Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Wiki In Africa’s exciting program of activities over 2022

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statusCompleted
Wiki In Africa’s exciting program of activities over 2022
start date2022-01-012022-01-01T00:00:00Z
end date2022-12-312022-12-31T00:00:00Z
budget (local currency)2060700 ZAR
amount requested (USD)135300 USD
amount recommended (USD)135300
grant typeNonprofit organization with Wikimedia mission
funding regionSSA
decision fiscal year2021-22
funding program roundRound 1
applicant and people related to proposalAnthere Islahaddow
organization (if applicable)Wiki in Africa
Midpoint Learning Report 
Final Learning Report

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Applicant details[edit]

Wikimedia username(s):

Anthere

Islahaddow

Organization:

Wiki in Africa

G. Have you received grants from the Wikimedia Foundation before?

Applied previously and did receive a grant

H. Have you received grants from any non-wiki organization before?

Yes

H.1 Which organization(s) did you receive grants from?

Fondation Orange (always through a fiscal sponsor as they can not send money to SA)

Goethe Institute Moleskine Foundation Creative Commons Wikimedia CH

M. Do you have a fiscal sponsor?

No

M1. Fiscal organization name.

N/A

Additional information[edit]

R. Where will this proposal be implemented?

South Africa

S. Please indicate whether your work will be focused on one country (local), more than one or several countries in your region (regional) or has a cross-regional (global) scope:

International

S1. If you have answered regional or international, please write the country names and any other information that is useful for understanding your proposal.

T. If you would like, please share any websites or social media accounts that your group or organization has. (optional)

Wiki In Africa

Meta: https://w.wiki/3pZe Website: www.wikiinafrica.org News: https://www.wikiinafrica.org/newsletters/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/WikiInAfrica Facebook: @WikiAfrica Twitter: @WikiAfrica

Activities Wiki Loves Women website: http://www.wikiloveswomen.org Wiki Loves Africa website: http://www.wikilovesafrica.net WikiChallenge African Schools: https://w.wiki/4w2i WikiFundi website: http://www.wikifundi.org ISA Tool: https://isa.toolforge.org/ WikiAfrica Hour: https://w.wiki/3E6L

M. Do you have a fiscal sponsor?

No

M1. Fiscal organization name.

N/A

Proposal[edit]

1. What is the overall vision of your organization and how does this proposal contribute to this? How does this proposal connect to past work and learning?

Wiki In Africa’s mission is to facilitate global access for all to open knowledge that reflects the diverse cultures, biodiversities, peoples, and histories of the African continent and other previously marginalized and disenfranchised communities with the same depth and breadth as other knowledges.

For more detail consult Wiki In Africa’s Strategy and Annual plan here: https://www.wikiinafrica.org/wiki-in-africa-annual-plan-2022/

2. What is the change that you are trying to bring about and why is this important?

4.1 billion people are online (ITU, 2020) – meaning that 3.6 billion are not connected, despite 97% of the global population being within reach of a mobile signal. 56% of the populations of Least Developed Countries are offline.

In Africa, 29% of individuals use the internet despite 79.5% mobile coverage (2019). Only 28% of urban households had internet access (6% in rural areas).

Women’s Internet use lags behind men. Globally, 48% of women use the Internet, versus 55% of men. In Africa, the internet usage rate drops to 37% for men and 20% for women. The digital gender gap in Africa is widening with the Gender Parity score of 0.79 (2013) dropping to 0.54 in 2019.

The ITU suggests this is caused by: A lack of digital skills (access, education) Affordability (data, technology, education costs) A lack of content that: People are interested in Relates the experience of the reader Reflects their cultural viewpoints and perspectives

This lack of information that people want or need to consume is a vicious cycle. If they do not see themselves reflected online with articles in their language and relevant to their experiences, they are unlikely to contribute content. If they do not find recognisable experiences and perspectives on knowledge platforms, few will return. Leaving nobody behind is a central precept of the UN’s SDGs.

At 21 billion page views/month (Sept 2021), the Wikimedia projects are the most accessed Open Education Resources globally. Yet only 18% of all Wikimedia content relates to women. Africa has almost double the population of Europe, but the total number of Africa-related articles amount to 15% of Europe’s articles. Given the ITU stats, it is not surprising that 1.5% of Wikipedia editors are in Africa, despite Africa’s population being 17% of the world’s total.

Since 2016, Wiki In Africa has developed successful free-to-access open programs that focus on strategic sectors to address the significant barriers to access and digital skill acquisition, and thus encourage content contribution. Our programs lower access, transfer skills, develop leaders, and build communities. Collectively, they address representation by bridging the contribution and content gaps that perpetuate the digital divide that plagues Africa. Thousands of WIA participants add content ‘their’ Africa and shares the knowledges, cultures, and lived realities of Africa, and decolonizes online knowledge.

