Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund/Wiki Wake Up Afrique Annual 2026-2027
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Applicant information
[edit]- Organization name or Wikimedia Username for individuals. (required)
- Wiki Wake Up Afrique
- 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
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be a title for the Meta-Wiki page. (required)
- Wiki Wake Up Afrique Annual 2026-2027
- 2. Do you want to apply for the multi-year base funding for 3 years? (required) (only for returning applicants)
- No
- 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)
N/A
- 3. Proposed start date. (required)
- 2026-06-15
- 4. Proposed end date. (required)
- 2027-07-31
- 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)
- No
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_da5RzMOEsFXOu_OtJWIGoG3HE0PQzajF6yA2-bmmKY/edit?tab=t.0
- 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/1rbgcUnwTA48w_IJcSrheo-4odUNhlAxKvtu8pN7aDHI/edit?tab=t.0
- 7. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
- International (more than one country across continents or regions)
- We will realize programs in the following countries (but not limitative) Sénégal, Cameroon, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Congo, Slave Trade around the world, Senegalese tirailleurs, Europe databases of afrodescendants,
- 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)
Wiki Wake Up Africa will develop a structured program built around thematic campaigns to address content gaps on African history, heritage, and the environment, while strengthening sustainable communities of volunteers and institutional partners. The Wikimedia projects still document very little about the dynasties of kings in sub-Saharan Africa in general, the history of the Senegalese Tirailleurs who took part in both World Wars, the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, African lacustrine landscapes, or Ethiopia’s sacred forests—creating major blind spots in the understanding of the history, memory, and territories of sub-Saharan Africa. Faced with these challenges, Wiki Wake Up Africa intends to adopt a program-based approach for its different projects, as well as online edit-a-thons.
Programme 1: Residency for the collection of dynastic data on Kings in Cameroon. Challenge: Data on dynasties of kings in Cameroon remains poorly documented on Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, even though it is central to understanding history, political systems, cultural practices, and local dynamics. A first step was taken to study the field, notably through this project: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Programs/Wikimedia_Community_Fund/Rapid_Fund/Collecte_des_donn%C3%A9es_dynastiques_des_rois_des_Grassfields_%26_pr%C3%A9paration_%C3%A0_une_prochaine_r%C3%A9sidence_Wikimedienne_(ID:_22804629)
Strategy: We will deploy 2 Wikimedians in residence as part of this project, working with chiefdoms, royal palaces, community museums and archival centers to document the dynasties of kings in the various chiefdoms in Cameroon over a period of 4 months. Main activities: Identify and select several traditional chiefdoms in Cameroon (1st, 2nd and 3rd degree chiefdoms) in the West, North-West, East and Far North regions of Cameroon), Deploy the Wikimedian in residence to collect dynastic data in more than 50 chiefdoms in Cameroon (king’s first and last name, date of birth, dates of reign, GPS coordinates of the kingdom), collect archives, photograph the entrance of the chiefdom. Organize the collected data; run training workshops to create Wikidata entries with the collected dynastic data, notably using the OpenRefine tool. Create and improve Wikipedia articles on dynasties, kings, queens, chiefdoms and customary institutions; enrich Wikidata (lineages, reign dates, locations, functions) and upload photos and possible audio/video recordings to Wikimedia Commons. Organize contribution and translation workshops for Wikipedia pages in French and English, involving partners and custodians of tradition, in order to strengthen a community of contributors close to the documented subjects. Expected impact: Better visibility of dynasties of kings in Cameroon, with 60+ chiefdoms visited, 600 Wikidata items to create, 3,000 statements to add, and the improvement of 60 Wikipedia pages, 120 images to upload to Wikimedia Commons, and the translation of Wikipedia pages into other languages (French and English). 10 new Wikimedians trained in using OpenRefine for bulk data uploads to Wikidata, and 10 existing contributors (Togolese, Cameroonian, Gabonese, Congolese, Senegalese, Burkinabè) will strengthen their capacity to use this tool. Wikidata: Items created: 500 Statements: 2,500 Wikipedia: 200 pages improved and 80 pages created Wikimedia Commons: 300
Programme 2: Memory of the Senegalese Tirailleurs Challenge: The history of the Senegalese Tirailleurs remains poorly documented on the Wikimedia platforms in general, with a lack of structured data on these Tirailleurs who participated in both World Wars. This topic relates to the memory of the World Wars and requires rigorous work to ensure transmission to future generations. Strategy: Establish 2 project leads, drawing on experience gained through the project collecting information on the Senegalese Tirailleurs to prepare a residency project https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Programs/Wikimedia_Community_Fund/Rapid_Fund/Projet_de_collecte_d%E2%80%99informations_sur_les_tirailleurs_senegalais_pour_la_pr%C3%A9paration_d%E2%80%99un_projet_de_r%C3%A9sidence._(ID:_23250908)
— this project is our first step toward the residency.
