Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/WIKI-GREEN CONFERENCE 2025 (ID: 23088928)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
NanaYawBotar
- Organization
N/A
- 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.
WIKI-GREEN CONFERENCE 2025
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-07-01 - 2025-09-30
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Ghana
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
WikiForHumanRights
- 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)
Many civil society organizations (CSOs) working on sustainability and social impact in Ghana lack knowledge and capacity to leverage Wikimedia and other open projects for advocacy, research, and public engagement. Despite the availability of the platforms, these CSOs are not actively using contributing knowledge related to environmental sustainability, climate action, and human rights.
The main challenges include: 1. Limited awareness of how Wikimedia projects can be used for CSO advocacy and documentation.
2.Knowledge gaps on sustainability topics in local languages and within Wikimedia projects.
3.Lack of technical skills among CSOs to create, edit, and maintain Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons content. Our approach to solve these challenges includes:
Capacity-building workshops to train CSO representatives on Wikimedia editing, content creation, and data structuring for sustainability topics.
Networking and mentorship programs to connect CSOs with experienced Wikimedia contributors.
Collaborations with Wikimedia user groups and environmental experts to improve Wikipedia and Wikidata content on sustainability.
Follow-up engagement and resource toolkits to ensure long-term participation.
- 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.
Preconference Needs Assessment Survey The preconference survey aims to assess Ghanaian CSOs' awareness, skills, and interest in using Wikimedia projects for advocacy, public engagement, research, and policy influence. The insights gathered will help shape the conference agenda and ensure workshops are tailored to participants' needs. The target group includes members of the Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs and other CSO networks.
IN Person Conference in Accra The conference will bring together 100–150 participants from CSOs working in environment, health, education, youth, and governance. Core activities include keynote presentations by Wikimedia experts and civic leaders, alongside interactive workshops covering Wikipedia’s role in advocacy, hands on editing (Wikipedia, Wikidata, Commons), and applications of Wikimedia tools for policy and transparency. Panel discussions will explore topics like localizing knowledge and open governance, while sector specific breakout sessions will foster deeper dialogue.
Post Conference Follow-up and Mentorship To sustain momentum, a community of practice will be established for participating CSOs, supported by customized Wikimedia toolkits for organizational use. A mentorship program led by experienced Wikimedians will further embed open knowledge practices within CSO workflows.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Knowledge Sharing Post event, a survey and reflection session will capture feedback, while a MetaWiki report will document outcomes, lessons, and media coverage. A repository of case studies will also be developed to showcase how CSOs can leverage Wikimedia tools, ensuring long term knowledge sharing.
- 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.
Stephen Dakyi (User:NanaYawBotar) is an experienced Wikimedia volunteer and event organizer, trained as a campaign coordinator through the Wikimedia Foundation’s Organizer’s Lab Project. As the founder of the DABY Foundation and lead of the Ghana Histo Cita-thon project, he champions Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and youth empowerment. In this program, he will serve as Project Lead, overseeing coordination, communications, and training.
Otuo-Akyampong Boakye (User:Otuo-Akyampong_Boakye) is an educator, open knowledge advocate, and dedicated Wikipedian driving community change. As president of the Eco-Warriors Movement and convener of the Kumasi Wikihub, he fosters collaborative learning among volunteers. His role focuses on stakeholder mobilization, conference logistics, and technical discussions as a volunteer contributor.
Maxwell Beganim (User:Xibitgh) is a skilled Wikipedia editor, trainer, and climate activist affiliated with the Strategic Youth Network for Development. He will co-facilitate training sessions and spearhead partnership engagement.
Ruby Damenshie-Brown (User:Ruby D-Brown) – Advisor Ruby is a Wikimedian and the Africa Regional Coordinator for WikiForHumanRights. She is also the WikiWomen User Group Representative (2024–2025), a co-founder of Africa Wiki Women, and former Program Manager at Open Foundation West Africa. Ruby brings a wealth of experience in advocacy, community leadership, and Wikimedia project coordination. As an advisor, she will provide strategic guidance to ensure the conference aligns with the goals of the WikiForHumanRights Campaign and supports sustainable development priorities through Wikimedia platforms.
- 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 primary target participants are civil society organizations (CSOs) based in Ghana, with a special focus on members of the Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs and allied advocacy groups working in the areas of: Environmental sustainability, Education and health, Human rights, Gender equality, Policy and governance This community represents a network of actors committed to social impact, yet many lack awareness or capacity to use Wikimedia and other open knowledge projects as tools for advocacy, research, and public engagement.