3. Describe your main approaches or strategies to achieve these changes and why you think they will be effective.

In line with organisational goals, the programs have four key strategic objectives:

1. inform, make visible and advocate about the issues
2. provide multiple fun, engaging and accessible ways and formats for individuals to contribute
3. identify and train leaders to activate open movement projects, and
4. grow networks of communities that boost the open movement, reduce knowledge gaps and facilitate cross-pollination between communities

Wiki In Africa’s projects pose Wikimedia-based solutions by addressing contributor and content gaps through six strategic sectors enacted in 2022 via 15 key activities.

MULTIMEDIA: AFRICAN VISUAL NARRATIVE Wiki Loves Africa is an annual photo contest that is run across the African continent

  1. 1: WLA annual photographic contest (Feb-April 2022)
  2. 2: WLA ISA campaign (Oct-Dec)
  3. 3: WPWP WLA campaign (July-Aug)
  4. 4: Wide Angle training – based on Nos Jardins (external funds)

GENDER EQUITY Wiki Loves Women activates and trains leaders to implement their own programs

  1. 5 : WLW Focus Group: 18 women from 12 African countries activate their communities
  2. 6 : WLW Equity Course: full immersion into the gender gap (external funds)
  3. 7 : #SheSaid global campaign (Nov-Dec): annual campaign on Wikiquote
  4. 8: ISA global campaign (March)
  5. 9: Inspiring Open podcasts – launch 2022 (externally funded)

EDUCATION

  1. 10: WikiChallenge Ecoles d’Afrique: 5th writing contest in 9 francophone African countries involving primary schools using WikiFundi. (external funds)
  2. 11: WikiAfrica OER curation and creation – curated resources for offline use on WikiFundi + IP and copyright teaching materials

ACCESS: TECH SOLUTIONS

  1. 12 : WikiFundi – promote 2021 release (English, French, and Spanish)
  2. 13: ISA Tool - Update tool in 2022 in partnership with Wikimedia SV

COMMUNITY

  1. 14 : WikiAfrica Hour – live broadcast to members of the WikiAfrica movement informing about Africa and global WM activities

GLAM & HERITAGE

  1. 15: Training GLAM – training of GLAM professionals (launched 2021)

During 2022, overarching additional focuses include:

1. build inter-project communities,
2. train and mentors leaders,
3.train key skill groups, i.e. photographers,
4. foster digital skills within and contribution by the next generation,
5. advocate for open practices through external-focused campaigns, and
6. expand our circle of friends in the open knowledge movement.

See https://www.wikiinafrica.org/wiki-in-africa-annual-plan-2022/ for smart objectives for each program.

4. What are the activities you will be developing and delivering as part of these approaches or strategies?

To achieve the main mission of Wiki In Africa, we have the following goals:

Goal 1 is to provide multiple ways (and reduce the barriers) for individuals and partnering organizations to contribute their knowledge to the open movement and thereby reduce knowledge gaps and redress biases.

Goal 2 is to build the capacity of a network of leaders across Africa and developing communities, who are committed to boosting the open movement, reducing knowledge gaps, and redressing biases.

5. Do you want to apply for multi-year funding?      

Yes

5.1 If yes, 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?

20% increase per year

6. Please include a timeline (operational calendar) for your proposal.

7. Do you have the team that is needed to implement this proposal?

Name: Florence Devouard Role: Co-Lead Username: Anthere Responsibilities: General management, coordination, and oversight of the Wiki In Africa programs, staff, and organization. Responsibilities include strategy, funding prospecting, and research, project rollout, on-wiki communications, prep and evaluation, tech development, and staff support. Organisationally, she manages the financial accounts and generates the financial report

Name: Isla Haddow-Flood Role: Co-Lead Username: Islahaddow Responsibilities: General management, coordination, design, and oversight of the Wiki In Africa programs, staff, and organization. Responsibilities include strategy, funding applications, project rollout, brand management, communications, processes, and staff development. Organisationally, she manages all payments, legal elements and generates the annual report. WLA communication and jury management

Name: (currently) Ceslause Obanaya Role: Wiki Loves Africa & Education administrative assistant| WikiAfrica Hour host Username: Ceslause Responsibilities: Facilitate the WLA organizer meetings, and facilitate the international jury process. In addition for all projects (with exception of WLW) liaise over comms plan, act as a community liaison and provide project support. Continue to develop and expand WikiAfrica Hour, in consultation with Isla and Florence

Name: (currently) Candy Kholihwe Role: Wiki Loves Women administrative assistant Username: Shoodho Responsibilities: For Wiki Loves Women facilitate and plan Focus Group meetings, liaise over larger comms plans, act as community liaison, and provide project support as needed on all gender-equity programs

Name: *Intern Role: Community engagement and facilitation Username: *tba Responsibilities: Promote events, training sessions, and opportunities per project across all social media; update websites and chase community contributions to blog posts, etc. Assist with podcast and WikiAfrica hour pre and post elements and noise

8. Please state if your proposal aims to work to bridge any of the identified CONTENT knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select up to THREE that most apply to your work.