Main activities: Continue and expand the collection and structuring of data (lists of soldiers, units, postings, necropolises, decorations) in Wikidata, relying on technical workshops (OpenRefine, SPARQL queries) and archival research. Organize residencies or collaborations with archival centers, universities and history museums to identify reliable sources and, where possible, open data under free licenses. Produce or improve Wikipedia articles on the Tirailleurs, battles, camps, memorials and recognition policies, integrating an African perspective while working on neutrality and verifiability. Expected impact: Substantial enrichment of content on the Senegalese Tirailleurs on Wikidata, notably with 10,000+ structured data entries and sources. Build a network of volunteers trained in historical research methodologies, data management and memorial issues, able to support other “duty of memory” projects over time, notably using OpenRefine. Wikidata: Items created: 10,000 Statements: 50,000
Programme 3: The genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda Challenge: Work on the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda remains insufficiently documented on Wikipedia and its sister projects, with a lack of narratives coming from African communities. This topic concerns memory, and through this project WWUA seeks to contribute to the wide dissemination of public information and open data on Wikimedia platforms, based on resources available from Rwandan institutions concerning the genocide against the Tutsi. This work continues what has already been started: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Programs/Wikimedia_Community_Fund/Rapid_Fund/Wikidata_%26_the_Genocide_Against_the_Tutsi_(ID:_22988253)
Strategy: Build on the experience gained in the previous project on the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda to recruit two Wikimedians in residence to implement these thematic campaigns centered on the memory of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Activities: Identify and list existing resources, organize meetings with stakeholders, plan and organize tasks to be carried out. Collect (field visits to memorials in Rwanda) and inventory content that can be imported into Wikimedia (Wikidata, Commons, Wikipedia). Organize information sessions on project progress. Share content and working methods with the Rwandan team to ensure the project’s sustainability. Develop contributions on Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons (sites of memory, key dates, institutional actors, justice and reconciliation initiatives), ensuring quality references and contextualization. Expected impact: Enriched content and increased access on the genocide against the Tutsi, with more structured data, African sources and links between articles. At least 500 Wikipedia pages improved and 1,000 page views published in the first year. Wikidata: Items created: 50 Statements: 250 Wikipedia: 150 pages improved and 70 pages created Wikimedia Commons: 200
Programme 4: Aerial photography of lakes (Gabon, Senegal, Guinea Conakry) Challenge: Many African lakes and wetlands remain little or not at all illustrated and contextualized on Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia and Wikidata, even though they are strategic for biodiversity, cultures and the effects of climate change. This low visual and informational coverage limits understanding of environmental issues and communities’ ability to reclaim these spaces through free data and images. Strategy: Launch a documentation program through aerial photography (drone, legally available aerial imagery) and contribution campaigns, in partnership with photographers in each country. Main activities: Map target lakes (Gabon, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and possibly other countries) and identify documentation needs for each (shoreline condition, islands, areas of human occupation, seasonal transitions). Organize residencies or field missions with photographers, cartographers and Wikimedians to produce series of aerial images under free licenses, while complying with local overflight and photography regulations. Upload and categorize images on Wikimedia Commons, link these files to corresponding Wikidata items for lakes, villages and protected areas, and improve related Wikipedia articles (geography, ecology, conservation issues, economic uses). Facilitate online and in-person workshops on reusing images (infographics, maps, article illustrations) and on training in contribution tools on Wikimedia Commons and Wikidata. Expected impact: Significant increase in the number of high-quality free images representing lakes and their environments (100+ images) available to researchers, teachers, media and citizens. Better understanding of environmental issues related to African lacustrine environments, thanks to more complete and better-illustrated articles in different languages. Wikipedia: 300 pages improved Wikimedia Commons: 300
