Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/ Africa Wiki Women — International Women Day 2024 (ID: 22458315)

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Applicant Details edit

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

Mijesty

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.

Africa Wiki Women — International Women Day 2024

2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.

2024-03-16 - 2024-04-14

4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Regional (more than one country in the same continent or region) Regionally online involving female African Wikimedians from francophone and anglophone countries; Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Kenya, among others who are already existing members of the community (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Africa_Wiki_Women_/Inaugural_Members_%26_Participants)

5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)

Other (please specify) Wikimedians within the Wikimedia movement as part of the International Women’s day celebrated 2024

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)

This proposal aims to recognize and celebrate the contributions of African female Wikimedians as part of International Women’s Day 2024, themed “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” The goal is to improve content about women related to key issues identified as affecting the actualization of gender equality by 2030, both positively and negatively. These issues include, but are not limited to, the alarming lack of financing, with a staggering USD 360 billion annual deficit in spending on gender-equality measures; poverty; gender-responsive financing; feminist change maker; and green economy in Africa.

This groundbreaking campaign, the first of its kind, will also focus on enhancing existing women-related articles on Wikipedia and items on Wikidata that are either missing or lack adequate African narratives. Examples include the list of Women’s March in Africa 2023 and IWD, which currently only identify activities carried out in Guinea-Bissau, Uganda, Zambia, Angola, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon, out of the 54 existing African countries.

Our approaches to achieving the project objectives include sensitizing female African Wikimedians on the IWD 2024 theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," building and growing a sustainable African Wiki Women community in Africa, and generating diverse content while prioritizing women-related issues/topics relevant to achieving gender equality by 2030 in Africa

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.

Sensitizing female African Wikimedians on the theme of International Women's Day (IWD) 2024, 'Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,' will be a core focus.

In collaboration with the Ministries of Women Affairs in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and other aligned NGOs and institutions ; Girl’s Voice, Cybersafe foundation, (Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), Women in Nigeria (WIN), She Leads Africa) this initiative aims to enlighten and engage female Wikimedians on the significance of this year's IWD theme. Through informative sessions and discussions led by experts and advocates, the project seeks to foster a deeper understanding of women's roles in societal advancement. These efforts are intended to inspire female African Wikimedians to actively contribute to the narrative of women's empowerment and progress within their communities and beyond, utilising the Wikimedia platform as a tool for change and advocacy.

Building and growing a sustainable African Wiki women community in Africa (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Africa_Wiki_Women). This strategy will involve collaborating with established partners, including women's organizations, and NGOs focused on gender equity, to develop a comprehensive plan. This plan is tailored to address the unique needs and challenges that female Wikimedians across Africa face. Our approach includes identifying community leaders committed to promoting gender equity in Ghana, Tanzania, and Nigeria among others. We intend to create a Google survey to assess the specific needs of these women and to involve local partners who can provide multifaceted support.

We also aim to recruit 50 diverse participants from AU (African Union) member states, ensuring diverse representation and engagement, comprising both new and existing female Wikimedians from various African regions. Our strategy involves organizing online discussions, and roundtable events focused on increasing African women's participation in Wikimedia projects and addressing gender-related content gaps. These events will serve as platforms for sharing experiences, discussing the intersectionality of gender issues within Wikimedia movements, and strategizing more effective engagement and contributions by African women. By enhancing awareness of Wikimedia projects among women and emphasizing the importance of gender-balanced perspectives in digital content, our goal is not just to expand the African Wiki Women community but also to empower these women as active contributors and leaders in the Wikimedia movement.

Generating diverse content and prioritizing women-related issues/topics relevant to achieving gender equality(https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/in-focus/2022/08/in-focus-sustainable-development-goal-5) by 2030 and centered around the theme of the IWD 2024 celebration in Africa.

Our approach includes:

1. Data-a-thons: We plan to organize a series of online and offline Wikidata training and data-a-thons. These will be aimed at raising awareness about the existing data on women-related issues and identifying gaps. Participants will learn to use the Wikidata query service to track items and prioritize topics relevant to gender equality in Africa. This will involve creating worklists to guide the creation and improvement of Wikidata items.

