Global Resource Distribution Committee/Creation of the interim GRDC/Candidates/Joy Agyepong
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Joy Agyepong (Joy Agyepong)
[edit]| Preferred name | Joy Agyepong | |
|---|---|---|
| Language capabilities (native or professional / advanced / basic) | en-N, tw- N | |
| Region and country you identify with | Sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana) - CE (Czechia) | |
| Interim GRDC seats you are running for and why (regional volunteer/thematic volunteer) | Regional volunteer;Sub-Saharan Africa although I'm open to any available seat, I am opting for the Sub-Saharan Africa region because I am familiar with the region since most of the projects I coordinate efforts on as well as grants I manage fall within this region. I also served as the regional grants committee member for the same region during its inception in 2021. I believe my expertise will be helpful in this regard. | |
| Do you have any topic or area of specialization within the Wikimedia movement? (max 1000 characters) | Over the past 9 years, I’ve held various roles within the Wikimedia movement, allowing me to gain leadership experience and contribute across multiple areas. Although it's hard to pinpoint a specific specialisation due to my multiple faceted areas of interest, I can highlight my active involvement with content creation, community-building, and outreach, working to ensure the growth and inclusivity of Wikimedia projects.
My leadership roles have allowed me to collaborate with diverse teams such as the SSA Regional Support Funds Committee and AFFCOM in the past. I am a Co- Lead for Wiki Hour Initiative in Ghana, thus an ad-hoc community passionate about advocating for the expansion of free knowledge and fostering diverse contributions for young girls in rural communities, universities as well as inclusion projects to bridge the knowledge for hearing- impaired persons.I also contribute as a Project Administrator on GLAM related and Wiki Loves Projects via Wiki Loves Folklore under the Wikimedia CH partnership. Although I don’t have one specialized interest, I’m happy to consistently collaborate and lead efforts with various global communities where projects are birthed and volunteers are groomed to become leaders. | |
| Have you ever held any role or position, either current or past, in the Wikimedia movement? (max 1000 characters) | Yes I have, my active/volunteer roles both current and in the past as highlighted below:
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| Why are you interested in the interim GRDC and what can you contribute? (max 1000 characters) | I am interested in joining the Interim GRDC due to my strong background in grants management and my commitment to supporting impactful resource distribution within other nonprofit groups and communities I work with. Having previously been part of the regional funds committee and serving on the affiliation committee, I possess a solid understanding of the intricacies involved in grant allocation and the importance of equitable, strategic distribution during my term with the SSA Regional Funds Committee.
The GRDCs strategic goal is a perfect approach to support diverse affiliates, chapters and community at large. My volunteer role with Affcom, specifically the (Recognition Sub Committee) and a country advocate for Wikimedia Strategy 2030 offered me the opportunity to provide sustainable remedies, support and financial management initiatives to strengthen the grants distribution body of Wikimedia Foundation and communities in general. I am also confident that my experience in managing resources, finding remedies on tough financial challenges, working with diverse stakeholders, and leveraging financial and strategic insights will allow me to contribute significantly to the GRDC’s mission and ensure that grants are distributed efficiently and effectively. | |
| Please share any volunteering or professional experience relevant for the interim GRDC (role, organization, years) (max 1000 characters) | One of the major volunteering experiences which plays a role in my interest to join the interim GRDC and has taught me pathways with deep rooted engagement related to grants is the privilege of being one of the first members for the Regional Support Funds Committee and Affcom. There is an aspect of connection in ensuring user groups receiving funding are at par and compliant with the norms and values of the Wikimedia Foundations resource distribution policy.
These roles were quite complex and highly diverse. It required hefty workload and a swift brainstorming approach to innovate, build capacity and provide constructive feedback which were very salient in setting strategies and mapping solutions for a sustainable movement. Even though it didn’t fully eradicate existing challenges. I have executed some project management and resource analysis tasks during my tenure as a Core Organizing Team member for WikiWomenCamp 2023 and the Scholarship lead. Beyond the Wikimedia Ecosphere, I hold an Ing. Economics and Management with vast Administrative skills where I implemented the use of data analysis, project management & administration within three (3) other nonprofits since 2014. | |
| Describe your skills and experience relevant to the interim GRDC (max 1500 characters) | As previously highlighted, I have a high level of experience which cuts across adequate grants distribution, capacity building, strategy setting and in-depth analysis of groups, individuals and allied organizations when it comes while working on the Regional Support Funds Committee a few years back. I also bring on board skills from a certified Wikimedia Education Project Management an Partnership course i was awarded by WMF (2019 & 2021 pilot year group respectively).