Programme 5: Documentation of Ethiopia’s sacred forests Challenge: Ethiopia’s sacred forests are both biodiversity refuges and spiritual spaces, but they are very little documented in an integrated way (ecology, spirituality, community practices) on Wikimedia projects. The risk of deforestation, land pressure and loss of traditions makes it urgent to collect knowledge and visual materials under free licenses, while respecting local sensitivities. Strategy: Deploy a Wikimedian in residence with local communities to document sacred forests that combine natural and cultural heritage, using an approach that respects knowledge systems and taboos. Main activities: Identify a set of representative sacred forests (regions, ecosystem types, communities) and establish a consent and documentation protocol with local actors. Collect data on location, history, religious and social functions, remarkable species, traditional management practices, then structure them in Wikidata and Wikipedia articles. Produce photo documentation and, where acceptable, audio/video (chants, stories, interviews) to upload to Wikimedia Commons, ensuring respect for cultural constraints (non-photographable spaces, non-disclosable knowledge). Organize contribution workshops with local communities, students and researchers to co-write content, translate into local languages and integrate these sacred forests into thematic campaigns (e.g., intangible heritage or environment). Expected impact: Increased recognition of sacred forests as an essential component of Ethiopia’s natural and intangible heritage on Wikimedia projects. Strengthened capacities of local communities to document their own environmental and spiritual practices using free tools. Wikidata: Items created: 500 Statements: 2,500 Wikipedia: 130 pages improved and 80 pages created
Programme 6: Biographical documentation of Afro-descendant individuals based on public death databases in France Wiki Wake Up Africa aims to develop a program focused on biographical documentation using public death databases (such as open registries like matchID in France), to strengthen the quality, verifiability and structuring of biographical information on Wikimedia (Wikipedia and Wikidata). Challenges to address: There is a large amount of death data in the matchID registry that is little used on Wikidata and Wikipedia, even though it can help verify dates, places and identities for many people. Lack of technical and methodological skills in local communities to use open databases (APIs, CSV/JSON export, cleaning, matching with Wikidata) and to do so responsibly. Strategy Set up a program of “Biographical documentation from open death data” focusing on people already admissible on Wikipedia (public figures, artists, politicians, scientists, etc.) for whom public registries can confirm or correct information. Use open death databases as secondary sources for verification and data structuring (dates and places of death, identifiers), mainly on Wikidata, to avoid intrusive or non-encyclopedic uses. Train a core of volunteers and partners (genealogy associations, archivists, researchers) in collecting, cleaning and loading this data, within a clearly defined ethical framework. Main activities Map open and reusable death data sources (e.g., open national registries, platforms like matchID for France, other public databases depending on countries), checking their licenses and terms of use. Define a responsible-use protocol: stick to people already admissible on Wikipedia or to anonymized sets of statistical data; respect local laws on personal data; avoid any sensitive publication about non-notable persons or recent cases that could infringe privacy. Develop data models for Wikidata: properties to use for dates and places of death, links to external database identifiers (e.g., matchID identifier or equivalent), reference schemas to correctly cite the database as a source. Organize data-processing workshops: export batches of data from death databases; clean and prepare files (using tools like OpenRefine); match with existing Wikidata items (by name, birth date, occupation, etc.); add sourced statements on Wikidata. Verify and correct existing Wikipedia articles based on information now structured in Wikidata (date corrections, additions to biographical notices, harmonization between language versions). Expected impact Improved reliability of biographical information (dates and places of death, sometimes civil-status details) for many personalities already present on Wikipedia, thanks to verifiable and structured data on Wikidata. Strengthened technical skills of volunteers (data processing, matching and loading on Wikidata) and dissemination of best practices for the ethical use of sensitive databases. Creation of a methodological framework reusable by other communities, facilitating updating and maintenance of biographical data across languages and national contexts. Overall contribution to the quality of Wikimedia projects, especially in “structured data”, while respecting privacy and legal standards relating to death data. Wikidata: Items created: 500 Statements: 2,500 Wikipedia: 130 pages improved and 80 pages created
