Wikimedia Foundation elections/2025/Candidates/Abdul-Rafiu Fuseini
Abdul-Rafiu Fuseini (Alhaj Darajaati)
Alhaj Darajaati (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA • AE)
| Candidate details | 
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| Candidate video statement | ||
| Total word count for the whole application (required + optional questions) is 2500 words. | ||
| Have you read the minimum candidate requirements and verified you meet the minimum qualifications and the candidate eligibility requirements? | Yes | |
| Have you read the candidate guidelines and agree to abide by the guidelines? | Yes | |
| Required questions | ||
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| Why are you running for the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees? What would you contribute? What would you like to learn more about? | My passion for open knowledge and equitable digital spaces drives my desire to serve on the Board of Trustees. Through my work as a community facilitator, movement organizer, and governance advisor, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by Wikimedia contributors, particularly in underrepresented language communities. I aim to contribute strategic leadership, governance insights, and a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring Wikimedia remains accessible, sustainable, and empowering for all.
I want to learn more about ways to strengthen governance structures, improve financial sustainability for affiliates, and enhance multilingual content accessibility. These areas will help Wikimedia achieve long-term impact while supporting the diversity of its global contributors | |
| Please describe your Wikimedia experience (such as contributions to the Wikimedia projects, memberships in Wikimedia organizations or affiliates, activities as a Wikimedia movement organizer, or participation with a Wikimedia movement ally organization). | For the past four years, I have been an active contributor to Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons, enhancing content accuracy, expanding knowledge representation, and supporting open data initiatives.
I have played significant roles in leadership and organizing, including: - Co-Lead of the Moore Wikimedia Community - Facilitator for the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group - Hubs Advisor for the Movement Charter Drafting Committee - Organizer and trainer for Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons workshops - Single-handed organizer of the Art and Feminism campaign for three consecutive years - Part of the organizing committee for the Ghanaian Language Wikimedians Community and Wikimania satellite events These experiences have reinforced my ability to engage communities, design impactful training programs, and advocate for policies that reflect the needs of contributors worldwide. | |
| From your perspective, what should the Wikimedia Foundation be prioritizing over the next 3-5 years, and why do you see these as the most important priorities? | The following are my priorities for Wikimedia Foundation Over the Next 3-5 Years
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| Please describe your experience with governing bodies of organizations (nonprofit or for-profit), mentioning the scope of your responsibilities, as well as the complexity of the organization (in terms of scale of operations, budget, number of people involved, or other meaningful measures) and the size of the board or body. | My governance experience spans community leadership, movement advisory roles, and policy structuring:
I have worked with teams navigating budget management, stakeholder coordination, and strategic decision-making, ensuring that community needs are integrated into broader governance frameworks. | |
| Questions from the Community (required) | ||
| These questions were sourced from the community. These questions are required to consider your application complete. If this section is not complete by 23:59 AoE, July 8 (11:59 UTC, July 9), your application will not be considered. | ||
| How do you plan to ensure transparency and accountability in your decision-making processes as a member of the Board of Trustees? | I will ensure transparency by:
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| What will be the first new issue you would like to bring to the attention of the Board for discussion, and how would you approach it? | One of the first issues I would raise is improving Wikimedia’s approach to resource allocation and sustainability for affiliates. Many affiliates struggle with funding and engagement. I would explore new funding models, capacity-building strategies, and decentralized governance frameworks to support affiliate stability. | |
| How should decisions about trade-offs and prioritisation in Wikimedia technology or product areas be approached? Please explain what the trade-off is in your view. | Approach to Trade-Offs in Wikimedia Technology & Product Development
Balancing innovation with accessibility is crucial. For instance, trade-offs arise between platform security enhancements and ease of user participation. I would advocate for solutions that prioritize inclusion without compromising safety, ensuring Wikimedia remains open and engaging. A trade-off, in simple terms, is when you gain something by giving up something else. In the context of Wikimedia, trade-offs often come into play when balancing different priorities—like improving user experience without compromising open access, or investing in new technology while still supporting smaller communities. For example, improving platform security might require stricter editing tools, but that could make it harder for new contributors to participate. So the trade-off is between safety and openness. | |
| The number of Wikimedia affiliates has grown significantly over the past few years, but ensuring adequate resourcing can be a challenge. Given this, how might we rethink the movement ecosystem, including how affiliates are evaluated, engaged, and resourced? | Affiliates play a vital role in the movement but often lack financial stability. Wikimedia must:
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| As the Wikimedia Foundation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position transitions, what qualities do you believe the incoming leader should embody, and how would these contribute to the advancement of the Wikimedia movement? | The new CEO my posses the following qualities,
These qualities will shape Wikimedia’s future, ensuring it remains accessible and adaptable. | |
| Optional questions - Professional Experience, Skills and Education | ||
| These questions are optional. Responses will count towards the total word limit on your application. (Reminder: You will not have other opportunities to provide this information). | ||
| Please describe your professional career experience and relevance to board work. | My leadership in Wikimedia and GEM-GHANA has been deeply rooted in amplifying voices and fostering meaningful change. As a community facilitator and advocate, I have worked extensively to train contributors, bridge knowledge gaps, and empower underrepresented voices in digital spaces.
