Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund/Wikimedia Community Zanzibar General Support Fund 2026

statusNot funded

Wikimedia Community Fund

Wikimedia Community Zanzibar General Support Fund 2026

Fluxx IDR-GS-2509-20182

proposed start date2026-01-01

proposed end date2026-12-31

amount requested (local currency)73779733 TZS

amount requested (USD)28036.3 USD

grant typeGroup of individuals not registered with an organization

funding regionSSA

decision fiscal year2025-26

funding program roundRound 1

organization (if applicable)Wikimedia Community Zanzibar

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)

Wikimedia Community Zanzibar

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

No, it is my first time applying for a General Support Fund

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

Group of individuals not registered with an organization

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

No

Do you have a fiscal sponsor?

Yes

Fiscal organization name.

Kiwix

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)

Wikimedia Community Zanzibar General Support Fund 2026

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

N/A

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)

2026-01-01

4. Proposed end date. (required)

2026-12-31

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)

Yes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UVzdKfDX4gJ91VhHe6gyGYKx0YTNk10MUuxbN0lpn3U/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/1YgEUereOtQUBQPRLB4VoANeBw9J2hKH161mQE7T5-Ow/edit?usp=sharing

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

Regional (more than one country in the same continent or region)

This proposal will be implemented in Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland

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)

Wikimedia Community Zanzibar, building on its successful implementation of several programs like the Africa Wiki Challenge Campaign, Afrocreative program, and other local programs is committed to expanding the Wikimedia movement across Zanzibar by promoting community-driven programs that prioritize local content creation, inclusive participation, and knowledge equity. Our primary objective is to bridge the content and participation gaps that affect Zanzibar’s representation on Wikimedia platforms, particularly Swahili Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikiquote, and Wikidata.

Our programs focus on five strategic areas: education, content creation, gender equity, community development, and advocacy. In the education space, we plan to partner with schools and universities to integrate Wikimedia into digital literacy and research skills training. Through tailored workshops, Wikipedia and Wikidata training, and the formation of student-led Wiki Clubs, we will equip youth and educators with the tools to contribute meaningfully to the Wikimedia ecosystem. These activities will target both primary and secondary schools, along with higher education institutions, with the goal of embedding Wikimedia use into school curricula and everyday learning environments.

Content creation will focus on thematic edit-a-thons, writing contests, and photo documentation drives that prioritize Zanzibari history, culture, and underrepresented topics such as women in leadership, local knowledge systems, and environmental heritage. Wikimedia Commons will serve as repositories for visual documentation, with a strong focus on using Swahili as the primary language of contribution. This approach aligns with our mission to preserve and elevate local knowledge using a language accessible to the majority of Zanzibaris.

Gender and diversity inclusion are central to our strategies. As of 2025, women remain significantly underrepresented across Wikimedia projects. Globally, only about 19% of all Wikimedia content focuses on women, with English Wikipedia showing roughly 20% of biographies about women. On Wikidata, which hosts over 11 million biographical items, only around 82% have a recorded sex or gender value, and most of these are about men. The Wikimedia Foundation also reports that about 20% of active editors identify as women, a gap that affects not just who is represented, but also how knowledge is created and shared.

We are committed to ensuring that at least 50% of participants in every project are women and that women play leadership roles in the planning and execution of events. Specific campaigns like WikiGap Zanzibar will be implemented to increase coverage of biographies and achievements of notable women. In addition, we plan to establish mentorship and leadership incubators to empower female contributors and create a supportive environment for long-term participation.

To ensure sustainability and editor retention, we will build a supportive community through regular in-person and online meetups, mentorship pairings between experienced and new contributors, and recognition initiatives such as certificates.

On the policy and advocacy front, Wikimedia Community Zanzibar will engage education stakeholders (ie Straight Training Center in Fuoni and Growing Purpose International School both in Zanzibar), government bodies (ie COSTECH - Zanzibar), and other civil societies to promote the adoption of Wikimedia in national education policies, encourage the use of open licenses, and raise awareness about digital rights. We will initiate dialogues with decision-makers and publish briefs advocating for reforms that support free access to knowledge and digital inclusion.

Our strategies are designed to address key challenges.

• To overcome the low awareness of Wikimedia in Zanzibar, we will conduct grassroots outreach campaigns in schools, through community radio, and local media. To address the underrepresentation of Zanzibari content, we will facilitate frequent edit-a-thons and content drives focusing on local knowledge.
• For the gender imbalance, we will implement women-focused campaigns and create safer, supportive spaces for participation. Editor retention will be tackled through structured mentorship and continuous engagement, while sustainability will be supported through local partnerships and community ownership of projects.
• Many new editors struggle to stay active due to lack of mentorship and community support. By building a structured mentorship system and continuous engagement, we will ensure retention and growth.

Summary of Our Programs of Wikimedia Community Zanzibar

Zanzibar Cultural Documentation Edit-a-thon This program brings together editors to create and improve articles on Zanzibar’s unique culture, including traditions, music, cuisine, and festivals. It ensures that local knowledge is preserved and made accessible on Wikipedia.