Programme 7: Senegalese women engaged in the anti-colonial struggle Wiki Wake Up Africa will develop a specific program devoted to the involvement and roles of Senegalese women in the anti-colonial struggle, in order to make their political, social, spiritual and intellectual contributions visible on Wikimedia projects, namely: Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikiquote, etc. Challenges to address Under-representation of female figures of resistance in Senegal (local leaders, religious figures, activists, market women, organizers of protests), often mentioned only marginally in historiography. Low coverage of these women on Wikipedia and Wikidata compared to male figures of the anti-colonial struggle, even though emblematic examples such as Aline Sitoé Diatta or Ndaté Yalla Mbodj show women’s central role in mobilizations against colonial power. Strategy Set up a research, documentation and contribution program centered on “Senegalese women in the anti-colonial struggle”, articulated across several scales: emblematic figures, networks of women (merchants, activists, religious women) and collective mobilizations (riots, civil-disobedience campaigns, struggles for political rights). Work in collaboration with historians, researchers, women’s associations, archives, libraries and families to identify figures and events to document, gather reliable sources and oral testimonies, and build a narrative highlighting women’s perspectives. Use Wikidata as the base for structuring information (people, dates, places, roles, affiliations, events) to connect biographies, movements and contexts, and facilitate visualizations (timelines, maps of resistance, networks). Main activities Identify and prioritize a corpus of figures and movements on women leaders of resistance (e.g., Aline Sitoé Diatta, Ndaté Yalla Mbodj and other lesser-known local figures); networks of market women, commune activists, and actors in mobilizations for political rights (such as protests for suffrage in Dakar, Saint-Louis, Gorée and Rufisque). Organize research workshops and source collection with local partners (universities, research centers, women’s associations, archives) to list articles, books, theses, archives and press documents about these women and their mobilizations; collect oral testimonies where possible from families, communities or organizations preserving their memory. Structure data in Wikidata: create and/or enrich items for the women identified, with dates, places, roles (activist, religious leader, organizer, community leader), movements and associated events; link these items to places (communes, regions, protest sites) and key events (campaigns, revolts, trials, deportations). Create and improve Wikipedia articles in several languages (French, English and local languages where possible) on individual biographies; women’s protest movements (against rice requisitions, for voting rights, against certain colonial policies); gender dynamics in Senegalese anti-colonial struggles. Document visually via Wikimedia Commons the places, objects and memorials linked to these women (statues, commemorative plaques, buildings, regional landscapes of struggle), as well as archival documents in the public domain. Organize thematic editing campaigns (e.g., “Month of Senegalese women resistors”, “Women and anti-colonial struggles in West Africa”) to mobilize the community, attract new contributors and encourage translation of content. Expected impact Stronger visibility of Senegalese women’s contributions to the anti-colonial struggle through biographies, thematic articles and structured data accessible on Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons. Enrichment of a more inclusive history of resistance that integrates not only major figures but also women’s collective mobilizations in markets, communes and religious or political movements. Strengthened community capacity (especially among women contributors) to work on gender, colonial history and memory topics by combining source research, structured data and narrative. Creation of a corpus of data and content reusable in educational projects, exhibitions, open educational resources and feminist or memorial initiatives in Senegal and internationally. Wikidata: Items created: 50 Statements: 250 Wikipedia: 200 pages improved and 70 pages created Wikidata: Items created: 50 Statements: 250 Wikipedia: 160 pages improved and 80 pages created
