Why Do Some Regions Feel Overlooked in Drupal Planning?

Carlos Ospina warns that Drupal’s global planning models often impose cost structures that exceed the budgets of professionals in lower-income regions. He cites standard partnership fees of $1,000 and sponsorship packages of $25,000 as examples of benchmarks set in developed markets but applied universally.

“When we plan global initiatives, we naturally use what we know works,” Carlos said. “The problem is treating them like universal solutions.” 

He illustrated the issue with an example from Colombia’s hospitality sector. His sister-in-law, a lead architect at the country’s largest hotel chain, earns about $28,000 per year. A $1,000 fee represents nearly half her monthly salary and creates a barrier rather than an opportunity. Even her department director, with a $50,000 annual income, faces a significant expense.

Carlos notes that volunteer-driven projects also reflect planning bias. He explained that regions with fewer professionals able to donate time or with limited internet infrastructure struggle to match the volunteer commitments assumed in North American models. 

“We assume everyone can find volunteers with the same availability and resources,” he said.

Global representation on decision-making bodies would help Drupal initiatives reflect economic and cultural diversity. Carlos proposes rotating board seats for representatives from Asia, Latin America and Africa to design fee structures, sponsorship tiers and volunteer programs that scale with local realities.

Carlos’s proposal aims to replace one-size-fits-all standards with flexible models that support growth in every region. More details are available on his LinkedIn post.