2. Edit-a-thons for Women-centric Topics: We will conduct online and offline edit-a-thons, training participants to perform edits on Wikipedia articles that address key issues impacting the actualization of gender equality. These issues include the lack of financing for gender-equality measures, poverty, gender-responsive financing, and the green economy in Africa. We will create a documentation page for the project with a comprehensive list of articles/items to work on, ensuring easy access and structured participation.

3. Write-a-thons for Quality Content Creation: Engaging experienced African female Wikimedians with the community to write and review high-quality content on women-related issues in Africa. This will involve online training and in-person workshops, ensuring content development with necessary references using article creation wizard. We aim to provide resources like data incentives and access to open databases to support content creation.

4. Expanding African women related articles narratives: Our campaign will also focus on improving existing women-related articles on Wikipedia and items on Wikidata that lack adequate African narratives. This includes expanding the list of Women’s Marches in Africa and other significant events, ensuring a comprehensive representation of women's issues and activities across all 54 African countries available. By integrating these activities, we aim to significantly enhance the representation of women-related issues on Wikipedia and Wikidata, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable digital space.

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.

Mijesty (Project lead) : She is an active member of the Wikipedia user group in Nigeria, holding a position as one of the executives in the University of Ilorin fan club. With her extensive knowledge and experience, she has successfully coordinated various Wikipedia projects, including but not limited to initiatives like "Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom" and "Wiki Loves Libraries." Her commitment to fostering engagement and knowledge dissemination through these projects reflects her passion for leveraging Wikipedia as a powerful educational and informational resource

Peggy (Advisory and Coordinator III, Communication and Graphics ): She is a Tanzanian Wikimedian who joined the movement in 2017 with organizing roles of different campaigns such Wikigap,Wiki Loves Africa,Movement Strategy Campaign, and Wiktionary. She is also a Kiwix ambassador for Tanzania community.

Ridzaina (Trainer, Logistics Coordinator) is a Wikimedia volunteer from Nigeria who has gained extensive experience as a facilitator and editor in various Wikimedia projects. Some of these projects include Wiki loves SDGs, WikiGLAM, 1lib1ref, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, Wikidata for Novels and Novelists in Nigeria, WikiLovesLibraries, Promoting Nigerian Books and Authors, Celtic Knot Kwara, and more. She has also served as a facilitator for Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom programs in Kwara, Nigeria, for teachers and secondary school students. She is the project lead of Let's Connect Peer Learning Program in Kwara and has also served as the General Secretary of the Wikimedia Fanclub, University of Ilorin for the academic session of 21/22. Linason Blessing: (Logistics and Communications) She is a certified Librarian of the Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) She led the Wikipedia awareness for Library and Information Science Students in Nigeria and she was a facilitator for the first Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom in Nigeria. She is a Wikibrarian, she has also participated in various Wikimedia projects such as WikiLoveAfrica, WPWP, Wikidata (Media personalities in Nigeria), Winner of WPWP Kwara and Wikidata Media personality in Nigeria, WikiGLAM Awareness for Libraries and Librarians in Kwara, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, 1lib1ref 2022 Kwara, etc. She is the Co-Founder of the Kwara State University Fan Club.

James Rhoda( trainer) : She was the project lead for Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom for secondary school students in Kwara State. She is an experienced Wikimedian, who has participated in various Wikimedia projects (as a facilitator as well as an editor) namely; 1lib1ref, WikiGlam, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom Kwara and Lagos Nigeria, etc. She has led Wikidata for Novel and Novelist in Nigeria, Reading Wikipedia in the classroom for secondary school students, and Promoting Nigerian books and Authors.