Content Gender gap, Geography, Language, Socioeconomic Status, Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial

8.1 In a few sentences, explain how your work is specifically addressing this content gap (or Knowledge inequity) to ensure a greater representation of knowledge.


9. Please state if your proposal includes any of these areas or THEMATIC focus. Select up to THREE that most apply to your work and explain the rationale for identifying these themes.

Education, Culture, heritage or GLAM , Open Technology, Diversity

10. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Please note, we had previously asked about inclusion and diversity in terms of CONTENTS, in this question we are asking about the diversity of PARTICIPANTS. Select up to THREE that most apply to your work.

Gender Identity, Geographic , Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background, Linguistic / Language, Socioeconomic status, Age, Digital Access

11. What are your strategies for engaging participants, particularly those that currently are non-Wikimedia?

6 key stages in the participant’s journey have been identified through 10 years of experience with Wikimedia projects across Africa. The stages range from passive observers to organisers or activators. In the middle are activists (participants) and supporters (social ambassadors).

Our activities are focused on two key areas:

  • facilitating activists to participate (through easy to access campaigns and contests), and
  • building skills and developing the Wikiverse knowledge of activators to build community builders and organise campaigns

The participant starts as unaware and then becomes observers (curious, but not sure how to be involved). Supporters share WIA opportunities (social media/word of mouth).

Activists actively participate either as individuals (via online contests or drives) or as part of a group at a local event. Activists participate in Wiki Loves Africa, ISA Tool drives, WPWP, or Wiki Loves Women’s SheSaid campaigns. The pupils engaged through WikiChallenge are considered activists. Through participation, some activists become active group members and acquire Wiki skills immersion in local or global WM events.

The final stage is to become an activator or organizer, as a leader of programs and teams. This stage requires training, mentorship, and support via such initiatives as Wiki Loves Women Focus Group, Wiki Loves Africa organiser support initiatives, WikiChallenge facilitator training, etc.

The participant’s journey is a funnel that ends with the activator role. Sustainability, scalability, and growth are ensured through the knowledge acquired through our programs, which also consolidates their immersion into the Wikimedia Movement.

Sustainability is supported by:

  • Introduction to and training in WMF processes, i.e. Meta, funding, documentation, community building, best practices, and metrics
  • Program, skills, and leadership development through our webinars, office hours, working sessions, mentorship, communications support, etc.
  • Programs and campaigns designed to involve existing communities
  • Visibility and acknowledgment of winners and participants through social media, newsletter announcements, presentations to the WM community, press releases, WikiAfrica Hour coverage, etc.
  • Busy Telegram channels build cohesion, solidarity, and support within groups
  • Partnerships with local organizations encouraged for additional support, i.e. event venues (space, internet access, logistics), communications, interested member networks, etc.

12. In what ways are you actively seeking to contribute towards creating a safer, supportive, more equitable environment for participants and promoting the UCOC and Friendly Space Policy, and/or equivalent local policies and processes?

Safety and security are of paramount importance for us as an organization. We are only as strong as the group of people who wish to be involved in our projects. The projects can only sustain people if they are welcoming, nurturing, and safe. As such, we ensure that all our programs include training on and reference to the UCOC and Friendly Space Policy.

Further, beyond our projects, we ensure that the larger community is kept informed with changes and opportunities that arise through the community consultation process by covering the UCoC process on WikiAfrica Hour. Episode 6 [1] covered the current state of the UCoC process. We will continue with this practice.

13. Do you have plans to work with Wikimedia communities, groups, or affiliates in your country, or in other countries, to implement this proposal?

Yes

13.1 If yes, please tell us about these connections online and offline and how you have let Wikimedia communities know about this proposal.

