step in the process of Wikimedia Europe’s strategy renewal.

Based on contributions from members, staff and WMEU board, three strategy drafts will be developed and later consolidated:

on public policy
on capacity building
on fundraising

A small working group will support the process, with regular updates, opportunities for feedback, and targeted support to ensure all members, including smaller organizations, can stay engaged. The final strategy will be shaped through continued consultation and shared learning, with both results and process fully communicated to the movement.

The strategy renewal process is facilitated by Alek Tarkowski (WMEU Board Secretary) and Anna Mazgal (WMEU Executive Director). WMEU Strategy Working Group is led by Alek Tarkowski (WMEU Board Secretary). This page is dedicated to documenting the process, its milestones and deliverables.

Progress and Milestones

April 2025, General Assembly in Prague

WMEU members came together to reflect on values, explore priorities, and offer input into the direction of our 2030 strategy. You can read the full summary of the session here. Individuals interested in participating in the Strategy Working Group were invited to add their names to the contact list.

May 2025, asynchronous work

Team and board members continued the structuring and analysis of input contributed by members at the GA. The strategy renewal process design was further discussed. New board members were onboarded to be able to participate fully in the process. An internal review of the strategic direction outline was conducted.

June 2025, Strategy retreat in Zeeland

Board members and staff gathered to launch in-depth reflection on fundamentals for Wikimedia Europe strategy. Highlights from the workshops:

Key strategic questions were proposed and gathered, to support reflection on the role of Wikimedia Europe in the movement and ecosystem
The first draft of the Theory of Change document was created
Mapping of stakeholders was initiated

July - September 2025, asynchronous work

Further work on the draft Theory of Change was carried out, as well as work on mapping of stakeholders, and responsibilities chart for the process. WMEU Strategy Working Group (WG STRAT) was initiated and the baseline for its work was defined, to be confirmed at the working group’s official launch on 30th September. First newsletter outlining progress on the work is to be sent to the WMEU Updates mailing list.

October 2025, Big Fat Brussels Meeting

Feedback, questions and suggestions will be gathered from participants of the event. A second strategic workshop for the board members and selected staff members is scheduled.

November 2025, General Assembly Online

Fundraising and supporting the capacity of members insights were defined in briefs to inform strategy renewal. This included draft Collaborative Community Development Brief and draft Fundraising and Resource Development Framework. Progress of the work on strategy renewal was presented at the General Assembly online.

Getting engaged

All representatives and staff members of member organisations are welcome to provide feedback, ideas and questions to draft documents created as part of the process.

Invitations to provide feedback (including the draft documents as well as feedback forms/documents) will be shared gradually as the progress is made, via WMEU Updates mailing list (WMEU Strategy: Mission Log newsletter messages).
Direct feedback and questions can also be shared via email with Alek Tarkowski (WMEU Board Secretary) or Van Anh Dam (network specialist).
As of September 2025, we are looking for two more participants to join the Strategy Working Group, whose goal is to provide first feedback to draft documents as well as support members’ input and feedback inclusion in the process.

WMEU Strategy Working Group (WG STRAT)

The current list of individuals interested in participating is available here. Confirmed list of WG STRAT participants will be updated after 30th September 2025. Progress of the group’s work and updates will be shared on this site and via WMEU Updates mailing list (WMEU Strategy: Mission Log newsletter messages)

WG Baseline

Baseline for WG STRAT's work had been drafted and is to be confirmed during WG's launch meeting on 30th September. Key element include the below details.

Tasks for WG

Consulting, in key moments of WMEU strategy renewal process
Feedback / consult draft documents created by WMEU board and team, before sharing them with wider community of Members
Support in managing feedback from Members

Purpose of the Working Group

The WG supports the renewal of the network’s strategy by serving as the first point of engagement between the drafting team and the wider membership.
It ensures that members’ perspectives are heard, feedback is integrated thoughtfully, and the process remains transparent and legitimate.
The drafting team is coordinated by the Secretary of the Board and supported by the ED.

The WG will act as a structured sounding board and channel for member input.

Main Responsibilities

Supporting via insights and feedback

Review milestone drafts (Theory of Change, draft strategy sections, etc.).
Engage in milestone discussions
Provide feedback to highlight blind spots, missing perspectives, or risks.

Supporting in network engagement

Support the drafting team with engaging the wider network in feedback
Collect and triage comments from the wider network (via meta, newsletters, and ad-hoc consultations).
Communicate back to peers in their organisations/networks (“where we are now” and how input is used).

Optional (for members with more capacity):

Act as “section sponsors” contributing to the development of a specific area (e.g. Public Policy, Capacity Building).