Ruby D-Brown (Advisory and Coordinator I, trainer ): She has been an active Wikimedia organizer for the past 5 years she has contributed to training and leading campaigns in the Wikimedia Space. Some of the campaigns she has organized in the space included the Africa Wiki challenge, Wiki For Human Rights, Etc. She brings onboard her extensive experience from working with diverse communities

Bukola James: (Advisory and Coordinator II )She is one of the Co-Founder for the Africa Wiki Women, first Certified Trainer of the Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom program in Nigeria, a certified Content Campaign Organiser focused on Climate Change and Sustainability. She has led several projects such as Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom Kwara, Nigeria for teachers and Students, Wiki Climate Campus Tour Nigeria 2023, Wiki-cred Bootcamp for information professionals, WikiLovesLibrariesNigeria, 1Lib1Ref Kwara 2022, WikiGLAM Awareness for Librarians in Kwara State, and Wikidata for Libraries and notable Librarians in Kwara State among others, whilst co-organising several Wikimedia projects related to SDGs and other topics of impact. She founded the Wikimedia Fan Club at Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria.

Ibijaja55: (Reviewer for Wikipedia articles) He is a Nigerian Wikipedia Editor and the Founder of AfroDemics. With a background in education and English Language, He has created over 200 articles and is currently a New Page Reviewer

Username: Bile_rene My parents gave me the name Bile; I’m Bile René, Cameroonian living in the northern part of the country. An engineer by training, I quickly developed a passion for free philosophy and flirted with free software, particularly Linux distributions. Technology evangelist, I joined the world of Wikimedia starting with Wikipedia via a Wiki Villages competition organized in Cameroon in 2017. I learned about other sister projects and grew in the community to the point of having responsibilities in the user group as vice president (of the interim office) responsible for the 2021 Projects to 2022. During and after this experience, I discovered communities from other countries with which I collaborated; Wiki Kouman, local culture project was a great experience. The WikiVibrance project has been a major collaborative project with the English-speaking community. This is my beginning translation experience. And the next words, following training as a Kiwix ambassador for the Open Foundation West Africa's Kiwix4Schools program, in 2023, I was selected as a mentor for the same program for French-speaking communities. Today, I continue the experience of free movement

Miracle James: (Project Lead) the project lead plays a crucial role which includes Community Building, Documentation and Reporting the project progress, Monitoring and Evaluation, Content Strategy, Training and Capacity Building, Strategic Planning and Team Coordination

Advisory Committee: Ruby D-Brown, Bukola James, Pellagia Njau

The Advisory Committee plays a crucial role in providing strategic guidance and insights throughout the planning and execution of the African Democracy Wiki Edith-a-thon. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise to ensure the project aligns with its objectives.

Trainers: Ruby D-Brown, Rhoda James, Barakat Adegboye

The Trainers are responsible for conducting the training sessions for the participants, with a specific focus on both Anglophone and Francophone groups. Each trainer, including Ruby D-Brown, Rhoda James, and Barakat Adegboye, contributes their expertise to educate participants on using Wikipedia and Wikidata effectively.

Communication and Graphics: Miracle James, Pellagia Njau

The Communication and Graphics team, led by Pellagia Njau and Miracle James, plays a pivotal role in crafting and disseminating information about the Edith-a-thon. They are responsible for creating visually appealing promotional materials and ensuring effective communication both within the team and to the wider community.

Content and Social Media: Blessing Linason, Barakat Adegboye

Blessing Linason is tasked with overseeing content creation and management on social media platforms. This role involves curating engaging content related to the event's theme and ensuring active participation and visibility on various social media channels

Logistics Coordinator : Barakat Adegboye, Bile_rene

Barakat Adegboye takes on the crucial role of Logistics Coordinator, responsible for managing the logistical aspects of the Edith-a-thon. This includes coordinating schedules, resources, and any operational details necessary for the smooth execution of the project

Ibijaja55 (Reviewer for Wikipedia articles): Content Evaluation, Fact-Checking, Grammar and Style, Compliance with Policies

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 for our initiative are female African Wikimedians, encompassing both new and existing contributors, from diverse regions across the continent. Additionally, we aim to collaborate with local women's organizations, NGOs focused on gender equity, and institutions like the Ministries of Women Affairs in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, among others. These collaborations will help extend our reach and involve women who may not be directly associated with Wikimedia but are passionate about women's empowerment and gender equality.

