Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund/Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians 2025/2026

statusUnder review

Wikimedia Community Fund

Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians 2025/2026

Fluxx IDR-GS-2502-18049

start date2025-07-01

end date2026-06-30

budget (local currency)152306700 TZS

amount requested (USD)57876.55 USD

grant typeNonprofit organization with Wikimedia mission

funding regionSSA

decision fiscal year2024-25

funding program roundRound 2

organization (if applicable)Open Space Tanzania

Friendly Space Policy

Universal Code of Conduct

Application Privacy Statement

This is an automatically generated Meta-Wiki page. The page was copied from Fluxx, the web service of Wikimedia Foundation Funds where the user has submitted their application. Please do not make any changes to this page because all changes will be removed after the next update. Use the discussion page for your feedback. The page was created by CR-FluxxBot.

Applicant information

Organization name or Wikimedia Username for individuals. (required)

Open Space Tanzania

Do you have any approved General Support Fund requests? (required)

Yes, I have already applied and received a General Support Fund

You are applying as a(n). (required)

Nonprofit organization with Wikimedia mission

Are your group or organization legally registered in your country? (required)

Yes

Do you have a fiscal sponsor?

No

Fiscal organization name.

N/A

Please provide links to the following documents if they are available

These documentation can be provided in your local language(s), no translations required.

• Organizational website
• Detailed financial reporting and/or audits
• Documentation of the governance structure, board list, governance processes
• Documentation of the general assembly decision on your plan

Main proposal

1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be a title for the Meta-Wiki page. (required)

Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians 2025/2026

2. Do you want to apply for the multi-year base funding for 3 years? (required) (only for returning applicants)

Yes

2.1. Provide a brief overview of Year 2 and Year 3 of the proposed plan and how this relates to the current proposal and your strategic plan? (required)

The Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians (TUSW) initiative has been running successfully for the past five years, progressively strengthening the participation of university students in Wikimedia projects across Tanzania. The proposed Year 2 and Year 3 plan builds on the successes and lessons learned from previous years, ensuring deeper institutional integration, leadership sustainability, and impactful content generation.

Year 2: Institutional Expansion and Leadership Consolidation In Year 2, the focus is on deepening institutional partnerships, improving content quality, and strengthening leadership structures to ensure a sustainable Wikimedia ecosystem within Tanzanian universities. Key Objectives & Activities 1. Institutional Integration and Wikimedia-in-Education Expansion

• Scale up the integration of Wikimedia projects in universities by formalizing partnerships with at least 10 new institutions, bringing the total number of active university communities to 25+.
• Work with academic institutions to develop localized Wikipedia-based learning modules for research, digital literacy, and academic writing courses.
• Train university faculty and librarians to incorporate Wikimedia as a teaching and learning tool.

2. Leadership Growth and Community Strengthening

• Enhance the capacity of student organizers by training at least 50 new campus leaders in advanced Wikipedia editing, Wikidata, Commons, and project management.
• Establish a National Coordination Team that oversees activities across universities, ensuring better governance and coordination.
• Strengthen mentorship programs where experienced editors support new student communities to sustain engagement.

3. Content Development and Impactful Contributions

• Organize at least 15 nationwide thematic edit-a-thons focused on Tanzanian knowledge gaps, including climate change, indigenous knowledge, and gender equity.
• Digitize local knowledge by increasing contributions to Wikimedia Commons and WikiVoyage to archive historical and cultural materials.
• Strengthen Wikidata integration to increase structured data contributions from Tanzanian institutions.

4. Sustainability and Funding Diversification

• Explore co-funding opportunities with local institutions and NGOs to reduce reliance on Wikimedia Foundation grants.
• Implement an alumni engagement strategy, ensuring past participants continue supporting and mentoring student communities.
• Conduct a comprehensive impact assessment to document growth, challenges, and best practices for long-term sustainability.

