The Million Wiki Project/Eligibility Criteria

Objectives and Scope

The objective of this initiative is to enhance Wikimedia projects by providing both quantitative and qualitative content related to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This effort covers a wide range of countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, as well as topics relevant to their diaspora communities worldwide. Content development will take place in any of the six official languages of the United Nations and will span multiple Wikimedia platforms, including Wikipedia, Commons, Wikidata, Wiktionary, and Wikisource.

Who Can Participate?

Participation in this initiative is open to all registered Wikimedians, regardless of their country, background, or experience level. While most Wikimedia projects welcome newcomers, some, like Wikipedia, may have specific eligibility requirements that can vary between language versions. Before applying, applicants should familiarize themselves with these requirements to ensure they meet the necessary criteria.

Organizations actively involved in Wikimedia projects are also eligible to apply for grants.

Please note that a financial check will be conducted based on the applicant's country. Depending on the results, the application may proceed to the second phase, which involves a discussion by the grant committee.

All participants are expected to comply with the Wikimedia Foundation's Universal Code of Conduct and follow the content policies specific to each Wikimedia project, including Wikipedia, Commons, Wikidata, Wiktionary, and Wikisource.

Language Requirements

All contributions must be made in one or more of the six official languages of the United Nations. While translations, multilingual labels/descriptions, and metadata in multiple UN languages are highly encouraged, please note that Chinese is currently not accepted due to internal technical issue. Once the issue is resolved, applications in Chinese will also be welcomed.

Regional Focus

To be considered "MENA-related," topics must be primarily or substantially linked to the Middle East and North Africa region. Eligible topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Countries traditionally associated with the MENA region: This includes Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Cultural or linguistic communities within the MENA region: For example, contributions related to communities such as the Amazigh or Kurds and other official or national languages of the MENA are welcome. As an illustration, adding Tacawit (an Amazigh language) words to Wiktionary in Arabic, French, or any other UN language is considered a valuable contribution.

Historical, cultural, and social developments specific to MENA: This may include documentation of significant events, cultural heritage, or social changes within the region.

MENA-related diaspora communities and their contributions: For instance, if a museum outside the MENA region has exhibits or artifacts related to MENA culture or history, contributions documenting this are encouraged.

Art, literature, cuisine, science, education, traditions, and folklore from the region: Any content that reflects the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of MENA is relevant.

Please note that non-MENA topics are not eligible unless they have a clear and direct connection to the MENA region.

What is a contribution for the Million Wiki Project

Wikipedia

Contributions Accepted

Only newly created articles that meet the notability criteria and focus on MENA-related topics are accepted. Simply editing an existing article does not qualify as a new contribution.

Content Requirements

All contributions must adhere to the following standards:

Neutrality, Verifiability, and Reliable Sourcing: Content must be unbiased, well-sourced, and verifiable. Citing reliable secondary sources is mandatory.

Compliance with Local Wikipedia Guidelines: Articles must follow the specific guidelines of the local Wikipedia edition, such as the English Wikipedia's Manual of Style.

Eligibility Check: Articles that are at risk of being deleted in the future may be rejected as valid contributions. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully review the eligibility criteria for each Wikipedia language version you plan to work with.

Articles should avoid the following

Original Research: Contributions must be based on established facts, not personal analysis or unpublished ideas.
Biased or Promotional Tone: Content should be written from a neutral point of view, without attempting to promote or advocate.
Poor Grammar, Vague Claims, or Unverifiable Facts: Articles must be clear, well-written, and based on verifiable information.

By adhering to these guidelines, contributors ensure that their work upholds Wikimedia's commitment to quality and reliability.

Wikimedia Commons

Contributions Accepted

To be eligible for upload to Wikimedia Commons, media must meet the following criteria:

Original Media: Photos, audio, or video content taken or created by the uploader(s).
Properly Licensed Third-Party Media: Media that is in the public domain or released under a compatible Creative Commons license.

Technical and Metadata Requirements

All uploaded media must meet the following technical and informational standards:

Minimum Quality: Media should not be blurry, overexposed, or incomplete.
Accurate and Informative Metadata: The following details are mandatory:
Title: Clearly describing the content.
Description: Provided in at least one official UN language.
Author/Source: Crediting the creator or source.
Date and Location: Indicating when and where the media was created.
Categories and Structured Data Tags: To ensure proper organization and discoverability.

Category Requirements

All uploaded photos must be categorized under a specific category related to the project they were created for. For instance, if your project is named "WikiCollection 2024", all related photos should be placed under the category "Category:Images from WikiCollection 2024". Additionally, this project-specific category must be placed within a general category for the initiative, such as "Category:The Million Wiki Project".