Pre-Conference Engagement To ensure relevance and active participation:
- A pre-event survey will be conducted to assess existing knowledge and capacity gaps among CSOs in relation to Wikimedia platforms.
- An open call for participation will be shared via mailing lists, social media, and platforms of the Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs.
- Confirmed participants will receive a digital briefing pack with introductory content on Wikimedia and open knowledge.
Engagement During the Conference
- Participants will be actively involved in interactive workshops, breakout sessions by sector, and live editing sessions on Wikipedia and Wikidata.
- Trainers will offer hands-on demonstrations and guided activities aligned with the interests identified through the pre-event survey.
- There will be sector-specific group sessions to allow participants to explore how Wikimedia tools apply directly to their work areas (e.g., health, environment, governance).
Post-Conference Follow-Up
- Participant will be encouraged to join the existing WhatsApp platforms, where they will be supported by experienced Wikimedians, to continue peer learning and collaboration.
- Participants will receive a post-event toolkit and recording of the training sessions.
- A mentorship program will support CSOs interested in developing Wikimedia-based content or projects.
- Regular check-ins and feedback loops will be used to track the progress of implementation by participating CSOs.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
Yes
- 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.
https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Friendly_space_policy#Youth_Safety
- 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.
The planning of the 2025 Wiki-Green Conference was shaped through collaborative discussions with stakeholders from the Wikimedia and civil society communities in Ghana. Building on the support from the previous edition, the project aligns with the Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs and the Wiki for Human Rights campaign.
Leveraging existing WhatsApp groups, we consulted members of the Wikimedia community in Ghana, past Wiki-Green volunteers, and open knowledge advocates to validate the conference's relevance and scope.
Feedback from participants and facilitators of the 2024 Wiki-Green Conference was also reviewed to refine the 2025 strategy and theme.
Additionally, we engaged directly with CSOs through partnership outreach, agenda reviews, and a pre-event survey to assess needs. The planning aligns with global Wikimedia priorities on knowledge equity and sustainability. This collaborative approach ensures the conference is inclusive, community-driven, and strategically relevant.
- 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)
Other Important Topics (topics considered to be of impact or important in the specific context)
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Climate Change and sustainability
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Identify Topics for Impact
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through the Wiki-Green Conference 2025, we aim to deepen our understanding of how civil society organizations (CSOs) in Ghana can effectively adopt and integrate Wikimedia and other open knowledge tools into their advocacy, research, and public engagement strategies. We hope to explore the following Learning Questions: 1. Capacity & Awareness: To what extent are CSOs in Ghana aware of and capable of using Wikimedia projects for their sustainability and development-focused work? 2. Relevance of Wikimedia Tools: Which Wikimedia platforms (e.g., Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons) are most applicable to the work of CSOs, and how can these platforms be tailored to their needs? 3. Barriers to Participation: What are the key challenges preventing CSOs from engaging with open knowledge ecosystems, and how can these be addressed through training and partnership? 4. Sustainability of Engagement: What strategies are most effective in ensuring that CSOs continue to use and contribute to Wikimedia projects beyond the conference? 5. Campaign Impact: How does aligning the conference with the WikiForHumanRights Campaign enhance visibility, collaboration, and alignment with global advocacy priorities? We will collect data through pre- and post-event surveys, participant feedback, documentation of contributions to Wikimedia projects, and follow-up interviews with selected CSOs. These findings will help refine future outreach, training, and partnerships to strengthen the role of open knowledge in Ghana’s development ecosystem.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 150 | |
| Number of editors | 100 | |
| Number of organizers | 4 |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 200 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 200 |
| Wikidata | 500 |
| 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)
Yes
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Number of CSO Representatives Trained | Number of civil society representatives who attend and complete at least one capacity-building session on using Wikimedia tools. | 120 |
| Number of New Wikimedia Accounts Created | Number of participants who create new Wikimedia user accounts during the event to enable contribution to Wikipedia, Wikidata, or related platforms. | 80 |
| Number of Organizations Committing to Use Wikimedia Tools | CSOs that will indicate through the post-conference survey or MoUs their intention to incorporate Wikimedia tools into their advocacy, education, or outreach work. | 30 |
| 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)
Programs and Events 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/1MwM-CdDlI2r6sVXWjGWL0ZXbYNtUuoDT9xaZdXCGoOU/edit?usp=sharing
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
70926.3 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.
4934 USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and 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).