Year 3: Self-Sustainability, Policy Advocacy, and National Outreach By Year 3, the project will shift its focus towards ensuring long-term sustainability, policy integration, and expanding beyond university communities to reach a national audience.

Key Objectives & Activities.

1. Full Institutional Integration into Universities and Education Policy Advocacy

• Work with higher education regulators and policymakers to advocate for Wikimedia adoption in national academic curricula.
• Develop and roll out a standardized Wikimedia training curriculum for use in university courses and libraries.
• Strengthen faculty-led Wikimedia initiatives to ensure Wikimedia projects are embedded in research and teaching.

2. Building a National Wikimedia Student Network

• Formalize the National Wikimedia Student Association, which will function as an umbrella body to coordinate and sustain activities across all universities.
• Ensure each university has a self-sustaining Wikimedia club that operates independently with guidance from the national coordination team.
• Organize the Wiki Student Summit, bringing together stakeholders to discuss the role of Wikimedia in Tanzania's knowledge ecosystem.

3. Scaling Beyond Wikipedia: Multi-Project Engagement

• Expand Wikidata contributions by working with researchers and libraries to structure Tanzanian knowledge.
• Establish partnerships with archives and cultural institutions to digitize and upload historical documents on Wikimedia Commons.
• Promote Wikiversity and Wikibooks as platforms for open learning materials created by Tanzanian university students.

4. Sustained Funding and Long-Term Governance Strategy

• Work towards establishing a legal entity or integrating into an existing NGO to ensure long-term operational stability.
• Develop a long-term funding strategy, including corporate sponsorships, institutional partnerships, and grant diversification.
• Conduct a final evaluation and impact report to showcase project achievements and propose future Wikimedia engagement strategies.

Strategic Alignment with the Current Proposal

• This multi-year strategy leverages past experience of Wikimedia engagement in Tanzanian universities.
• Year 2 focuses on scaling institutional adoption and leadership development, while Year 3 ensures self-sustainability, policy advocacy, and national Wikimedia ecosystem growth.
• The plan aligns with Wikimedia Movement Strategy 2030, particularly in knowledge equity, capacity building, and sustainable Wikimedia growth in emerging communities.

By the end of Year 3, the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians will have evolved into a self-sustaining, well-coordinated, and institutionally embedded movement that empowers university students to contribute to Wikimedia projects for years to come.

3. Proposed start date. (required)

2025-07-01

4. Proposed end date. (required)

2026-06-30

5. Does your organization or group have an Affiliate or Organizational Annual Plan that can help us understand your proposal? If yes, please provide it. (required)

Yes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rtYxY6-kWpzEhfHU_zmtQ-7iDBSTdwgnpdY77UB9L5c/edit?usp=sharing

6. Does your affiliate, organization or group have a Strategic Plan that can help us understand your proposal? If yes, please provide it. (required)

Yes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i8nJrZwqTej8HoSYjLxHrkNkOJzOtNKNX8qN6SYT-s8/edit?usp=sharing

7. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Tanzania

8. What are your programs, approaches, and strategies? What are the challenges that you are trying to address and how will your strategies support you in addressing these challenges? (required)

Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians (TUSW) is focused on building a sustainable, student-led Wikimedia movement within Tanzania’s higher education institutions. Our programs, approaches, and strategies are designed to increase participation, enhance content creation, and institutionalize Wikimedia engagement in universities.

Programs

1. Wikimedia in Education Program

• Training students and faculty members on Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and WikiVoyage.
• Integrating Wikimedia-based learning into university coursework.
• Partnering with libraries and research institutions to improve digital literacy and research skills.

2. Capacity Building & Leadership Development

• Establishing Wikimedia clubs in universities to create a sustainable community of contributors.
• Conducting train-the-trainer programs to develop student leaders.
• Organizing annual National Wikimedia Bootcamps for advanced skills development.

