Keeping it Simple! World Bank Multilingual Web Program By Zeina Afif World Bank Multilingual Web Program By Zeina Afif

Today… Corporate sites in Arabic, French, Chinese, Russian and Spanish Over 250K monthly unique visitors 53 Country sites in 18 languages managed by the countries Main external Bank systems in French and Spanish (Arabic, Chinese and Russian by July 2007) Corporate sites in Arabic, French, Chinese, Russian and Spanish Over 250K monthly unique visitors 53 Country sites in 18 languages managed by the countries Main external Bank systems in French and Spanish (Arabic, Chinese and Russian by July 2007)

Our approach? We listened to stakeholders We kept it simple We showed results We stayed positive and persistent We listened to stakeholders We kept it simple We showed results We stayed positive and persistent

Challenges we faced Funding Support Technology Building community Outreach Content selection Translation quality and style Funding Support Technology Building community Outreach Content selection Translation quality and style

Building Community ISSUES Only corporate content in French Existing process too cumbersome Translation style and quality low Lack of initiative, resources and interest from the region and countries … or so we thought ISSUES Only corporate content in French Existing process too cumbersome Translation style and quality low Lack of initiative, resources and interest from the region and countries … or so we thought

Our Stakeholder Africa region  Agreement with Africa team Country Office in Francophone Africa  Pilot  Management Support Africa region  Agreement with Africa team Country Office in Francophone Africa  Pilot  Management Support

Step 1 Piloted Senegal Involved top management Identified the obstacles and challenges Simplified the process Provided writing and style guidelines Made them our priority Piloted Senegal Involved top management Identified the obstacles and challenges Simplified the process Provided writing and style guidelines Made them our priority

Step 2 Identified existing French material Provided feedback on writing for the web Handled technology Developed with them a 6 month editorial calendar Marketed their content through Google keywords and French search engines Provided quarterly web stats and key milestones Identified existing French material Provided feedback on writing for the web Handled technology Developed with them a 6 month editorial calendar Marketed their content through Google keywords and French search engines Provided quarterly web stats and key milestones

Step 3 Showcased their results Trained them in using the content management system Used their successful story to get remaining francophone country staff on board Showcased their results Trained them in using the content management system Used their successful story to get remaining francophone country staff on board

Outcome? French Senegal website one of the top Africa country sites Interest and enthusiasm from all Africa country office staff and directors Within 6 month, worked with 9 country offices in launching their French country sites Recruited and trained a French web editor for the Africa region Using same model for other Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish country sites French Senegal website one of the top Africa country sites Interest and enthusiasm from all Africa country office staff and directors Within 6 month, worked with 9 country offices in launching their French country sites Recruited and trained a French web editor for the Africa region Using same model for other Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish country sites

French Websites Where are we now? Over 60K monthly unique visitors and growing 10 Africa country sites in French Material targeting Youth, Civil Society, Parliamentarians, Journalists Over 60K monthly unique visitors and growing 10 Africa country sites in French Material targeting Youth, Civil Society, Parliamentarians, Journalists

Lessons learned? Identify the real obstacles to the smallest degree Get over the bureaucracy Provide resources and training Be genuinely supportive Share the praise and credit Give it your 100% effort Identify the real obstacles to the smallest degree Get over the bureaucracy Provide resources and training Be genuinely supportive Share the praise and credit Give it your 100% effort