Additionally, serving on Affcom exposed me to many dynamics and research processes when it comes to decision making and ensuring affiliates conduct in establishing a healthy community and good governance through fair, transparent and resource accountability. Extensively, I have offered volunteer support to new communities and individuals to address the scope of their project, weighing impact versus growth and expansion as well as budget modalities which are in line with the overall objectives of the group’s project. I also have engaged partners and been an instrumental risk assessment specialist supporting communities and projects who have had some financial burdens or challenges when it comes to effectively managing resources allocated to them from the foundation. Through these, I will leverage my experience with building structures to monitor the inflow and outflow of funds, setting measures to prevent misappropriation of resources and ensure effective accountability. | |
| Describe your understanding of the Wikimedia Movement's current resource distribution process. (max 1500 characters) | The Movements resource distribution process emanates from adequate distribution of funds to help the foundation as a whole, its allied groups, organizations such as user groups, chapters and hubs as well as individuals who share in the goals and objectives of the movement.
The GRDC will provide recommendations to the Wikimedia Foundation for funding regional and thematic activities and initiatives in support of the mission of the Wikimedia movement thus by laying down procedures and innovative strategy to make the distribution of resources to affiliates, Hubs, groups and individuals seamless with accountability as a hallmark. The process also factors conscious efforts to support activities and meetups such as conferences and meetings for the purpose of learning, collaboration and idea development which are relevant in achieving the common goal of the global community. Also to note, communities are evolving and individuals/Groups and allies are being more creative with brilliant projects by the day. That being said, the resource distribution will become of high importance as it is already, so i believe this committee will be useful in ensuring that the already laid down structures are improved and distribution is done in a simple but fair and accurate way. | |
| How do you think the GRDC could improve the current situation and which priorities do you think it should have? (max 1500 characters) | The GDRC I believe seeks to play a significant role to provide operational needs and resources to refine, modify and offer satisfying distribution of resources across the movement. It will also serve as a body which does not necessarily replace the important efforts and deep review of the current Regional Funds Committee but rather help to build relevant strategies to offset the load by the team with policies, direction, recommendations, frameworks and a sustainable approach to grant management process across the movement.
What comes to mind when I think of priority while referring to past knowledge are listed below; 1. Refine: mode of communication, stakeholder engagements, community engagement and reporting. This offers a clear connection and strengthens engagement throughout the process or stages of funds distribution. It also paves way for grantee relationships and improved support. 2. Modify - Establish an approach which integrates a fair decision-making model and mapping solutions by holding forums and virtual office hours to interact with current and incoming grantees and either bi weekly or monthly when necessary. This will help address any challenges grantees may encounter or give room to accept their feedback to ensure seamless solutions. 3. Satisfactory/ Fair distribution - this has been a beckon of interest and importance for most groups and even for the WMF as a whole. I believe when the grassroots of challenges are identified for example reviewing the relevance of a project, defining its scope, region, type of fund required, avoiding duplication of projects by introducing collaborative efforts or realignment, hubs needs and assessment amongst many others will provide a clear path for adequate distribution. I believe the GRDC can work hand in hand with both WMF and RFC to establish this. | |
| By the end of the pilot in two years, what should the GRDC have accomplished and how should we measure its success? (max 1500 characters) | In connection with the Wikimedia Strategy 2030 recommendations, the Movement is composed of communities, individuals, and organizations from all over the world. As such, there is a need to instill measures to weigh resource capacities, provide solutions and nurture good governance so far as resource distribution is concerned over the next two (2) years with this pilot stage of the committee.
Also, growth is inevitable thus; affiliates keep growing in size and purpose while allies and individuals continue to create innovative projects, it will be important to ensure open knowledge and resources are extended to everyone. At the end of the pilot, success can be measured in my opinions per as follows:
Although the future is unknown, it will be essential to make these efforts to maximise impact through the GRDC so far as funds resource management is concerned. | |