3. Content Creation & Knowledge Equity Initiatives

• Organizing edit-a-thons and writing contests focused on Tanzanian knowledge gaps.
• Digitizing cultural artifacts, oral histories, and public domain materials for Wikimedia Commons and WikiSource.
• Expanding Wikidata initiatives to enhance structured knowledge representation.

4. Advocacy & Institutional Partnerships

• Collaborating with universities to integrate Wikimedia into digital literacy and research curricula.
• Engaging policymakers to recognize Wikimedia as a teaching and learning tool in Tanzania’s education system.
• Partnering with media and cultural institutions to promote open knowledge awareness.

5. Sustainability & Governance Strengthening

• Establishing a National Wikimedia Student Coordination Committee for long-term leadership.
• Securing financial sustainability through grants, partnerships, and corporate sponsorships.
• Implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to measure impact and inform future strategies.

Challenges and How Our Strategies Address Them

1. Low Awareness & Digital Literacy Gaps

• Challenge: Many university students and faculty members are unaware of how Wikimedia projects can enhance research, education, and knowledge sharing.
• Strategy: Conduct awareness campaigns, workshops, and faculty training programs to increase Wikimedia literacy.

2. Limited Local Content Representation

• Challenge: Tanzanian history, culture, and indigenous knowledge are underrepresented on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia platforms.
• Strategy: Organize thematic edit-a-thons, digitization projects, and partnerships with cultural institutions to improve content coverage.

3. Institutional Barriers and Lack of Policy Support

• Challenge: Wikimedia projects are not formally recognized in academic policies, limiting their integration into university curricula.
• Strategy: Engage government agencies and universities to develop policies that support Wikimedia in education.

4. Sustainability and Volunteer Retention

• Challenge: Many student contributors disengage after graduation, affecting long-term community growth.
• Strategy: Establish mentorship programs, alumni networks, and leadership succession plans to ensure continuity.

5. Funding Limitations

• Challenge: Reliance on short-term grants without long-term sustainability planning.
• Strategy: Diversify funding sources through institutional partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and alternative revenue streams.

9. What categories are your main programs and related activities under? Please select all that apply. (required)

Category	Yes/No
Education	Yes
Culture, heritage or GLAM	Yes
Gender and diversity	Yes
Community support and engagement	Yes
Participation in campaigns and contests	Yes
Public policy advocacy	Yes
Other	No

Education

9.1.1. Select all your programs and activities for Education. (required)

Wiki Club, Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom or other Reading/Evaluating Wikipedia Training, Editing Wikipedia Training, Wikidata programs, Wikimedia Commons programs, Other Wikimedia project programs

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

9.1.2. Select all relevant audience groups for Education. (required)

Secondary school students, Vocational, tertiary, or higher education, Teachers or professors, Senior citizens

Other groups if any: N/A

Culture, heritage or GLAM

9.2. Select all your programs and activities for Culture, heritage or GLAM. (required)

Introducing new approaches to underrepresented culture and heritage, e.g. decolonising or reparative work; oral and visual knowledge; outreach to communities of origin, indigenous and first nations self-determination, Supporting institutions to open up their collections, data, metadata, and research, Partnering with institutions, professional associations, and allied organizations to raise awareness of open culture, ethical sharing, and related issues

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Gender and diversity

9.3. Select all your programs and activities for Gender and diversity.

Bringing in women and/or gender diverse participants and editors, Focusing on creating content about women and/or gender diverse groups, including biographies, intersectional topic areas and/or adding images, Focusing on creating content about marginalized (underrepresented) communities and their knowledge, Focusing on knowledge equity by bringing in contributors from underrepresented communities, Building organizer skills in women and diversity groups, Fomenting female leadership within the movement (either staff, members or boards)

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Community support and engagement

9.4. Select all your programs and activities for Community support and engagement.

On-wiki training of community members, Off-wiki training of community members, Organizing meetups, conferences, and community events, Supporting community members' participation in events and conferences, Offering non financial support and services to community members (equipment, space, books, etc.)