Through GEM-GHANA, I have contributed to capacity-building initiatives, ensuring communities gain the skills and confidence to document their histories, culture, and perspectives on platforms like Wikipedia and Wikidata. This work reinforces my commitment to equity in information representation, ensuring that contributors from diverse backgrounds have the resources and support to participate in shaping global knowledge. | |
| Please describe how you handled, or advised others on, a complex problem in an organization. How did you work with others to address the situation? What was the change that resulted from your efforts? | In leading Art and Feminism campaigns and Wikimedia training programs, I have navigated challenges related to engagement, funding, and resource constraints. By collaborating with stakeholders, refining strategies, and ensuring clear communication, I have successfully expanded participation and built sustainable models. | |
| Please describe your educational background, including degrees, certificates, and courses of study finished, and their relevance to board work. | I hold a Higher National Diploma in Marketing, a program that equipped me with both strategic insight and practical communication skills valuable assets for effective board participation. My coursework included subjects such as Marketing Environment, Fundamentals of Marketing, and International Marketing Strategy, which sharpened my ability to analyze trends, design outreach frameworks, and understand stakeholder behavior in diverse contexts.
Courses like Customer Communication and Integrated Marketing Communication deepened my understanding of how to convey complex messages with clarity something I consistently apply in both community engagement and governance discussions. Additionally, subjects like Project Management and Integrated Management Systems strengthened my capacity to lead initiatives, structure collaborative workflows, and navigate complex systems skills that directly support thoughtful, informed decision-making on a governance board. This background, combined with my hands-on community facilitation and advocacy work, provides a strong foundation for contributing meaningfully to strategic discussions, community engagement strategies, and long-term planning at board level. | |
| Please add any relevant links describing your professional background, experience, profile (such as LinkedIn, staff page, etc.). | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdul-rafiu-fuseini, | |
| Optional questions - Leadership Experience | ||
| These questions are optional. Responses will count towards the total word limit on your application. (Reminder: You will not have other opportunities to provide this information). | ||
| Please describe ways in which you have helped to form a bridge between multiple communities (such as by working on projects outside your home wiki, or working on a collaboration between multiple affiliates). | Through my work in Wikimedia as community facilitator Dagbani Wikimedians User Group, Co-lead for Moore Wikimedia Community and organizing Art and Feminism campaigns and language documentation, and event organizing, I have connected multiple Wikimedia communities like the Moore Wikimedia Community, Dagaare, Kusaal and Gurene communities, ensuring cross-regional collaboration and knowledge sharing. | |
| Can you describe a policy, on wiki or off, that you helped to create or change? What did you learn from this experience? | I have helped refine movement governance structure as a Hubs Advisor for making input into it draft document, ensuring that inclusive policies guide affiliate development and contributor engagement. This work has reinforced the importance of transparency, localized strategy, and community-driven solutions. | |
| How have you been able to empower people to make their voices heard? | My leadership within Dagbani Wikimedians User Group and GEM-GHANA has been deeply rooted in amplifying voices and fostering meaningful change. As a community facilitator and advocate, I have worked extensively to train contributors, bridge knowledge gaps, and empower underrepresented voices in digital spaces.
Through GEM-GHANA, I have contributed to capacity-building initiatives, ensuring communities gain the skills and confidence to document their histories, culture, and perspectives on platforms like Wikipedia and Wikidata. This work reinforces my commitment to equity in information representation, ensuring that contributors from diverse backgrounds have the resources and support to participate in shaping global knowledge. | |
| Can you describe how you have demonstrated the ability to guide others in solving problems, adapting to change or achieving goals, particularly at a leadership or management level? | Over the years, I’ve found that effective leadership begins with listening and understanding what people need in order to thrive. One example that stands out was when I was tasked with facilitating a multilingual Wikimedia training session for new editors who were unfamiliar with editing tools and overwhelmed by platform policies. Some participants lacked digital literacy while others faced language barriers. Rather than sticking to a rigid agenda, I adjusted the approach: I slowed down, translated concepts into relatable analogies, and created small support groups so no one felt left behind.
Through this, I realized that guiding others isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about helping them feel seen, supported, and capable of navigating challenges together. Whether it’s mentoring volunteers, organizing advocacy campaigns at GEM-GHANA, or coordinating Art and Feminism events single-handedly, I consistently prioritize flexibility, empathy, and collaboration. When a project or team hits a stumbling block, I look for what’s not being said because often, solutions come from creating space for unheard voices to speak up. This mindset has helped me lead through uncertainty, grow community capacity, and achieve shared goals in evolving contexts. For me, leadership is not about directing it’s about unlocking potential. | |
| Optional questions - Strategic Thinking | ||
| These questions are optional. Responses will count towards the total word limit on your application. (Reminder: You will not have other opportunities to provide this information). | ||
| Please describe your experience participating in or leading an organization in planning for its future. How did your work contribute to picking the right path for the organization? | In leading community engagement initiatives, I have contributed to Wikimedia’s strategic growth by refining outreach models, governance structures, and sustainability frameworks. These contributions have helped guide the movement toward expansion, stability, and inclusivity. | |
| Verification | Identity verification performed by Wikimedia Foundation staff and eligibility verification performed by the Elections Committee | |
Eligibility:  Verified
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Identification: Verified Verified by: – NahidSultan (WMF) (talk) 04:55, 16 July 2025 (UTC) | |