Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/African Women Against Gender-Based Violence (ID: 23940432)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Ruby D-Brown (talk • accounts • contributions • edit count)
- Organization
Africa Wiki Women
- If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)
N/A
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
Main Proposal
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
African Women Against Gender-Based Violence
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-10-01 - 2026-11-01
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Regional (more than one country in the same continent or region) Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinée Conakry, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
WikiGap
- 6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)
The change we are trying to bring is a stronger and more visible record of African women’s leadership, advocacy, and lived realities in the fight to end violence against women and girls. Africa Wiki Women was founded to close the gender gap in knowledge creation and amplify African women’s voices across digital and open knowledge spaces, and this proposal extends that mission into the 16 Days of Activism period, which runs from 25 November to 10 December and is a global call to action against violence against women. That period matters because violence against women remains a persistent human-rights violation, and the campaign is meant to raise awareness, challenge harmful attitudes, and support better laws and services.
The main problem we are trying to solve is that African women and African-led responses to gender-based violence are still underrepresented on Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. Important women human rights defenders, activists, researchers, organizations, campaigns, and community solutions are often missing, poorly referenced, or not connected with structured data and images. This means that people searching for information do not easily find African perspectives, their local language versions and that the knowledge already being produced by African women is not fully visible in open knowledge spaces. Africa Wiki Women’s previous campaigns show that this approach works: the community already runs training, mentorship, edit-a-thons, and collaborative programs to create and improve content, and its 2024 campaign produced new articles, translations, expanded articles, and Wikidata items across African languages and countries.
For example 20 articles on GBV that are on the English Wikipedia are not available on the French Wikipedia ;https://gap-atlas.toolforge.org/results/4fce8c24-1269-4777-b969-02a71f912db3 ; 27 of these articles a not not available in Swahili and igbo Wikipedia among others https://gap-atlas.toolforge.org/results/986be73d-366a-4e9f-b68a-76bc83b235a5 .
Furthermore, violence against women by country (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_women#Africa ) only featured 6 African countries out of the 54 African countries which shows a significant gap in coverage particularly on the English Wikipedia itself.
We chose this approach because it combines awareness, skills-building, and content creation in a way that directly addresses the gap. Training and mentorship help new and existing contributors learn how to contribute responsibly; edit-a-thons and Wikidata drives turn that learning into measurable content; and Wikimedia Commons uploads help preserve visual documentation that makes African women’s stories easier to find and reuse. This is a broader strategy, not just a set of activities: it builds a sustainable community of contributors while improving the quality, depth, and discoverability of information about African women and anti-violence work. Africa Wiki Women already has an active program structure and a year-round commitment to creating and improving content about African women and African culture, which gives this campaign a strong foundation for impact.
- 7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.
Africa Wiki Women will implement a series of activities between October and November 2026 to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
1. Awareness and Orientation Series (3 Online Sessions) The campaign will begin with three online orientation sessions focused on: Understanding gender-based violence (GBV) and the significance of the 16 Days of Activism. Discussions with gender-focused organizations and women’s leadership forums on global and African efforts to address GBV. Identifying knowledge and gender gaps related to African women on Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikiquote, and exploring how the Africa Wiki Women community can contribute to closing these gaps.
2. Capacity Building Workshops We will organize online training sessions for new and returning editors on Wikipedia editing, sourcing, translation, Wikidata contributions, and Wikimedia Commons uploads, including file descriptions and licensing.
3. Continental Edit-a-thon Campaign Participants will create and improve content related to African women, women’s rights advocates, anti-GBV organizations, campaigns, policies, activists, and community initiatives across Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons.
4. Wikimedia Commons and Social Media Awareness Activities The campaign will include a community pledge video compilation for the 16 Days of Activism and a social media awareness campaign featuring quotes from African women sourced from Wikiquote and other Wikimedia projects.
5. Community Leadership Events To promote leadership development, one Africa Wiki Women graduate mentee and one fellow will receive support to organize in-person community editing events in their respective countries.
6. Closing, Recognition, and Reporting Session The campaign will conclude with a community showcase to celebrate contributors, share outcomes, recognize achievements, and report on the campaign’s impact. These activities combine awareness, capacity building, content creation, and community leadership to effectively address knowledge gaps about African women and efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls across Wikimedia platforms. Africa Wiki Women will implement a multi-stage campaign in October–November 2026 to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The campaign will begin with a series of three online orientation sessions designed to build awareness, deepen understanding, and prepare participants for meaningful Wikimedia contributions.
- 8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.