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Participation in campaigns and contests

9.5. Select all campaigns that apply. (required)

1Lib1Ref, Art+Feminism, Feminism and Folklore, Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Loves Folklore, Wiki Loves Women, WikiForHumanRights, WikiGap, Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos, Wikipedia Birthday or Anniversary

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Public policy advocacy

9.6.1. What specific laws, or legislative topics, are you targeting with your advocacy plans? Please be as specific as possible. (required)

As part of our public policy advocacy efforts, the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians (TUSW) is working to influence national education, digital access, and intellectual property policies to create a legal and regulatory environment that promotes free knowledge. Our advocacy efforts are focused on the following key legislative topics in Tanzania:

Integration of Open Knowledge in National Education Policies

Target Law/Regulation: Tanzania’s Higher Education Policy & National ICT Policy Advocacy Goal: Push for the formal recognition of Wikimedia projects as educational tools and advocate for policies that integrate Wikipedia and digital literacy training in university curricula. Approach: Engaging the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), and the Institute of Adult Education to incorporate Wikimedia-based learning into academic frameworks.

Access to Information and Digital Knowledge

Target Law/Regulation: Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2020 Advocacy Goal: Advocate for policy amendments that support open access to digital knowledge and educational resources while ensuring Wikimedia projects are not restricted under content regulations. Approach: Collaborate with digital rights organizations, media advocacy groups, and policymakers to highlight the importance of free knowledge platforms like Wikipedia.

Copyright & Open Licensing Frameworks

Target Law/Regulation: Tanzania Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act, 1999 (Amended 2020) Advocacy Goal: Promote open-access licensing frameworks that allow the use of Wikimedia projects for educational purposes. Work towards reforming copyright laws to enable more public domain and freely licensed content contributions to Wikimedia platforms. Approach: Work with lawmakers, the Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA), and creative commons advocates to advance copyright policies that support free knowledge.

Data Protection and Freedom of Expression Online

Target Law/Regulation: Tanzania Personal Data Protection Act, 2022 & Cybercrimes Act, 2015 Advocacy Goal: Ensure that digital rights policies uphold freedom of expression and access to educational knowledge without restricting Wikimedia contributions under privacy or cybercrime laws. Approach: Engage with civil society organizations, legal experts, and ICT policymakers to advocate for a balanced legal approach that protects users’ rights while supporting open knowledge.

Strategic Advocacy Actions Stakeholder Engagement: Partnering with universities, government agencies, and advocacy organizations to push for policy changes. Public Awareness & Policy Dialogues: Hosting workshops, webinars, and policy discussions to promote Wikimedia as an essential educational resource. Legislative Recommendations: Drafting policy proposals and position papers to be submitted to relevant Tanzanian government bodies.

9.6.2. What are the main methods and tactics via which you plan to advocate for this public policy change? Please be as specific as possible. (required)

To advocate for policy changes that promote free knowledge and Wikimedia integration in Tanzania’s legal and educational landscape, the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians (TUSW) will employ the following targeted advocacy methods and tactics:

1. Stakeholder Engagement & Coalition Building

Target Audience: Ministry of Education, Science & Technology, Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA), ICT policymakers, media freedom organizations, and university administrators.

Tactic:

• Establish formal partnerships with government institutions and academic bodies to promote Wikimedia as a digital literacy and research tool.
• Engage legal experts to help draft policy recommendations that align with Tanzania’s Copyright, Digital Rights, and Open Access policies.
• Form alliances with digital rights organizations to collectively advocate for open access to educational resources and digital freedom.

2. Policy Dialogues and Government Engagement

Target Audience: Lawmakers, policymakers, regulatory bodies, and university councils.