The purpose of these categories is to facilitate statistical analysis and project tracking. To maintain organization and minimize clutter, the project-specific category should be a hidden category.

Important Note "Freedom of Panorama"

We strongly recommend that participants familiarize themselves with the Freedom of Panorama regulations applicable in the country where the media was created. This will help avoid potential deletion of files from Wikimedia Commons due to copyright violations.

Note: All uploads must strictly adhere to the Commons licensing policy and fall within the Scope of Wikimedia Commons. Non-compliant media may be subject to deletion.

Wikidata Item Criteria

Contributions Accepted

To be eligible for inclusion in Wikidata, contributions must fall under the following categories:

Creation of New Items: Items must focus on MENA-relevant topics with the following:
- Adding valuable structured data to Wikidata.
- Statements and Qualifiers: Providing meaningful data using appropriate properties.
- References from Reliable Sources: Ensuring that all factual claims are verifiable.
- Interwiki Links: Including links to articles in one or more of the official UN languages.

Requirements

All contributions must meet the following standards:

Notability: Items must adhere to the Wikidata notability policy, demonstrating relevance and verifiability.
Proper Use of Properties: Utilize consistent and accurate properties such as "country of origin" and "official language" to maintain data integrity.
Multilingual Labels, Aliases, and Descriptions: Whenever possible, provide labels and descriptions in multiple languages, particularly in the six official UN languages.
References for Factual Claims: All statements should be backed by credible and reliable sources.

By following these guidelines, contributors ensure the accuracy and relevance of data related to the MENA region on Wikidata.

Wiktionary Page Criteria

Contributions Accepted

To be eligible for inclusion in Wiktionary, contributions should consist of the following types of entries:

MENA-Origin Words: Words that originate from the Middle East and North Africa region.
MENA Dialect and Language Phrases: Expressions and vocabulary specific to MENA dialects and languages.
Terms Relevant to the MENA Context: Words or phrases related to MENA topics presented in one or more of the official UN languages.

Content Requirements

All contributions must comply with Wiktionary’s formatting rules specific to the language edition. Each entry should include the following components:

Part of Speech: Clearly indicate whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective, etc.
Accurate Definition(s): Provide precise and clear meanings for the word or phrase.
Pronunciation: Include the pronunciation in IPA format or an audio file if possible.
Usage Examples: Demonstrate the word in context to enhance understanding.
Etymology: Include the origin or historical development of the word, when available.
Translations: Offer equivalent words in other languages, especially UN languages.
Multilingual Entries: Whenever possible, include entries in multiple languages to increase accessibility.

Wikisource Item Criteria

One page on Wikisource counts as a single contribution to the Million Project.

Accepted Contributions

To qualify for inclusion in Wikisource, contributions must fall into one of the following categories:
Public Domain Texts: Works that are legally in the public domain, either because the copyright has expired or the author has released them into the public domain.
Freely Licensed Texts: Texts made available under a compatible Creative Commons license or another free license.
Historical Documents: Significant documents related to the MENA region, such as official records, treaties, speeches, and historical texts.
Literature and Poetry: Works created by MENA authors or texts about the region, including classical literature, poetry, and translated works.
Legal and Government Texts: Official publications, laws, decrees, and other government documents from MENA countries, provided they are publicly available and not protected by copyright.

Content Requirements

All contributions must adhere to Wikisource’s standards and formatting rules. Each submission should include the following elements:

Source Verification: Evidence confirming that the text is in the public domain or available under a free license.
Metadata: Complete and accurate details about the text, including the title, author, publication date, and licensing information.
Text Quality: The content must be transcribed or scanned accurately, without significant errors or alterations.
Annotations and Notes: Any added annotations must be clearly identified and must not alter the original text.
Multilingual Versions: When possible, include translations into other UN languages to improve accessibility.

Not Accepted

The following types of contributions are not accepted for this initiative:

Content in Non-UN Languages: Contributions made in languages other than the six official UN languages.
Lack of MENA Connection: Content that does not have a clear or significant link to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Insufficient Notability or Quality: Articles, items, or uploads that fail to meet minimum notability, relevance, or quality standards.
Low-Quality Uploads: This includes media with copyright violations, blurry or poorly composed photos, and files that do not comply with Wikimedia Commons standards.
Vandalism, Spam, or Personal/Biased Content: Any contributions that disrupt the platform, contain personal opinions, or show biased perspectives.
AI-Generated Content: Content created using artificial intelligence without thorough human verification or reliable sourcing.