View source for Grants:APG/FDC recommendations/2013-2014 round 2

=== Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) === <!--T:13-->

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:'''Amount requested: <tvar|money1>₹18,406,454 ($297,831)</>'''
:'''Amount allocated: <tvar|money2>₹12,000,000 ($194,000)</>'''
:''Amount granted in 2013: <tvar|money3>₹15,000,000 ($242,250)</>''

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The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) proposal sparked a significant debate among the members of the FDC. The FDC recognizes that the history of Wikimedia activities and representation in India has generated a particularly difficult and complicated situation for the Wikimedia movement in India. CIS’s Access to Knowledge (A2K) programme has come out of a contentious history of WMF’s intervention in India, and is perceived negatively by part of the community. The FDC recommends that CIS’s proposal should be funded at a reduced level, 20% less than the grant it has received in the previous two years.

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CIS is an effective organization and has a capacity for impact. It has a consistent track record in internet advocacy, research and national policy shaping. It also has experience in content acquisition. Overall, CIS clearly has the ability to execute strategies, to “get things done”, and to offer meaningful measures and impact reports. CIS shows professionalism, and it sets high standards for transparency. CIS is able to adapt and strategically assess needs, as demonstrated by the individualised language plans that they have created. CIS was able to present a coherent proposal that would lead to impact on Wikimedia movement goals.

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The FDC is concerned with the fact that there seems to be no clear strategy for handing over programs to local language communities to ensure sustainable growth. While recognizing the strengths of CIS (such as the already mentioned abilities in policy, advocacy, research, et al.), the FDC feels that program strategies and long-term impact do not necessarily leverage these strengths. The FDC also has concerns about the effectiveness and sustainability of its language strategies. The quality of the content created through workshops is difficult to assess, and has at times been identified by the community and CIS itself as questionable. However, the FDC is happy to see experimentation taking place. The FDC hopes that lessons learnt are documented, analyzed and shared transparently with the community. The FDC is also not convinced that more funding would result in more impact. The complex and rather ambitious plan offered by CIS would be a challenge for any organization to execute.

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Additionally, the FDC is concerned that there is a risk that staff-managed (and led) program work will result in less activity from volunteers. Despite over a year of Wikimedia-related programs, CIS’s community-focused work is not as integrated as it should be and this may negatively affect the sustainable growth of local and small communities. Furthermore, CIS’s potential for impact and its ability to engage volunteers may be limited by the sometimes challenging working environment in India’s Wikimedia movement, and the contentious history of WMF’s initiatives in India. The amount requested is significant in CIS’s local context, and CIS has not made a very strong argument for the proposed growth. CIS’s programs, while effective, may not be scalable or engaging more volunteers and the costs of the programs may be historically inflated. This may reduce the natural engagement, enthusiasm and motivations of volunteers.

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The FDC encourages the WMF board and the Indian communities, as well as the CIS and WMIN, to take a step back, reflect on the situation in the organization, and jointly think about the next steps for the region. The FDC debated the application for a long time and some members considered many options, including a fresh start, as well as bridge funding until the next round so that both CIS and WMIN proposals could be jointly considered. In the diversity of opinions, a prevailing one was that the previous year’s funding level was too high in this context, and without demonstrated corresponding impact from the current programs.

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The FDC discussed possible scenarios at length, and ideas were aired by different members that gathered various degrees of agreement within the FDC. We would like to share these with CIS and the community at large. These included suggestions that CIS:

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* Shift program focus around Wikimedia work to capitalize on CIS’s existing strengths (policy, advocacy, content acquisition);
* Focus on creating an enabling environment in India and fostering the volunteer movement rather than doing the work directly itself;
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* Focus on the language communities it is currently working with in order to have a better long-term assessment, rather than expanding to cover more language communities;
* Diversify the approach of its experimentation, taking into account the natural growth of projects and communities;
* Work with Wikimedia communities to rethink things in India in general and have more strategic viewpoints.

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In the discussion around the future strategy of the Wikimedia movement in the region, some members suggested more close cooperation between CIS and WMIN, or the possibility of a complete restart for both WMIN and CIS. Other members of the committee felt that rethinking the entire strategy could include the possibility that CIS not be given funding at all, with a corresponding disbanding of the local chapter (WMIN). Another member proposed a change in the direction of activities taken by CIS with a reduced amount of funding and allowing CIS to focus only on content acquisition, policy advocacy, and other high-level work that could create a favorable Wikimedia environment in India.

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One FDC member had serious disagreements with the allocation amount.

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The FDC does not want to see the status quo in India continue: a rethinking of the approach is needed. We would like to see a significant reflection on the existing programs take place before they are expanded.