Programme 8: List of traditional chiefdoms in Cameroon Through this program, Wiki Wake Up Africa aims to structure and publish a list of Cameroonian traditional chiefs, relying on existing sources (WorldStatesmen, official MINAT documents, and articles/databases already partially structured). Challenges to address · Chiefdoms and traditional chiefdoms are very numerous (several hundred), dispersed by region and degree (1st, 2nd, 3rd), and available information is fragmented across specialized sites, administrative documents and local studies. · Existing lists are not systematically structured for Wikidata (lack of unified schemas, links between chiefs, chiefdoms, dates and territories), and many chiefs have no visibility on Wikipedia, even though some have major historical roles. Strategy · Establish a program “Lists and data on traditional chiefs of Cameroon” to identify, structure and publish as open data the chiefdoms and their office-holders, focusing first on 1st-degree chiefdoms and then gradually extending. · Rely on existing sources, notably historical lists of kingdoms and chiefdoms (WorldStatesmen for traditional states, dynastic lists), then rely on MINAT official documents on 1st-degree chiefdoms in Cameroon’s 10 regions. · Co-build the work with local communities and partners (administration, researchers, heritage associations) to ensure data reliability and updates. Main activities · List 1st-degree chiefdoms using MINAT documents (by region, department, commune, chiefdom name, type: lamidat, superior chiefdom, etc.). · Use historical bases and lists (WorldStatesmen, lists of kingdoms, lists of chiefs by regions such as the North-West) to complete lineages of chiefs (succession, approximate reign periods). · Build a working table (e.g., spreadsheet) with: local identifier, chiefdom name, region, department, commune, chief’s title (fon, lamido, superior chief…), name of the current chief, main historical chiefs, dates (if available). Define a data schema on Wikidata o for chiefdoms (item “traditional chiefdom”, properties: type of entity, administrative level, region, geographic coordinates, status); o for chiefs (item “person”, properties: office held, chiefdom led, start and end of reign, dynastic affiliation). · Create or complete Wikidata items for 1st-degree chiefdoms and their chiefs, citing official and historical sources. · Link these items to existing categories and articles on Wikipedia (e.g., “Chefferies traditionnelles au Cameroun”, lists of fon, lamido, Duala chiefs, etc.) Creation and improvement of Wikipedia articles · Improve the general article “Chefferies traditionnelles au Cameroun” to integrate a clear presentation of levels, legal framework and major chiefdom families (fondoms, lamidats, coastal chiefdoms, etc.). · Create or enrich articles on certain particularly important 1st-degree chiefdoms where sources allow. · Write, where notability is established, biographical articles on chiefs or dynasties with documented historical or political roles. 4. Visual documentation and mapping · Identify existing images of chiefs, chiefdoms, palaces and traditional symbols on Wikimedia Commons and link them correctly to Wikidata items. · Where possible, encourage production and upload of new photographs (sites, palaces, objects) in accordance with local practices and required permissions. · Use structured geographic data to produce maps (via external tools) showing the distribution of 1st-degree chiefdoms by region. Workshops and community validation · Organize workshops with Wikimedians, researchers and chiefdom representatives to: o verify lists, correct errors, add missing information; o explain how Wikidata and Wikipedia work; Expected impact · Creation of a structured, open and verifiable database on 1st-degree chiefdoms in Cameroon (and, ultimately, extension to other levels), accessible via Wikidata and linked to Wikipedia articles. · Better public understanding of traditional structures and their historical and contemporary roles through more complete articles, clearer lists and maps. · Increased visibility of chiefdoms and certain chiefs (traditional or historical) within the Wikimedia ecosystem, especially for regions that are sometimes poorly documented. · Development of Wikimedian skills in processing administrative and historical data, Wikidata modeling and heritage documentation, serving other projects on dynasties, chiefdoms and African heritage. Wikidata: Items created: 50 Statements: 250 Wikipedia: 160 pages improved and 80 pages created
Programme 9: Administrative divisions in Rwanda The Republic of Rwanda is divided into provinces, districts, sectors, cells and villages. The provinces (four in number) and the City of Kigali are subdivided into districts. Districts are subdivided into sectors (umurenge), which are divided into cells (akagari), themselves divided into villages. Through this program, Wiki Wake Up Africa will propose structuring and documenting Rwanda’s administrative divisions on Wikimedia projects, from provinces down to villages. Challenges to address · Rwanda’s administrative division is hierarchical across several levels (provinces, districts, sectors, cells, villages), but only provinces and part of the districts are well described and interconnected on Wikimedia. · Sectors, cells and villages are little or not at all structured in Wikidata, limiting cartographic, statistical and educational uses. · Administrative reforms and official updates are not always reflected consistently