Wondering how we select the projects? Let’s have a closer look at our process

This year, we received over 30 applications for the UNLOCK Accelerator and are currently in the process of selecting up to seven teams that we will support in the program. How does this selection process work, who are the people reviewing and how does the jury decide? Let’s have a closer look.

Mia Kunert
Kannika Thaimai
9. June 2022

Illustration von Menschen in einem Heißluftballon, der von einer Wolke getragen wird

Lizenzhinweis

Bildlizenz: Kati Szilágyi für Wikimedia Deutschland e.V., Themenfeld Wissensgesellschaft, CC BY-SA 4.0

Who is involved in the review and selection process?

UNLOCK 2022 is open to applications from highly engaged teams from the German-speaking as well as Western Balkans region, all looking to make a real impact and addressing knowledge equity. Similar to the previous editions, we also included a jury who acted as an advisory board, lending their diverse expertise, experience and knowledge to the process and supporting us in properly assessing your project ideas. The jury reviewed the submissions based on a predefined assessment framework. The members of the jury are a combination of Wikimedia staff members, an external expert and the team of Impact Hub Belgrade, including:

Greta Doçi, Software Engineer at Nextcloud & Board Member Wikimedians of Albanian Language User Group
Hanna Petruschat, Head of Design at Wikimedia Deutschland
Gaia Montelatici, Co-Founder & CEO at Impact Hub Belgrade
Giulia Berti, Program Manager at Impact Hub Belgrade

Lizenzhinweis

Bildlizenz: Kannika Thaimai (WMDE), UNLOCK 2022 Jury meeting, CC BY-SA 4.0

What criteria do we use to evaluate the applications?

We have a predefined assessment framework in place that forms the basis of our decision on which teams will be invited to participate in the UNLOCK program. For us, the perfect teams must fulfill the following three criteria: Program Fit, Idea Fit, and Team Fit.

Here’s what that means:

While many outstanding project ideas exist, not all of them might fit into our program scope and focus. The criteria “program fit” aims at figuring out whether UNLOCK is the right program for the project in question, considering the status of the project and the fulfillment of our basic requirements for participation.
The criteria “idea fit” aims at finding projects and initiatives that make a valuable contribution to the thematic focus of the program: Knowledge Equity. We are looking for fresh ideas and new concepts that are not only feasible, but also have great potential for impact, demonstrate awareness and differentiation from other, similar projects, and properly meet the needs of the selected target groups.
While we see it as our mission to pass on certain values and mindsets on to the teams during the program, the criteria “team fit” indicates what the ideal team should bring along right from the start. While participants should combine all important skills that are necessary for the development of their idea, we are also looking for drive, a collaborative mindset and social spirit.

What happens after the jury review?

Following the jury review, we will conduct online interviews with the shortlisted team, to meet the faces behind the applications. The ideas and the planned implementation will be discussed in more detail in the call. All open questions, both from the team and from our side should then be answered. And last but least, the most suitable teams, that meet all three criteria, will be invited to participate in the UNLOCK accelerator program.

Stay tuned for further updates and especially for the announcement of the UNLOCK 2022 projects. Follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.