Engagement Strategies Before and During the Activities:

Communication Channels: Utilize various communication channels, including email, social media platforms, and community forums, to reach out to potential participants. Provide clear and compelling information about the initiative, its goals, and the significance of their participation.

Webinars and Orientation Sessions: Conduct pre-activity webinars and orientation sessions to familiarize participants with the objectives, expectations, and the overall structure of the activities. This will provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions and feel more prepared for their involvement.

Collaborative Planning: Engage participants in the planning process, seeking their input on topics, activities, and formats. This collaborative approach ensures that the activities resonate with their interests and concerns, fostering a sense of ownership.

Online Forums and Discussion Platforms: Establish dedicated online forums or discussion platforms where participants can connect, share ideas, and discuss relevant topics before and during the activities. This will create a sense of community and encourage ongoing dialogue.

Regular Updates: Provide regular updates on the progress of the initiative, share success stories, and showcase the impact of participants' contributions. This helps maintain enthusiasm and motivation throughout the duration of the activities.

Follow-Up Strategies After the Activities: 1. Feedback Surveys 2. Future Collaboration Opportunities: Share information about upcoming Wikimedia initiatives, events, and opportunities for continued involvement. Encourage participants to stay engaged and contribute to the ongoing efforts within the Wikimedia community

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.

Even in the absence of specific youth protection policies in the African countries where the Africa Wiki Women project will be implemented, our commitment remains steadfast to ensuring a safe and positive experience for young attendees, in line with the Wikimedia Foundation's Youth Safety Policy. To achieve this, we are implementing several measures tailored to the unique needs of young participants aged 15–24 at online events and will strictly follow the friendly space policy. Feedback and Improvement Mechanism: After each event, we will gather feedback from attendees, particularly focusing on their sense of safety and comfort. This input will be invaluable in continually improving our approach to youth safety and ensuring that our events remain welcoming and secure spaces for young Wikimedians

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.

i have informed the community members about the proposal https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Africa_Wiki_Women_/Overview#Africa_Wiki_Women-_International_Women_Day_2024

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)

Content Gender gap

13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)

Gender and diversity

14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Gender Identity

15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)

Ensure Equity in Decision-making

Learning and metrics edit

17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

Understanding Impact: What is the tangible impact of our initiatives on the participation and contributions of female African Wikimedians within the Wikimedia community?

Community Dynamics: How does the collaborative approach, involving both new and existing contributors, influence the dynamics and growth of the African Wiki Women community?

Engagement Strategies: Which communication and engagement strategies prove most effective in attracting and retaining participants throughout the various project activities?

Barriers to Participation: What are the key challenges faced by female Wikimedians in Africa, and how can these barriers be addressed to foster greater inclusivity and sustained involvement?

Long-term Community Building: What measures contribute to building a sustainable Wiki Women community in Africa, and how can these insights inform future community-building initiatives?

Effectiveness of Training Programs: How do different training formats, such as webinars, edit-a-thons, and data-a-thons, impact participants' skill development and active contributions to gender-related content on Wikimedia platforms?

Content Relevance: To what extent does the generated content align with the overarching goal of addressing gender-related issues in Africa and contributing to the achievement of gender equality by 2030?

Collaboration with External Partners: How does collaboration with external entities, such as women's organizations and government ministries, enhance the project's reach and impact?

Post-Activity Engagement: What strategies effectively maintain participant engagement after the conclusion of specific activities, and how can sustained involvement be encouraged?

Recognition and Motivation: How does public recognition and acknowledgment impact the motivation of participants, and how can this be leveraged to encourage continued contributions?

18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)

Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics	Target	Optional description
Number of participants	50	including both old and new participants, we look forward to having at least 50 participants including 20 new participants during the project implementation
Number of editors	50
Number of organizers	9

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	50
Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata	200
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 Data
Main Open 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

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)

The outreach dashboard will be utilized to track each participant's contribution

Financial proposal edit

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XNZ0bnysH_D79dFSBZtOm9WQwxKeMNS178Ie5mLs_2M/edit

22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)

4721488 NGN

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.

3049 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).

Endorse