Tactic:

• Organize roundtable discussions with government officials and university representatives on the role of Wikimedia in higher education and knowledge sharing.
• Prepare and submit policy briefs outlining recommendations for Wikimedia adoption in academia, copyright reform, and digital rights protection.
• Actively participate in public hearings and consultations on education, copyright, and digital laws to present Wikimedia’s role in promoting knowledge equity.

3. Awareness Campaigns & Public Advocacy Target Audience: University students, educators, journalists, civil society organizations, and the general public.

Tactic:

• Develop media outreach strategies through press releases, radio and TV interviews, and social media campaigns highlighting the importance of free knowledge and Wikimedia’s educational impact.
• Organize Wikimedia Open Knowledge Conferences in universities to raise awareness about Wikipedia as an academic resource and lobby for curriculum integration.
• Run digital storytelling campaigns featuring educators, researchers, and students who have successfully used Wikimedia as a learning and teaching tool.

4. Training and Capacity-Building for Policymakers & Educators Target Audience: University lecturers, policymakers, and librarians.

Tactic:

• Conduct capacity-building workshops to train university faculty and policymakers on how Wikimedia can enhance research and academic writing.
• Work with universities to develop pilot Wikimedia education programs that serve as models for nationwide adoption.
• Train journalists and media stakeholders on Wikimedia’s role in fact-checking and combating misinformation, thereby strengthening credibility in public discourse.

5. Legal & Policy Research for Evidence-Based Advocacy Target Audience: Legislators, research institutions, and policy analysts.

Tactic:

• Conduct a comparative policy analysis to demonstrate how other countries have successfully integrated Wikimedia into their education and copyright frameworks.
• Publish white papers and research reports on open knowledge, digital rights, and copyright reform, providing evidence to support policy change.
• Work with legal experts to analyze Tanzania’s Copyright and Digital Access Laws, proposing specific amendments that support open licensing and Wikimedia contributions.

6. Engaging with Regional and International Forums Target Audience: African Union Digital Rights Forum, UNESCO, Wikimedia Foundation Policy Team, Open Access Networks.

Tactic:

• Participate in regional and international policy dialogues on open knowledge, internet governance, and digital access to present Tanzania’s Wikimedia advocacy case.
• Build networks with global Wikimedia advocates to leverage support for policy advocacy initiatives in Tanzania.
• Join regional open knowledge coalitions to strengthen advocacy efforts and push for harmonized copyright and education policies across Africa.

These multi-layered advocacy tactics ensure that TUSW’s policy initiatives are impactful, evidence-based, and widely supported. By combining government engagement, awareness campaigns, legal research, capacity-building, and coalition-building, we aim to secure policy reforms that support free knowledge, Wikimedia adoption in education, and open access principles in Tanzania.

9.6.3. Approximately, how much of the requested budget will you dedicate to public policy advocacy (local currency)?

25000000

10. Please include a link to or upload a timeline (operational calendar) for your programs and activities. (required)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DUrHl5mjIpsoZGaHyl1JZfep7_B6yw7NQLfV7iwvxL0/edit?usp=sharing

11. Describe your team. (required)

Magoiga M. Mtatiro (username: magotech): Program coordinator (Salaried) Sylvester Johnbosco (username: codtz): Accountant. Emmanuel Akyoo (username: Bs-Afrique): Communication Officer - Seggy Joe (Volunteer) Logistics officer clubs coordinators (5 positions): Open positions Ebenezer Mlay (Username: CaliBen) – Project advisor and facilitator Riccardo Riccioni (Username:Riccardo Riccioni) – Project advisor

12. Will you be working with any internal (Wikimedia) or external partners? Describe the characteristics of these partnerships and bring a few examples of the most significant partnerships. (required)

we plan to work with other Wikimedia communities, groups, or affiliates in our country and in other countries to implement this proposal. We believe that collaboration and partnership are essential to achieving our goals and maximizing our impact. In particular, we plan to: 1. Partner with other Wikimedia communities and groups in Tanzania in implementation. 2. Participate in regional and global Wikimedia events. 3. Engage with Wikimedia affiliates in other countries.

we will be working closely with:- Wikimedians of Arusha User Group, Jenga Wikipedia ya Kiswahili, Wikimedia Tanzania User Group and out country wikimedian communities.