WIA programs are designed for WM communities. We discuss plans, consulting via meetings, polls and surveys. Examples of methods include:

  • WLA supports Africa’s WM groups through a meta page, meetings, webinars, shared best practices and tools, and Telegram. The organisers’ survey records experiences and polls themes. Global WM is informed via Telegram, Wikimedia-L, DIFF, presentations at Wikimania, WikiArabia, WikiIndaba, etc. and via contest page, website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram campaigns and youtube.
  • WLW consults its members (individuals from WM training (e.g. AFLia) or Africa’s UGs) and WLW Advisory Committee (WLW alumni and Gender Gap UG leaders). Focus Group discuss on Telegram. WLW activity recorded on meta, en.wp, fr.wp, website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Guests for WLW’s podcast were nominated by WM members.
  • The WikiFundi offline tool was created to support WM groups. Partnerships through discussion with UG leaders (e.g. WikiFundi used in OFWA’s Kiwix4School)

14. Will you be working with other external, non-Wikimedian partners to implement this proposal?

Yes

14.1 Please describe these partnerships and what motivates the potential partner to be part of the proposal and how they add value to your work.

Historically, most WiA initiatives have received external project funding.

In 2022, our main external partnership is (since 2014) with Orange Foundation and their local affiliates in 9 Francophone countries on the WikiChallenge Offline Education project. WikiChallenge is also supported through the Vikidia community and on-the-ground training/liaison provided by some Wikimedia affiliates.

WikiChallenge has a “host page” on Vikidia, a meta page, and Facebook page. It is often featured at Wikimedia events (Wikimania, WikiIndaba, WikiConvention francophone), on Wikimedia France blog, in the Education Newsletter. Fondation Orange provides funding, a network of schools, computer equipment for the schools, local facilitators, and communications support.

Other external partners in 2022 include the Goethe-Institut (direct funding, venue access, and communication support), and the Simon’s Town Museum (facilitation, network, communications).

15. How do you hope to sustain or expand the work carried out in this proposal after the grant?

Our mission is ambitious. The contribution and content gaps are significant and healing the systemic damage is a long process. True contribution and knowledge equity will not be achieved without the involvement of multiple partners, aligned movements and individuals across different, often intersecting, sectors.

Most of our programmatic objectives are designed to encourage tiered levels of participation, both in our programs and the wider WM movement. As Wiki In Africa, our sustainability focuses are to:

1. Reach and support new or fledgling communities and new isolated individuals in Africa through our programs and assist in their transition from activists to activators.
2. Expand the core team to better balance the workload, benefit from the advanced skills of all staff, and incorporate multiple voices, experiences and passions. Until this year there were 2 core staff. In 2021, the 2 additional members increased motivation and expanded the scope of the projects through the integration of their networks and ideas.
3. External consultation and consistent effort to secure external funding to scale and extend programmatic impact through layered activities. In 2021, WIA received funding from Orange Fondation, Goethe-Institut, Movetia, Wikimedia CH.
4. Organisational development through internal analysis, process consolidation, communications strategy, and staff development. In 2021, this approach resulted in Wiki In Africa’s Theory of Change and a reviewed strategic plan.

16. What kind of risks do you anticipate and how would you mitigate these. This can include factors such as external/contextual issues that may affect implementation, as well as internal issues, such as governance/leadership changes.

n/a (note from GA: this is a new/modified question added after this application was granted)

17. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select a maximum of three options that most apply.

Provide for Safety and Inclusion, Coordinate Across Stakeholders, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development

18. Please state if your organization or group has a Strategic Plan that can help us further understand your proposal. You can also upload it here.  

Upload Strategic Plan

Learning, Sharing, and Evaluation[edit]

19. What do you hope to learn from your work in this fund proposal?

The Wiki In Africa programs are designed to be both multilayered and adaptive and are constantly tested to ensure that short-term and long-term implications are charted and considered. It is important that we constantly learn from our work and apply those lessons back into the work itself. Specific learnings per project over 2022 include:

WLW:

  • How much impact has the Focus Group had on local community growth and development?
  • How empowered do women feel through the program and initiatives?
  • How do communications, engagement, and event tactics compare across cultures and spaces, and why?
  • What keeps participants returning to events?
  • How do we chart their participation journey?
  • What impact does the podcasts have on the audience?

WLA:

  • What is the photographers’ journey through the contest?
  • What do photographers need to contribute beyond the contest to Commons?
  • What do experienced organizers need to increase the impact on the community of their participation in Wiki Loves Africa?

WikiChallenge African Schools:

  • How much do the children get out of it?
  • How important is it for teachers to get involved?
  • Does it have an impact beyond the contest?

WikiFundi:

  • How is WikiFundi used, and in what way?
  • What impact does it have in each sector?

WikiAfrica Hour:

  • How effective is this format for imparting knowledge, building community skills, cohesion, and shared purpose?
  • WikiAfrica Hour:
  • Does this format work?
  • Is it replicable in other regions by other communities?