in existing articles and data. Strategy · Build a complete and up-to-date reference of Rwanda’s administrative divisions on Wikidata and Wikipedia, following the official structure (4 provinces + City of Kigali, districts, sectors, cells and villages). · Start from official sources (government site, documents on administrative structure, lists of sectors) to structure a coherent data schema. Main activities · Gather and harmonize information on the administrative hierarchy (provinces and City of Kigali, their districts, all districts and their sectors, sectors and cells, then cells and villages, as far as public data is available). · Build a working table listing for each entity: name, type (province, district, sector, cell, village), parent entity, possible administrative code, coordinates if available. · Model this hierarchy in Wikidata (create or complete items for districts, sectors and gradually cells and villages; add “part of” relations between each level). · Update and enrich Wikipedia articles (create or improve list pages: districts by province, sectors by district, etc.). · Organize workshops to train Rwandan and African volunteers in processing this data (spreadsheets, OpenRefine, Wikidata) to ensure maintenance and future updates. Expected impact · Availability of a structured, interconnected and up-to-date reference of Rwanda’s administrative divisions, usable in Wikipedia, Wikidata and by external projects (maps, studies, educational tools). · Improved understanding of Rwanda’s territory and administrative organization through more precise articles and complete lists at each level (provinces, districts, sectors, cells, villages). · Strengthened technical capacities of involved contributors and creation of a replicable working model for other African countries seeking to document their own administrative divisions. Wikidata: Items created: 50 Statements: 250 Wikipedia: 100 pages improved and 70 pages created
Programme 10: Monthly edit-a-thons Wiki Wake Up Africa will organize a program of multi-project Wikimedia edit-a-thons (Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, Wikiquote and others) to mobilize communities, train new contributors and enrich thematic content linked to the group’s priorities. Challenges to address · Low number of regular contributors on Wikimedia projects in francophone Africa, especially on sister projects (Wikidata, Wikiquote, Commons) that require specific skills. · Need to train new editors in best practices (verifiability, neutrality, data modeling, free licenses) to avoid article deletions and ensure quality. · Logistical coordination of hybrid events (in-person/online), recruitment of experienced mentors and tracking of contributions to demonstrate impact. Strategy · Organize a series of thematic edit-a-thons aligned with Wiki Wake Up Africa programs (history, memory, heritage, administration, etc.), targeting all projects: Wikipedia (articles), Wikidata (structured data), Wikimedia Commons (media), Wikiquote (quotes), and possibly Wikisource or others. · Adopt a best-practice model: SMART objectives, dedicated team (mentors, subject-matter experts), onboarding tools, quantitative/qualitative tracking and a final report. · Develop hybrid edit-a-thons, in-person in countries (Senegal, Republic of the Congo, Guinea, etc.) and online to maximize regional and international participation. Main activities · Define edit-a-thon themes (e.g.: “African dynasties and chiefdoms”, “Administrative divisions Rwanda/Cameroon”, “Women anti-colonial resistors”, “Intangible heritage”) and measurable objectives. · Recruit a team: experienced Wikimedian mentors, subject-matter experts (historians, archivists), local organizers. · Prepare resources: adapted tutorials (Wikipedia, Wikidata, Commons, Wikiquote), lists of priority topics, data models. Supervised work (3–4h: mentored editing, 1 mentor/10 participants) ; Expected impact · Significant increase in contributions (new articles, Wikidata data, Commons media, Wikiquote quotes) on priority themes for Wiki Wake Up Africa. · Training and retention of 50+ new contributors per edit-a-thon series, with a focus on women and under-represented regions. · Increased visibility of the Wikimedia movement in francophone Africa through documented events (photos, reports, social media), fostering new partnerships. · A reproducible multi-project edit-a-thon model, adaptable to other themes or countries, contributing to sustainable growth of local communities. Wikidata: Items created: 5,000 Statements: 25,000 Wikipedia: 150 pages improved and 80 pages created Wikimedia Commons: 200
Programme 10: Slave trades vessels inventory to wikidata The Wiki Wake Up Africa program on slave ships aims to document the history of the transatlantic slave trade through Wikimedia contributions, drawing inspiration from existing community models. It now includes an analysis of challenges, adapted strategies, a detailed activity timeline, and measurable impact indicators to strengthen its grant application to Wikimedia.
