Re: [Wikimedia-GH] Fwd: Requesting Feedback from African Wikimedians

In the last couple of years, we have seen increased momentum in grantmaking in African Wikimedian communities. This is so exciting! As project and programmatic activity in Africa increases, WMF staff are reflecting on how we can better understand your communities’ needs and support your work. We are starting to brainstorm about this, and we would love for you to join us. Here are some of the initial questions we have: - What are the unique opportunities and constraints in your contexts? - WMF grantmaking staff are largely based in the United States. Some of you have commented on how this limits our capacity to understand the African context. Do you have ideas about how staff can continuously build better understanding of your communities? - Are there specific experiences or stories you are willing to share about what is or is not working for you in the WMF grantmaking programs? - If limited access to the internet restricts your opportunities to participate in Wikimedia grant programs, do you have ideas about how our processes might better serve you? - Are there specific components of our processes or forms with which you would like more support? (i.e. problem definition, metrics, budget, talkpage engagement, etc). - What other questions should we be asking? - What questions do you have for us? Please send us your feedback to these questions or in general by *January 23rd*. We will organize your initial responses and circle back with you in the next few weeks. We’re looking forward to building a stronger partnership with you in 2018! We’re sending this email initially to the African Wikimedians we’ve worked with closely and have included a list of people we’ve emailed it to below. If you could please forward it to others you think could add to our conversation feel free to include them. This is a first pass to think about this and we’ll be offering additional opportunities for you and more members of your communities to provide input. Best regards, Woubzena Jifar, Program Officer, Rapid Grants Marti Johnson, Program Officer, Individual Grants Alexandra Wang, Program Officer, Community Resources Bcc: Ahmed Hamdi Mohi; Ahmed Houmel; Alangi Derick; Anass Sedrati; Blossom Ozurumba; Bobby Shabangu; Bright Ayisi; Bukulu Steven; Douglas Scott; Emna Mizouni; Felix Nartey; Florence Devouard; Georges Fodouop; Habib M'henni; Isla Haddow; Justice Okai-Allotey; Kangah Donatien; Kayode Yusuf; May Hashem; Mohamed Mustafa Ouda; Mohammed Bachounda; Mompati Dikunwane; Nkansah Rexford; Olushola Olaniyan; Raphael Berchie; Reem Al'Kashif; Sam Oyeyele; Samuel Guebo; Sandister Tei; Walaa Manaem; and Yame Bousrih