Fostering Collaboration with Open-Docs.org: Building a Community of Open-Source Publishers in the Global South

Anthony Oliko, Andria Ezetendu

Funding Area: Critical shared infrastructure / Infraestructura compartida critica

Problem Statement: The proposed work aims to address critical needs in the open-source research and publishing community in the Global South through Open-Docs.org. The identified problems are: 1. Limited Access to Open Infrastructure: Researchers, educators, and content creators in the Global South face barriers in accessing open infrastructure for publishing, leading to reduced participation in the global academic discourse. 2. Lack of Educational Resources: There is a lack of accessible educational materials guiding users in the Global South through open access publishing, hindering their engagement in the global open source movement. 3. Language Barriers: Many open infrastructure platforms primarily support major languages, excluding research in local languages prevalent in the Global South, hampering knowledge dissemination. 4. Underrepresentation of Global South Content: A scarcity of open access platforms tailored to the region results in an underrepresentation of Global South research in the scholarly community. If unaddressed, these needs will perpetuate inequities, hinder visibility of Global South research, and limit engagement with open infrastructure. Open-Docs.org aims to empower Global South researchers, educators, and content creators, promoting equitable knowledge sharing and fostering an inclusive open source community.

Proposed Activities: 1. Platform Development: - Engage experienced developers skilled in Jekyll and web development to create Open-Docs.org. - Design an intuitive user interface for easy content creation and navigation. - Implement features for collaborative editing and version control using GitHub integration. - Establish robust search functionality to facilitate content discovery. 2. Educational Content Creation: - Assemble a team of subject matter experts and technical writers to develop educational content. - Create tutorials, guides, and best practices in multiple languages to cater to the Global South audience. - Ensure content accessibility and localization for effective knowledge sharing. 3. Platform Launch and Outreach: - Organize a virtual launch event to introduce Open-Docs.org to the Global South community. - Conduct outreach campaigns through social media, academic institutions, and conferences. - Engage with relevant organizations to promote the platform and its educational resources. 4. Community Building and Engagement: - Establish a communication channel for users to interact and seek support from each other. - Organize regular webinars and workshops on open access publishing and platform usage. - Initiate a mentorship program to connect experienced contributors with newcomers. 5. Localized Language Support: - Implement language translation features using machine learning. - Implement language selection options for users to access content in their preferred language. 6. Recognition and Incentives: - Introduce a recognition system for active contributors, such as badges or certificates. - Offer incentives for quality contributions, like spotlighting exceptional content on the platform. 7. Partnerships and Collaborations: - Partner with open access and Infrastructure organizations to promote Open-Docs.org in relevant communities. 8. Community Governance: - Develop a community governance model to ensure transparent decision-making. - Encourage community members to actively participate in shaping the platform's future. Resources Required: - Funding to support the development of Open-Docs.org, including server hosting costs and developer salaries. - Skilled developers and web designers proficient in Jekyll, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. - Subject matter experts and technical writers to create educational content. - Marketing and outreach personnel to promote the platform. Timeline estimate: 18 months - Months 1-6: Platform development and initial content creation. - Months 3-6: Educational content creation and localization. - Months 6-7: Platform launch and initial outreach. - Months 7-12: Community building, workshops, and mentorship program. - Months 8-12: Implementation of language support and partnerships. - Months 12-18: Recognition system, incentives, and community governance.

Openness: The proposed work is open in multiple dimensions, namely: 1. Open Source Platform (Open-Docs.org): Open-Docs.org itself is an open-source platform built using Jekyll (also open-source) and hosted on GitHub under a public license. This means that the entire source code of the platform will be openly accessible and available to the public for contribution. 2. Open Educational Content: The educational content developed for Open-Docs.org, including tutorials, guides, and best practices, will also be openly accessible and available to the public. 3. Engaging a Broader Community: Mentorship, webinars, workshops, and partnerships involve diverse stakeholders. 4. Community Governance: The proposal emphasizes the establishment of a community governance model, ensuring transparent decision-making processes. This approach allows community members to actively participate in shaping the direction of Open-Docs.org openly. 5. Content Contribution and Collaboration: Open-Docs.org will provide a platform for researchers and content creators to learn and publish openly, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration within the community. 6. Language Localization: By implementing a language translation feature, the platform addresses language barriers, promoting inclusivity and openness in knowledge dissemination.

Challenges: Limited funding and resources. Technical complexities during platform development. Language localization and cultural nuances. Encouraging community participation and contributions. Ensuring sustained engagement and interest. Overcoming time zone differences for global outreach. Addressing potential platform scalability issues. Navigating varying open access policies and licenses. Balancing diverse community needs and preferences.

Neglectedness: Yes, there are other sources of funding available for this type of work, from organizations and institutions that support open-source technologies, but these are sometimes constrained by geography and limited to whitelisted communities and institutions. However, I have not applied for funding for this work because I have not come across the opportunity.

Success: Success for the proposed work can be measured through various key performance indicators (KPIs) and impact assessments. Some measurable indicators include: Success can be measured through: 1. Platform Adoption: Active users, content contributions, and publications on Open-Docs.org. 2. Community Growth: Registered users, contributors, and active participants. 3. Educational Reach: Usage of educational resources and tutorials. 4. Language Diversity: Content translation into local languages. 5. Community Feedback: User surveys and feedback. 6. Collaborative Contributions: Number of collaborative works. 7. Impact of Publications: Citations and research dissemination. 8. Global Visibility: Recognition in the academic community. 9. Partnerships and Collaborations: Quality and number of partnerships. 10. Sustainability: Long-term growth and development. By regularly tracking these KPIs and conducting impact assessments, the success of the proposed work can be measured and adjustments made to ensure the continuous growth and positive impact of Open-Docs.org in empowering open-source research and publishing in the Global South.

Total Budget: $24,524

Affiliations: Trenches AI

LMIE Carveout: Yes, the project will be carried out by Trenches AI, a technology company registered and based in Lagos, Nigeria. As stated in the Title, the work willl be tailored to a specific audience in the Global South, and the Team behind the content and it's marketing are resident in Nigeria

Team Skills: Trenches AI is a team of Technologists, Project managers, Writers, Software Developers, and Designers . Anthony Oliko, the founder of Trenches AI, has a Bachelor's degree in Electrical / Electronics Engineering, with extensive experience in Software, Cloud technologies, SaaS product management and Technical documentation. He has worked on multiple software products at various stages of development and in various capacities, from a solo developer to a CTO. This expertise and experience make him well-suited to lead the project. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyoliko/ GitHub: https://github.com/Adrianthebeloved Website: http://trenches.ai Andria Ezetendu, Project Manager at Trenches AI, has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, with relevant working experience in Data Science and Software Project management. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andria-ezetendu/ Trenches AI also has a track record of delivering successful campaigns for cutting-edge technology industry leaders like SingularityNET. This experience, combined with the team's skills and knowledge in technical documentation and software integrations, make them well-equipped to carry out the proposed project. The team's capacity, knowledge, lived experience, and partnerships are vital elements that will contribute to the success of the proposed project.

Submission Number: 181