Also working with external partners has been crucial during the implementation of our programs/events. This year we are also going to be working with external partners due to gaining more knowledge and sharing experience. we will be creating awareness to them on how they can be part of the Wikimedia movement based on their field of working.

13. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select all that apply. (required)

Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement, Provide for Safety and Inclusion, Ensure Equity in Decision-making, Coordinate Across Stakeholders, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development, Manage Internal Knowledge, Innovate in Free Knowledge, Evaluate, Iterate, and Adapt

Metrics

Wikimedia Metrics

14. Please select and fill out Wikimedia Metrics for your proposal. (recommended)

14.1. Number of participants, editors, and organizers.

All metrics provided are optional, please fill them out if they are aligned with your programs and activities.

Participants, editors, and organizers

Metrics name	Target	Description
Number of all participants	500	N/A
Number of all editors	450	N/A
Number of new editors	50
Number of retained editors	430
Number of all organizers	20	N/A
Number of new organizers	3

14.2. Number of new content contributions to Wikimedia projects. (recommended)

Contributions to Wikimedia projects

Wikimedia project	Created	Edited or improved
Wikipedia	2500	4000
Wikimedia Commons	850	250
Wikidata	1000	1500
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote	500	300
Wikivoyage	500	750
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions / Abstract Wikipedia

Description for Wikimedia projects contributions metrics. (optional)

Other Metrics

15. Do you have other quantitative and qualitative targets for your project (other metrics)? (required)

No

Other Metrics	Description	Target
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A

Budget

16. Will you have any other revenue sources when implementing this proposal (e.g. other funding, membership contributions, donations)? (required)

No

16.1. List other revenue sources. (required)

N/A

16.2. Approximately how much revenue will you have from other sources in your local currency? (required)

N/A

17. Your local currency. (required)

TZS

18. What is the total requested amount in your local currency? (required)

152306700 TZS

Multi-year funding request summary

Year	Amount (local currency)
Year 1	152306700 TZS
Year 2	167537370 TZS
Year 3	192667976 TZS

Requested amount in USD

57876.55 USD

Multi-year funding request summary in USD

Year	Amount USD
Year 1	N/A USD
Year 2	N/A USD
Year 3	N/A USD

19. Does this proposal include compensation for staff or contractors? (required)

Yes

19.1. How many paid staff members do you plan to have? (required)

Include the number of staff and contractors during the proposal period. If you have short-term contractors or staff, please include them separately and mention their terms.

2 (1 year)

1 (2 months)

19.2. How many FTEs (full-time equivalents) in total? (required)

Include the total FTE of staff and contractors during the proposal period. If you have short-term contractors or staff, please include their FTEs with the terms separately.

2 (1 year)

1 (2 months)

19.3. Describe any staff or contractor changes compared to the current year / ongoing General Support Fund if any. (required only for returning grantees)

Due to the expansition of activities, we have made some changes to the staffing costs:

1. We have added 1 month for the accountant with an increase of 200 USD 2. The communication officer rate has been increased by 50USD

20. Please provide an overview of your overall budget categories in your local currency. The budget breakdown should include only the amount requested with this General Support Fund (required).

Budget category	Amount in local currency
Staff and contractor costs	52143000 TZS
Operational costs	24870300 TZS
Programmatic costs	75293400 TZS

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GfBEexaZ5uLpenC1MW4KHAqL-F8RlfFS/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=114481883650120322901&rtpof=true&sd=true

Additional information

22. In this optional space you can add any other additional information about your proposal or organization that you think can help us when reviewing your proposal. (optional)

---

By submitting your proposal/funding request you agree that you are in agreement with the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and the Universal Code of Conduct.

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

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