Main Objectives Create or improve 150 encyclopedic articles on slave ships, their voyages, and African ports, while training 100 contributors from Africa and the diaspora. Reduce historical bias on Wikipedia by promoting African and local sources. Promote community mutual support through partnerships with Wikimedians from Cameroon.
Identified Challenges
Lack of accessible sources: Archives on slave ships are often in European languages or behind paywalls (e.g., databases such as Slave Voyages). Gender bias and low participation: Women contributors are under-represented in historical topics.
Response Strategies Diversification of sources: Use free databases (Slave Voyages, UNESCO) and partnerships with African museums to access digitized documents. Targeted inclusion: Specific campaigns for women (50% quota) through Wiki Wake Up Africa.
Detailed Activities
Months 1–2 (Training): Two online workshops (Wednesdays/Saturdays, 15:00 UTC) on Wikipedia editing, reliable sources, and Wikidata (20 hours total).[1] Months 3–5 (Production): Six thematic edit-a-thons (one per port: Nantes, Liverpool, Ouidah), with a Commons photo contest on memorials. Month 6 (Evaluation): Impact report, a wrap-up webinar, and prizes for top women contributors (Wikimedia equipment).
- 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 | No |
| Technology (software development) | Yes |
| Other | Yes |
Education
- 9.1.1. Select all your programs and activities for Education. (required)
- 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)
- Vocational, tertiary, or higher education, Other groups
- Other groups if any: African natives languages support in contributions
Culture, heritage or GLAM
- 9.2. Select all your programs and activities for Culture, heritage or GLAM. (required)
- Documenting or incubating languages on Wikimedia projects, 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, Sensitize and educate for gender perspective among Wikimedia projects stewards and editors
- 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, Offering micro-funding and other financial support to community members , 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)
- Wiki Loves Monuments, Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos, Other
- Other programs and activities if any: Wikidata massing upload of data's campaigns (slave trade lists of vessels, list of african colonial soldiers deadth for France, UK,...)
Technology (software development)
- T1. Describe the technical project(s) or provide relevant links. (required) Include the following information
- Project goals, impact, and product strategy
- Technical approach, integrations, and dependencies
- Milestones, progress tracking and success metrics
- Demand and community consultations
See strategic plan
- T2. Describe the project team, maintenance, and risk management. (required) Include the following information
- Security and privacy considerations and expertise
- Mitigation of security or privacy risks
- Long-term maintenance, code documentation and licensing
- Team description with expertise, roles, contribution (hours & compensation)
See strategic plan
- T3. Approximately, how much of the requested budget will you dedicate to technical projects (local currency)? (required)
- 59621910.2 XAF
Other categories
Coaching and impact full increase of contributions froms Sub Saharan wikimedians
- 10. Please include a link to or upload a timeline (operational calendar) for your programs and activities. (required)
- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A16l7QwUrHe3BLbmomxvuF7EW1ktRFlDq-Gf1I1dkHM/edit?usp=sharing
- 11. Describe your team. (required)
· Programs Manager: Responsible for the overall management of project implementation. Provides support to staff and volunteers. Contributes to the smooth running of projects by monitoring processes, producing reports, and carrying out evaluation.
· Communications Expert: Responsible for planning WWUA’s internal, institutional, and external communication strategy. Writes articles and posts for publication across different channels, raises awareness and informs volunteers, and ensures media visibility for WWUA’s activities.
· Graphic Designer and Visual Designer: Produces visuals and publications for social media; responsible for photos and media coverage during events; supports the management of social media accounts.
· Communications Manager (Service Provider): Responsible for communications and media relations. Coordinates communications for project and program initiatives with internal and external audiences. Creates content for social media.