20. Based on these learning questions, what is the information or data you need to collect to answer these questions? Please register this information (as metric description) in the following space provided.

Main 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

Here are some additional metrics that you can use if they are relevant to your work. Please note that this is just an optional list, mostly of quantitative metrics. They may complement the qualitative metrics you have defined in the previous boxes.

Additional Metrics Description Target
Number of editors that continue to participate/retained after activities N/A N/A
Number of organizers that continue to participate/retained after activities N/A N/A
Number of strategic partnerships that contribute to longer term growth, diversity and sustainability N/A N/A
Feedback from participants on effective strategies for attracting and retaining contributors Wiki Loves Women Focus Group members feedback. We’ll seek advice from the Community Resources team on how to best do this. 12
Diversity of participants brought in by grantees N/A N/A
Number of people reached through social media publications – new followers : 30% increase 30
Number of activities developed N/A N/A
Number of volunteer hours N/A N/A

21. Additional core quantitative metrics. These core metrics will not tell the whole story about your work, but they are important for measuring some Movement-wide changes. Please try to include these core metrics if they are relevant to your work. If they are not, please use the space provided to explain why they are not relevant or why you can not capture this data. Your explanation will help us review our core metrics and make sure we are using the best ones for the movement as a whole.

Core Metrics Summary
Core metrics Description Target
Number of participants WLA participants = 1,500

Wikiquote participants = 9 x 20 ISA participants = 40 WAHour guests = 12 x 4 WLW Inspiring Open podcast guests = 12

1800
Number of editors WLA participants = 1,500

Wikiquote participants = 9 x 20 ISA participants = 40 WAHour guests = 12 x 4 WLW Inspiring Open podcast guests = 12

1800
Number of organizers WLA org team members = 21 x 3

WikiAfrica Heritage trained = 15 WLW Focus group members = 12 + 6 additional Note: it is nevertheless likely that some figures overlap between organizers WLW and organizers WLA...

96
Number of new content contributions per Wikimedia project
Wikimedia Project Description Target
Wikimedia Commons Images collected through Wiki Loves Africa photo contest 8000
Wikiquote Wiki Loves Women she said entries 400
Wikimedia Commons ISA descriptions and captions added 50000
Wikipedia WPWP-WLA edits ( revisions + pages modified) 100
N/A N/A N/A

21.1 If for some reason your proposal will not measure these core metrics please provide an explanation.

The WIA mission is to rebalance the content available online about African and marginalized communities, but this cannot be achieved until there is a critical mass of digital and content savvy contributors who are motivated, trained, and led by skilled, interconnected leaders across various populations and communities.

The skills deficit of newbies requires that content contribution is a tiered process. While the ultimate aim is to increase content, the main focus is on developing the skills, knowledge, access, and abilities for sustainable contribution in multiple formats. This tiered process leads to more focused, quality contributions by activists due to the solid foundation of skills of the activators.

While content is developed as part of the programs by activists, the main programmatic focus and effort (and indicator of programmatic success) is on the effectiveness and community impact of the capacity building, knowledge transfer, and leadership development.

22. What tools would you use to measure each metric selected?

Wiki related tools

 * Montage
 * Mass messages
 * the Hashtag tool
 * the Wiki Loves Tool / Baglama2 / Glamorous /  Glamorgan (link to our WLA tools)
 * Quarry and Wikidata query Service
 * Glamify Tool
 * Outreach dashboard 
 * ISA Tool

External tools

 * Hootsuit
 * MailChimp
 * MailBlaze
 * Qualtrix (WMF)
 * Zoom (pro)
 * StreamYard
 * Menti

Financial Proposal[edit]

23. & 23.1 What is the amount you are requesting from WMF? Please provide this amount in your local currency. If you are thinking about a multi-year fund, please provide the amount for the first year.

2060700 ZAR

23.2 What is this amount in US Currency (to the best of your knowledge)?

135300 USD

23.3 Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it.

You will find on this page : https://www.wikiinafrica.org/wiki-in-africa-annual-plan-2022/
  • Our Annual Plan 2022
  • a PDF version of our Application document (with operating links)
  • Our Strategic Plan
  • Our Theory of Change

Our budget may be accessed here : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-tNBnwgwxPsNpSbJDlk0ZPIxIBVZfLrOLuDsMRduHMo/edit#gid=1612849677

23.4 Please include any additional observations or comments you would like to include about your budget.

N/A

Please use this optional space to upload any documents that you feel are important for further understanding your proposal.

Other public document(s):

Final Message[edit]

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


Feedback[edit]