Ruby D-Brown – Project Lead Wikimedia Username: Ruby D-Brown Ruby D-Brown serves as the Project Lead and is responsible for the overall coordination, planning, and successful implementation of the project. She oversees project activities, supervises team members, manages reporting and documentation, and coordinates partnerships and stakeholder engagement. In addition, she designs and facilitates training sessions, supports both new and returning editors, and leads the mentorship component to ensure participants receive the guidance and support needed to grow within the Wikimedia movement.
Blessing Ojewuyi Timothy – Wikipedia and Wikidata Trainer Wikimedia Username: Ojewuyib Blessing Ojewuyi Timothy serves as the Wikipedia and Wikidata Trainer, leading capacity-building activities focused on content creation and data contribution across Wikimedia projects. He prepares article and contribution lists, facilitates training sessions on Wikipedia and Wikidata editing, supports participants in improving content quality, and monitors editor contributions throughout the project. He also provides technical guidance to participants to help them develop their editing skills and confidence.
Adeyinka Ekundayo – Wikimedia Commons and Social Media Lead Wikimedia Username: Adeyinka Ekundayo Adeyinka Ekundayo leads Wikimedia Commons and social media activities for the project. She supports participants in uploading media files, creating accurate file descriptions, and understanding Wikimedia Commons licensing requirements. She is also responsible for developing campaign visuals, documenting project activities, increasing project visibility through social media engagement, and promoting awareness of project outcomes within and beyond the Wikimedia community.
Francophone Community Facilitators Wikimedia Username: Mammysou17 The graduate mentees and fellows serve as Francophone Community Facilitators, supporting both online and in-person project activities. They help mobilize participants from French-speaking communities, assist with facilitation and participant engagement, provide language and communication support where necessary, and contribute to outreach efforts. Their involvement helps strengthen inclusion and ensures broader participation from Francophone Wikimedia communities across Africa.
- 9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)
The target participants are members of the Africa Wiki Women community, including new and returning Wikimedia editors, women contributors, graduate mentees, fellows, and volunteers from across Africa. We will also engage participants from partner communities such as women’s leadership forums, gender-focused organizations, student groups, researchers, activists, and other Wikimedia contributors interested in gender equity and African women’s representation.
Engagement Before and During Activities Before the activities, we will use Africa Wiki Women’s communication channels, social media platforms, mailing lists, and community networks to announce the campaign, share registration information, and explain the theme and objectives. We will also work with partners and community leaders to help mobilize participants. During the activities, participants will be engaged through interactive online orientation sessions, hands-on training workshops, edit-a-thons, mentorship support, and regular check-ins. We will provide task lists, reading materials, and contribution guidance to help participants stay active and contribute meaningfully across Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikiquote.
Follow-up After Activities After the campaign, we will follow up with participants through thank-you messages, feedback forms, and a closing review session. We will also share campaign results, recognize contributors, and encourage interested participants to remain active in Africa Wiki Women’s ongoing community and future campaigns. Selected participants, especially new editors, will be added to our mentorship and follow-up networks for continued support and retention.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
No
- 10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.
N/A
- 11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.
We informed the community members about the project through our social media handles (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and our metapage.
- 12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Content Gender gap
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Gender and diversity
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Gender Identity
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through this project, we hope to learn how effectively awareness-building, training, and collaborative editing can help Africa Wiki Women address knowledge gaps about African women and gender-based violence across Wikimedia projects. Learning questions
Which orientation and awareness activities best help participants understand the 16 Days of Activism, GBV, and the related knowledge gaps on Wikimedia platforms?
Which training formats are most effective in helping new and returning editors contribute confidently to Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons?
What kinds of content about African women and GBV-related issues are most needed and most successfully improved during the campaign?
How effective are partnerships with gender-focused organizations, women’s leadership forums, and community leaders in mobilizing participants and improving content quality?
What kinds of support help new contributors stay active after the campaign ends?
How can Africa Wiki Women improve future campaigns so that more African women’s stories, advocacy work, and contributions are visible and preserved across Wikimedia projects?
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 70 | This includes the 50 editors, additional community members who join the orientation sessions and awareness activities, and invited partner participants. |
| Number of editors | 50 | These are the contributors who will actively edit Wikimedia projects during the campaign. |
| Number of organizers | 6 | This includes the project lead, facilitators, trainers, community coordinators, and social media/content support team. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 60 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 25 |
| Wikidata | 120 |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
N/A
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
No
| Main Open 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 |
- 20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)
Event registration tool, Google form, Programs dashboard,
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U6wz9GKPzx2RsUhKenAY0XQzILTbn7Y1psbqSu_iBMc/edit?gid=0#gid=0
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
55893.05 GHS
- 22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.
4995 USD
- 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
Endorsements and Feedback
[edit]Please add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.
Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:
- Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
- Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
- Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
- Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
- Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).