Wikimedia Community User Group Zambia/2026 Strategic plan
The Wikimedia User Group Zambia (WMUG Zambia), officially recognized by AffCom in October 2023, is a growing community of volunteers dedicated to expanding free knowledge in Zambia. Our mission is to increase the quality, diversity, and accessibility of Zambian content on Wikipedia and its sister projects while fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant contributor community. Building on the foundation laid in 2025, our 2026 strategic plan—under the theme Wikimedia Knowledge Without Borders—prioritizes community building, content creation, advocacy, and digital literacy, with a strong focus on local engagement, global alignment, and strategic partnerships.
Vision and Mission
[edit]Vision: A Zambia where free knowledge is widely accessible, culturally inclusive, and locally created by empowered communities.
Mission:
- Promote free access to knowledge for all Zambians.
- Support contributors across Zambia to create and maintain high-quality Wikipedia and Wikimedia content.
- Engage institutions, civil society, and government to strengthen awareness and advocacy for open knowledge.
- Reduce content and gender gaps while empowering communities to share their cultural heritage.
Strategic Objectives
[edit]- Community Building: Strengthen and sustain a vibrant contributor network.
- Content Creation & Preservation: Bridge knowledge gaps by prioritizing Zambian history, culture, and languages.
- Capacity Development: Equip members with skills to contribute, manage, and advocate within the Wikimedia ecosystem.
- Advocacy & Policy Reform: Champion legal and policy frameworks, such as Freedom of Panorama, to protect and expand free knowledge.
- Partnerships & Outreach: Collaborate with institutions, media, civil society, and global Wikimedia affiliates to amplify impact.
- Sustainability: Ensure operational, financial, and organizational stability to maintain long-term growth.
Key Initiatives for 2026
[edit]Content Growth & Global Campaigns
[edit]- Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 (February): Community-driven photo contest focusing on Zambian folklore.
- Wiki Loves Earth 2026 (June–July): Document Zambia’s natural heritage and biodiversity.
- Wiki Loves Monuments 2026 (September): Capture heritage sites and monuments to increase digital representation.
- Editathons:
- Feminism and Folklore (February)
- WikiGap (March)
- Wiki Clubs in Schools & Universities: Launch and strengthen clubs to engage youth and educators in free knowledge creation.
Advocacy & Policy Reform
[edit]- Freedom of Panorama Campaign:
- Launch at RightsCon 2026, leveraging international attention to push for legal reform in Zambia.
- Engage legal experts, civil society, and media to build awareness and support.
- Develop educational materials, campaigns, and social media strategies to inform the public and policymakers.
Capacity Building & Leadership
[edit]- Monthly training workshops for new and existing contributors.
- Leadership development programs for community members to lead editathons, campaigns, and institutional outreach.
- Technical skill development for digital content creation, multimedia contributions, and platform management.
Partnerships & Collaboration
[edit]- Strengthen partnerships with:
- Women’s History Museum (gender-focused content creation)
- Schools, universities, and cultural institutions for Wiki Clubs and GLAM initiatives
- Civil society and tech hubs for advocacy and digital literacy programs
- Collaborate with Wikimedia affiliates for joint campaigns and events (e.g., Wikimania, WikiIndaba sponsorships).
Community Engagement & Communication
[edit]- ZedWiki Podcast: Monthly 30-minute show to inform, inspire, and mobilize contributors; launch October 2025. Objectives: amplify community news, spotlight editors and projects, and drive participation in campaigns and trainings.
- Regular community meetings and networking opportunities to foster cohesion and mentorship.
- Zed Wiki Workshop 2026: A series of hands-on workshops across Zambia to train contributors, introduce new editors to Wikimedia projects, and promote local content creation.
- Social media campaigns to raise awareness of free knowledge initiatives and recruit new contributors.
Organizational Sustainability
[edit]- Secure office space for community coordination and training.
- Strengthen governance, transparency, and reporting mechanisms to maintain credibility with stakeholders and funders.
- Monitor, evaluate, and document activities to ensure continuous learning and improvement.
Theory of Change
[edit]By focusing on community building, capacity development, content creation, and advocacy, WMUG Zambia aims to:
- Increase local content quality and quantity on Wikimedia projects.
- Develop a skilled and engaged volunteer community capable of sustaining initiatives.
- Influence policy and public awareness to safeguard freedoms critical to free knowledge.
- Establish strong partnerships that amplify impact nationally and internationally.
Community Member Journey
[edit]- Awareness & Introduction: Discover Wikimedia activities through outreach, media, or school/university programs.
- Onboarding & Participation: Join Wiki Clubs, attend workshops, and begin contributing content.
- Engagement & Involvement: Take leadership roles in campaigns, editathons, and community events.
- Leadership & Capacity Building: Mentor new contributors, manage projects, and represent the group externally.
- Advocacy & Ambassadorship: Lead campaigns, policy engagement, and public education initiatives.
- Sustained Contribution & Mentorship: Ensure long-term community growth by guiding the next generation of contributors.
Expected Outcomes
[edit]- Stronger Community Cohesion: Engaged and diverse contributor network with clear leadership pathways.
- Enhanced Local and Global Impact: Increased Zambian content and participation in global Wikimedia campaigns.
- Policy Influence: Progress toward legal reforms such as Freedom of Panorama and strengthened advocacy for free knowledge.
- Sustainable Growth: Robust governance, operational systems, and funding strategies ensuring long-term impact.
- Empowered Leaders: Skilled community members capable of driving initiatives, mentoring contributors, and representing the movement.
Monitoring and Evaluation
[edit]- Track participation metrics (edit counts, photos uploaded, new members, workshop attendees).
- Assess impact of advocacy campaigns, including policy changes and public engagement.
- Evaluate community satisfaction and leadership development through surveys and feedback sessions.
- Document lessons learned to refine strategies for subsequent years.