Movement Charter/Supplementary Document/Implementation of the Movement Charter

These supplementary documents are provided by the Movement Charter Drafting Committee for information purposes, and to provide further context on the Wikimedia Movement Charter’s content. They are not part of the Charter, and therefore are not included in the ratification vote, but they have been developed during the course of the MCDC’s research and consultation process. They include several types of documents:

Information on topics related to the Charter.
Suggestions for policy or process development or consideration by the Global Council after the Charter is ratified.
Processes related to the Charter ratification vote.

Alongside the publication of the final Movement Charter version on June 10, 2024, these supplementary documents were updated on June 18, 2024.

Per Article 9 of their 2021 Principles, the MCDC will stay active through the transition phase to the next identified governance structure. The intention is to keep the process for implementation as simple as possible, as not to stall.

MCDC and Wikimedia Foundation handovers

The MCDC takes the lead in setting up the selection/election process of the first Global Council (GC), within six months after the ratification date of the Wikimedia Movement Charter.
The MCDC will set up a team for the GC implementation, drawing from its own members and expanded again with representatives from regions as ESEAP and Latin-America, that were not represented anymore in the last MCDC membership before ratification.
The MCDC takes part in the handover of the design process documents, to ensure a full onboarding to the backgrounds of the Wikimedia Movement Charter of the first appointed members of the GC.
The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees takes lead in the handover and onboarding of the new GC members with respect to the responsibilities assigned to the body in this Charter, to ensure they are confident in their new roles.
The Wikimedia Foundation Legal department prepares and leads the procedures necessary for the transfer of roles and responsibilities to new bodies.
The Wikimedia Foundation will create a transition plan with respect to the currently existing committees that are connected to the functions that will be transferred to GC.

Technical needs

The Wikimedia Foundation support staff creates the technical infrastructure for the new GC, including the creation of the internal mailing list, the email address for external communications, and a closed online working environment.

Financial needs

Wikimedia Foundation Finance and Administration department will actively support from their field of expertise in the preparations leading up to the GC set-up.

Staffing needs

MCDC advises that Wikimedia Foundation support staff members who have previously supported the MCDC in their process be moved to GC support staff member roles, because of their extensive knowledge of previous stages of Movement Strategy as well as the rationale behind the strategic recommendations and this Charter.
WMF will create and carry out the communications plan for all GC related communications.
WMF will design a facilitation plan for the GC, ahead of their first GC convening.
In line with this facilitation plan, WMF GC staff will organize GC’s first convening.

Global Council onboarding needs

Global Council Assembly onboarding courses, to include: support in decision-making, voicing one’s opinion, taking space, making space, and communications.
WMF is to design and carry out this plan together with the affiliates that have (extended) experience in capacity-building in the movement.

Global Council products in the first term (3 years)

GC reviews and agrees on the GC Ways of Working for its first iteration
GC selects the GC Board
GC (s)elects the members for the GC committees
GC reviews and prioritizes the creation of following documents during its first three years of operation.
- Creates its Rules of Procedure, as a follow up to the GC Ways of Working, which is sunsetted after a maximum of 3 years.
- Drafts the initial strategic plan
- Creates a pathway for the recognition of hubs
- Designs global policy about the Wikimedia Movement’s budget-allocation (currently and commonly known as ‘Wikimedia Foundation funds’)
- Designs a global policy around grant distribution
- Designs a global policy about fundraising coordination
- Designs a global policy around Conflict of Interest
- Creates the Independent Dispute Resolution mechanism, in collaboration with WMF through a Steering Committee
- Designs a global policy around dispute resolution and/or the Independent Dispute Resolution mechanism