About

The 2026 Africa Wiki Challenge, under the theme “WATER FOR LIFE IN AFRICA,” our Liquid Heritage: Documenting the State of Africa’s Water Resources and Sanitation Systems – aims to address this gap by encouraging contributors to document Africa’s water systems and sanitation initiatives. Participants will be encouraged to create and improve articles related to rivers, lakes, wetlands, groundwater systems, sanitation infrastructure, water governance, climate change impacts, and innovative solutions to water management across the continent.

Scheduled to take place from 25th May to 30th June 2026, the Africa Wiki Challenge will empower individuals, students, researchers, and communities to contribute to the world’s largest repositories of free knowledge—Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata. Through these contributions, participants will help ensure that Africa’s water heritage, environmental realities, and sanitation systems are better documented, visible, and accessible to audiences around the world.

Ultimately, the campaign aims to strengthen Africa’s voice in the global knowledge ecosystem while supporting the broader goals of sustainable water management and development envisioned in Agenda 2063.

Focus Topics

Participants and organizers are encouraged to contribute content surrounding or related to the following topics. Contributions can include creating, uploading, or improving written (articles) or media content (such as photos, videos, and audio). Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Water Availability in Africa
Rivers, Lakes, Wetlands, and Groundwater Systems
Community Access to Clean and Safe Water
Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources
Droughts, Floods, and Extreme Weather Events
Water Pollution and Contamination
Sanitation and Hygiene Challenges
Open Defecation and Waste Management
Community-Based Hygiene and Sanitation Programs
Environmental Conservation and Restoration Projects
Education and Awareness on Water Usage
Water Resource Monitoring and Data Availability
Best Practices in Water and Sanitation Management
Cultural and Societal Impacts on Water and Sanitation
Innovations in Water Access and Sanitation Technology
Global Collaboration on African Water and Sanitation Initiatives
Challenges and Opportunities in African Water and Sanitation Systems

Africa Water Resources

Lake Victoria (East Africa)
Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa and a major source of water, fishing, and transportation for communities in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Lake Victoria Community Waters
Fishermen and communities rely on Lake Victoria for livelihoods, drinking water, and economic activities.
Lake Victoria Shoreline
Communities living near Lake Victoria depend on the lake for domestic use, fishing, and agriculture.

Woman Fetching Water from River (Ghana)
A woman collects river water for household use, highlighting reliance on untreated sources in some communities.

Lady Fetching Water from a Stream (South Sudan)
A community member uses a stream for daily water needs, illustrating limited access to clean water infrastructure.

Child Fetching Clean Water (Rwanda)
A child collects water from a community tap, showing efforts to improve access to safer drinking water sources.