Keeping it Simple!Keeping it Simple!World Bank Multilingual Web ProgramBy Zeina AfifWorld Bank Multilingual Web ProgramBy Zeina Afif

Today…Today…

Corporate sites in Arabic, French, Chinese, Russian and Spanish

Over 250K monthly unique visitors53 Country sites in 18 languages

managed by the countriesMain 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 visitors53 Country sites in 18 languages

managed by the countriesMain external Bank systems in

French and Spanish (Arabic, Chinese and Russian by July 2007)

Our approach?Our approach?

We listened to stakeholdersWe kept it simpleWe showed resultsWe stayed positive and persistent

We listened to stakeholdersWe kept it simpleWe showed resultsWe stayed positive and persistent

Challenges we facedChallenges we faced

FundingSupportTechnologyBuilding communityOutreachContent selectionTranslation quality and style

FundingSupportTechnologyBuilding communityOutreachContent selectionTranslation quality and style

Building CommunityBuilding Community

ISSUESOnly corporate content in FrenchExisting process too cumbersomeTranslation style and quality lowLack of initiative, resources and

interest from the region and countries … or so we thought

ISSUESOnly corporate content in FrenchExisting process too cumbersomeTranslation style and quality lowLack of initiative, resources and

interest from the region and countries … or so we thought

Our StakeholderOur 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 1Step 1

Piloted Senegal Involved top management Identified the obstacles and

challengesSimplified the processProvided writing and style guidelinesMade them our priority

Piloted Senegal Involved top management Identified the obstacles and

challengesSimplified the processProvided writing and style guidelinesMade them our priority

Step 2Step 2

Identified existing French materialProvided feedback on writing for the

webHandled technologyDeveloped with them a 6 month

editorial calendar Marketed their content through Google

keywords and French search enginesProvided quarterly web stats and key

milestones

Identified existing French materialProvided feedback on writing for the

webHandled technologyDeveloped with them a 6 month

editorial calendar Marketed their content through Google

keywords and French search enginesProvided quarterly web stats and key

milestones

Step 3Step 3

Showcased their resultsTrained them in using the content

management systemUsed their successful story to get

remaining francophone country staff on board

Showcased their resultsTrained them in using the content

management systemUsed their successful story to get

remaining francophone country staff on board

Outcome?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 WebsitesWhere are we now?

French WebsitesWhere are we now?

Over 60K monthly unique visitors and growing

10 Africa country sites in FrenchMaterial targeting Youth, Civil

Society, Parliamentarians, Journalists

Over 60K monthly unique visitors and growing

10 Africa country sites in FrenchMaterial targeting Youth, Civil

Society, Parliamentarians, Journalists

Lessons learned?Lessons learned?

Identify the real obstacles to the smallest degree

Get over the bureaucracyProvide resources and trainingBe genuinely supportiveShare the praise and creditGive it your 100% effort

Identify the real obstacles to the smallest degree

Get over the bureaucracyProvide resources and trainingBe genuinely supportiveShare the praise and creditGive it your 100% effort