Global Resource Distribution Committee/Creation of the interim GRDC/Candidates/Tulsi
To leave feedback about this candidate, please use the talk page. |
| Preferred name | Tulsi Bhagat | |
|---|---|---|
| Language capabilities (native or professional / advanced / basic) | mai-N, ne-N, en-3, hi-2, hif-2, bh-1 | |
| Region and country you identify with | South Asia, Nepal | |
| Interim GRDC seats you are running for and why (regional volunteer/thematic volunteer) | I prefer to be a ‘regional volunteer’ because this is what I feel I would perform well being in that role if I am given the chance to enact. I bring both technical and administrative expertise while having a deep understanding of regional aspects of South Asia Communities. | |
| Do you have any topic or area of specialization within the Wikimedia movement? (max 1000 characters) | Yes, I have a few. My specializations are in community engagement, movement communications, grants-making, project management and advocacy within the Wikimedia movement. Being one of the Co-founder of Maithili Wikimedians, I overseas grants writing and reporting through open community calls & discussions, technical workflows, and content moderation. My expertise extend to events organizing, having led initiatives like Wiki Loves Folklore, Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos & Wiki Awareness Campaign in Nepal. As a Wikimedia Foundation's grantee, I have executed high-impact projects with rapid grants, increasing Wikipedia traffic by 28% in Nepal. My skills are working in a diverse team, programs designing, technical as in mass messaging, mailing lists, telegram groups, blogs on Wikimedia Diff and social media engagement further strengthen my ability to foster effective communication between various global community. | |
| Have you ever held any role or position, either current or past, in the Wikimedia movement? (max 1000 characters) | Yes, I have held some roles & position in the Wikimedia movement. Below are the details:
| |
| Why are you interested in the interim GRDC and what can you contribute? (max 1000 characters) | I am interested in the interim Global Resource Distribution Committee (GRDC) because it aligns with my commitment to equitable resource allocation and community-driven decision-making in the Wikimedia movement. With over eight years of experience as an administrator, WMF's grantee, and campaign organizer, I have a deep understanding of the funding needs and challenges faced by diverse Wikimedia communities. My work on initiatives like Wikicamp Nepal 2018, WPWP Campaign, and Wiki Awareness Campaign in Nepal has given me firsthand experience in managing grants, ensuring impact-driven resource distribution, and fostering regional representation. As a member of MoveCom and ComCom, I can help bridge communication gaps between underrepresented communities and the Foundation, ensuring transparent and inclusive grantmaking. My expertise in project management, multilingual engagement, and financial oversight would enable me to contribute effectively to the GRDC’s mission. | |
| Please share any volunteering or professional experience relevant for the interim GRDC (role, organization, years) (max 1000 characters) | Born in 1999, I am one of the youngest and prominent member of Maithili Wikimedians. I helped launch the Maithili language Wikipedia in 2014 and was entitled to be the “Co-founder of Maithili language Wikipedia”. I am one of key organizing member of Wikicamp Nepal 2018 where I have played the vital role of program coordinator, facilitating 9 emerging communities of Nepal. I had initiated Wiki Awareness Campaign in Nepal, The Billboards Initiative in which Wikipedia traffic hiked up by 28% within the region. Piloted the Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos Campaign globally as a Communication Manager which impacted 272 languages Wikipedia, over 90,000 articles were improved with photos. Again, part of global Wiki Loves Folklore Campaign as a key organizing member which resulted in the upload of over 20,000 files on Wikimedia Commons. I have been to Wikimania Singapore 2023. These roles equip me to contribute effectively to the GRDC’s governance and resource distribution efforts. | |
| Describe your skills and experience relevant to the interim GRDC (max 1500 characters) | I bring a strong background in grant management, community engagement, multilingual communication, and governance, making me well-suited for the interim GRDC. As a Wikimedia Foundation grantee since 2018, I have successfully led six high-impact projects, including Wiki Loves Folklore, Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos Campaign, and Wiki For COVID-19, improving 90,000+ Wikipedia articles, generating 2 million site views, and increasing Wikipedia traffic by 28% in the reigon. These experiences have strengthened my ability to oversee funding allocation, assess project impact, and ensure resource efficiency. As an administrator on Meta-Wiki, Wikimedia Commons, and Nepali Wikipedia, I have gained expertise in policy implementation, conflict resolution, and cross-community collaboration. My role in MoveCom has further honed my skills in movement-wide communication and stakeholder coordination. Additionally, my experience as a translation administrator and consultant for the Wikimedia Foundation allows me to bridge language and accessibility gaps, ensuring equitable resource distribution. My deep understanding of community-driven initiatives, financial oversight, and movement governance makes me a strong candidate to contribute to the interim GRDC’s mission of fair and transparent resource allocation. | |
| Describe your understanding of the Wikimedia Movement's current resource distribution process. (max 1500 characters) | The Wikimedia Movement’s resource distribution process is designed to support contributors, affiliates, and organizations in advancing the movement’s mission. The Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) oversees grantmaking, with funds distributed through various programs, including the Community Fund, Alliances Fund, and Research Fund. Currently, Regional Funds Committees (RFCs) manage grants within their geographic regions, ensuring that funding decisions are community-led and contextually relevant. Key funding programs include:
Despite these efforts, challenges remain, such as uneven resource allocation, underrepresentation of emerging communities, and the need for improved transparency. The proposed interim GRDC aims to address these gaps by enhancing oversight, setting global funding priorities, and ensuring more equitable access to resources, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable Wikimedia ecosystem. | |
| How do you think the GRDC could improve the current situation and which priorities do you think it should have? (max 1500 characters) | The interim GRDC has the potential to introduce greater equity, transparency, and efficiency into the resource allocation of Wikimedia. Currently, unequal access to resources, geographical inequalities, and limited decision-making power for newer groups weaken grant performance. The GRDC can resolve these by:
By working through these priorities, the GRDC is able to fill gaps in funding, make possible successful projects, and build a more just, equitable Wikimedia movement that serves the needs of its global community. | |
| 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) | By the end of its two-year pilot, the interim GRDC must have significantly improved Wikimedia's transparency, fairness, and efficiency in resource allocation. Its key accomplishments must be:
We should be able to measure its success by the following points:
If the GRDC can empower communities, enhance governance, and enhance the impact of funding, it will pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable Wikimedia movement. | |