WikiGap Zanzibar 2026 Wikigap focuses on closing the gender gap by encouraging participants to write about women leaders, changemakers, and professionals from Zanzibar and beyond. It creates more visibility for women on Wikimedia platforms.

Wikidata Training Workshop This workshop introduces participants to Wikidata, teaching them how to contribute structured data that supports Wikipedia and other projects. It is especially useful for students and researchers.

Photo Walk on Stone Town Monuments + Commons Uploads A hands-on activity where participants capture photos of monuments in Stone Town and upload them to Wikimedia Commons. It enriches the pool of free images available for Zanzibar’s heritage.

Wikiquote Edit-a-thon (Swahili Proverbs and Wisdom) This edit-a-thon focuses on collecting Swahili proverbs, sayings, and local wisdom. It contributes to Wikiquote while also preserving traditional knowledge for future generations.

Outreach Visit at SUZA and ZU University An outreach program where students and faculty at the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) are trained on Wikipedia and related projects. It strengthens academic engagement with Wikimedia.

Our theory of Change: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12x2alaw-B0WRiqHq1o5DbV74h2FPy4Tx13QT6hfGrNU/edit?usp=drive_link

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
Other	No

Education

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

Wiki Club, Editing Wikipedia Training

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)

Documenting or incubating languages on Wikimedia projects, 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

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, Organizing meetups, conferences, and community events

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Participation in campaigns and contests

9.5. Select all campaigns that apply. (required)

Art+Feminism, VisibleWikiWomen, Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Women, WikiForHumanRights, Wikipedia Birthday or Anniversary, Other

Other programs and activities if any: Africa Wiki Challenge

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

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O_wxofjt11I1X1nsuIQxyh2MbekqAYsZz_VafqUB2Z8/edit?usp=sharing

11. Describe your team. (required)

Program Coordinator Username: Mimi Prowess Role:Assists with planning and coordination of programs and their activities. Monitors implementation of program policies and practices to ensure they are followed effectively. Works to keep programs on schedule, within budget, and running smoothly. Supports program growth and development as necessary, facilitating communication among team members and stakeholders.

Project Facilitator/Administrator Officer Username:Nadya Issa Combines management and administrative skills to help guide the project team in completing tasks on time and to the required standards. Responsibilities include creating budgets and proposals, managing volunteers concerns, and monitoring project progress through each phase. Ensures project goals are met while maintaining quality and timelines.

Community Outreach Facilitator Username:Jacobgijjah Oversees the policies and strategies related to outreach programs, including budgeting, communication, education, marketing, donor relations, and coordination of events. Works to build and maintain relationships with community members and partners, ensuring outreach activities effectively promote the program’s goals.

Accountant Username:Hope Peaceh Manages the organization’s financial records, ensuring that books are accurate and balanced. Oversees budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance with tax obligations. Supports transparency and accountability in the use of funds to sustain the organization’s activities.

Project Advisor Username:Husseyn Issa Advices through ideas and activities implementation on different aspects of the operations. With experience in several wikimedia projects, he brings vital suggestions taste to the campaign.

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)

Wikimedia Community Zanzibar strongly believes in the power of collaboration and partnership to achieve our mission. Our work grows stronger and reaches further through teamwork with both Wikimedia affiliates and trusted external organizations who share our vision of open knowledge and community empowerment.

We have established meaningful partnerships with key local institutions such as Ibua Hub Zanzibar, with whom we successfully collaborated during our previous Africa Wiki Challenge Campaign. This partnership has been instrumental in mobilizing community participation and providing training spaces and hope to maintain them. We will also work closely with Straight Line Training Center found in Fuoni Zanzibar, which supports our capacity-building programs, and with COSTECH (Commission for Science and Technology Tanzania), helping us align our projects with national science and technology priorities.

Our partnerships with the University of SUZA and Zanzibar University(ZU) but also their students participating in our editathons allow us to bring Wikimedia projects into more reach and teachers to get involved as well. We will make sure we maintain the partnerships

Our Friendly Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bEV4kKjQXjb87EYD8Fq9N1Advg8M2BviCHncGo6lNaE/edit?usp=drive_link

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, Identify Topics for Impact, Innovate in Free Knowledge

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	400	N/A
Number of all editors	300	N/A
Number of new editors	200
Number of retained editors	50
Number of all organizers	20	N/A
Number of new organizers	10

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

Contributions to Wikimedia projects

Wikimedia project	Created	Edited or improved
Wikipedia	500	100
Wikimedia Commons	600	100
Wikidata	1000	50
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote	100	20
Wikivoyage
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)

73779733 TZS

Multi-year funding request summary

Year	Amount (local currency)
Year 1	N/A TZS
Year 2	N/A TZS
Year 3	N/A TZS

Requested amount in USD

28036.3 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.

3

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.

3

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

N/A

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	15000000 TZS
Operational costs	9909733 TZS
Programmatic costs	48870000 TZS

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

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cIpqlIR2AeQZVAG7MoYWsTVFDpYz4ozA/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106464869323611019095&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)

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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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