· Podcast Editor: Manages WWUA’s bibliographic resources.
- 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)
Wiki Wake Up Africa will rely on a structured network of partners within the Wikimedia movement and external partners to ensure the quality, legitimacy, and sustainability of its projects. Internally, the organization will work with other Wikimedia communities and affiliates in Africa to co-organize campaigns, share training resources, and coordinate coverage of themes related to dynasties, memories, and environmental heritage.
Externally, Wiki Wake Up Africa will collaborate in particular with the NGO La Route des Chefferies as part of the project to collect data on dynasties and chiefdoms, in order to facilitate access to archives, historical documentation, and iconographic resources, as well as the co-construction of content that respects local cultural contexts. The organization will also develop partnerships with the Ibuka association and other memorial structures for projects related to the duty of memory regarding the genocide against the Tutsi, ensuring an ethical framework, rigorous work on sources, and the involvement of the communities concerned.
These collaborations will be complemented by links with universities, environmental NGOs, and media outlets, in order to support research, field documentation (including aerial photography of lakes and documentation of sacred forests), and the dissemination of results to a wide audience. This entire partner network will enable Wiki Wake Up Africa to anchor its projects in local realities while contributing in a structured way to Wikimedia projects.
- 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, Improve User Experience, Provide for Safety and Inclusion, Ensure Equity in Decision-making, Coordinate Across Stakeholders, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development, Manage Internal Knowledge, Identify Topics for Impact, Innovate in Free Knowledge, Evaluate, Iterate, and Adapt
Metrics
[edit]Wikimedia Metrics
[edit]- 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.
| Metrics name | Target | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of all participants | 500 | N/A |
| Number of all editors | 500 | N/A |
| Number of new editors | 200 | |
| Number of retained editors | 300 | |
| Number of all organizers | 40 | N/A |
| Number of new organizers | 25 |
- 14.2. Number of new content contributions to Wikimedia projects. (recommended)
| Wikimedia project | Created | Edited or improved |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 6500 | 13000 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 5000 | 12000 |
| Wikidata | 200000 | 45000 |
| Wiktionary | ||
| Wikisource | ||
| Wikimedia Incubator | ||
| Translatewiki | ||
| MediaWiki | ||
| Wikiquote | ||
| Wikivoyage | ||
| Wikibooks | ||
| Wikiversity | ||
| Wikinews | ||
| Wikispecies | ||
| Wikifunctions / Abstract Wikipedia |
- Description for Wikimedia projects contributions metrics. (optional)
Other Metrics
[edit]- 15. Do you have other quantitative and qualitative targets for your project (other metrics)? (required)
- Yes
| 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
[edit]- 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)
- XAF
- 18. What is the total requested amount in your local currency? (required)
- 84261910.2 XAF
| Year | Amount (local currency) |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | N/A XAF |
| Year 2 | N/A XAF |
| Year 3 | N/A XAF |
- 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.
- 0
- 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.
- We plan to cover the cost of two part-time volunteers, who will ensure ongoing supervision of the projects launched, working four hours per day at a rate of approximately XAF 37,500 per hour worked.
- 19.3. Describe any staff or contractor changes compared to the current year / ongoing General Support Fund if any. (required only for returning grantees)
- 0 FTE, 0 PTE
- 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 | 7200000 XAF |
| Operational costs | 17440000 XAF |
| Programmatic costs | 59621910.2 XAF |
- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
Additional information
[edit]- 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 confirm that you have read and agree to the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy, and the Universal Code of Conduct.
- Yes
Feedback
[edit]- Please add any feedback to the grant discussion page only. Any feedback added here will be removed.
- Wikimedia Community Fund/Proposals
- Wikimedia Community Fund/Proposals/Not funded
- Education - General Support Funds in FY 2025-26
- Culture, heritage or GLAM - General Support Funds in FY 2025-26
- Gender and diversity - General Support Funds in FY 2025-26
- Community support and engagement - General Support Funds in FY 2025-26
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- General Support Funds in FY 2025-26 (Round 2)
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- General Support Fund proposals by Wiki Wake Up Afrique
- Not funded General Support Funds in FY 2025-26