Strategy/Wikimedia movement/2018-20/2019 Community Conversations/Strategy Salons/Reports/Cameroon UG

Date and location

Wikimedia Cameroon User Group hosted a total of 7 Strategy Salons, among which 2 were Youth Salon (in a separate report). The 5 other salons were organized as follows:

Salon 1.

Date: 8 June 2019
Time: 10:00 am to 15:00 pm
Location: Goethe Institut Yaounde

Salon 2.

Date: 25 June 2019
Time: 14:00 pm to 19:00 pm
Location: University of Douala

Salon 3.

Date: 6 July 2019
Time: 10:00 pm to 15:00 pm
Location: ActivSpaces Buea

Salon 4.

Date: 13 July 2019
Time: 10:00 pm to 15:00 pm
Location: Goethe Institut Yaounde

Salon 5.

Date: 27 July 2019
Time: 10:00 pm to 15:00 pm
Location: ActivSpaces Buea

Participant List

User:Geugeor - Strategy Liaison for Wikimedians of Cameroon User Group
Alexandra Tchuileu - Journalist
User:Ingrid twinsy - Web developper
User:Frederic PAPY - Computer Engineer
User:Achking - Student in logistics
User:Mndetatsin - Computer Engineer
Nkolo Victor - Designer
Audrey Koumi - Geography student
Mekinda André Fidèle - Journalist reporter, film maker
Bomba Noella - International Relations Student
Enangue Marina - Polical science student
Tetsoplo Larissa - Computer science student
Landry Efouba - Artist
Mensida Sandrine - Translator
Betsengue Therese - International Relations Student
User:JMel Minky - Communicator
User:Eugene233 - Software Engineer
Jules Kotche - Librarian
User:KrystjanM - Senior linguistic manager
User:Danielgwd - Computer science student
User:Gtankam - Photographer
Hugues Tchoumegni - Communicator
Matomba Calixte - Student in environment and sustainable development
Ngo Song Marie - Student in environment and sustainable development
Kamwa Téclaire - Student in environment and sustainable development
Fatchui Christelle - Student in environment and sustainable development
Azanguim Florian - Student in environment and sustainable development
Kolle Idriss - Student in environment and sustainable development
Changbuin Arnold - Student in Marketing
Kenne Sedric - Student in environment and sustainable development
Werenyen Jude Fru - Student in environment and sustainable development
Josephine Yelang - Student in environment and sustainable development
Nadesh Eduke - Online Community manager
Moh Harriet - Community worker (polical scientist)
User:Awah Nadege - Geology student
Ako Polycaro - Community worker
Eru Stephen Takum - Accountancy student
Abgor Joseph Obele - Accountancy student
Ndifor Godfred - Student agri-engineer
Yona Chanel - Student ICT
Fung Ebua Letisia - Accountancy student
Fonsa Fomine - Journalist
Tem Blandine - Student
User:Bile rene - Computer Engineer
Nyimeh Gerald - Company employee
Awah Ashley - Accountancy student
Nkemtendong Agnes - Accountancy student
Njume Eugene - Accountancy student
Azangue Dilane - Community worker
Babadana Carine - Web developper
Ahmadou Sali - computer scientist

What happened

In order to reach the strategic objectives of wikimedia movement, we have opted for diversity, considering the context of our country (bilingual) and enlarging the salons to people not having a deep knowledge on Wikipedia, the new contributors, as well as the active members of the user group. The salons gave the opportunity to people to express themselves in the 2 official languages of Cameroon (French and English). This is the reason why this report is available in both English and French.

The different workshops have been prepared with the support and accompaniment of Anass sedrati. The salons were started by presenting the 2030 strategy followed by an explanatory video, then the presentation of the different working groups and the objectives required from each and everyone of them.

Strategy salon working groups were then created (with a coordinator and a secretary) in order to reflect over a thematic and then, proceed to the presentation of their reults that will be discussed with other members who worked on other thematics. The summary of the discussions is what is retained in the present report.

Summary of the discussion points

Community health

How do we as a movement define the term “community”?: Community is a group of people from different background having different perceptions and perspectives (diversity), coming together for a common goal.
How can we ensure that our communities are places that people want to be part of and participate in, and how can we make people stay?: Networking and follow-up of each member of the community (taking contacts and connecting with each other).; Motivating administrators financial (e.g : Giving them airtime to call and check on members); Motivating members too financially by giving them transportation and snacks, giving them meals; Carrying out campaigns to bring up new members and sensitisations on the importance; Partnering with other association, NGO's and organisation who are successful in maintaining and getting members; Creating a social network group; Organising practical training to members; Give everyone task to do to keep then busy, connected and participate; Having a focal person who always esures that the community remains active, committed and organising members; Gamification (challenges and medals (prizes given)); Popularize and raise awareness about the community and its activities at all possible occasions by taking part in activities (fairs, forums, conferences ...); Empowering new members based on their skills and community projects
How do we engage and support people that have been left out by structures of power and privilege?: Trying to get to the left out people to find out why they are left behind and encouraging them financially and morally; Giving them as counsellors; Assign them as advisors or consultants
How can we either prioritize or balance the need to bring new community members into our movement and meet the expectations of existing contributors?: Gamification (recognisition of performance to members like badges, medals,...; Putting in place some principles and rules for the community; Fixing deadlines and define the human resources necessary for each project while watching that the old members mentor the new ones
What strategies can the movement develop for their constituencies to better balance huge workloads with personal health?: Division of labour; Work segmentation and specialisation; Decentralize tasks, responsibilities and projects to prevent a member from doing more than necessary

Capacity building

What is our overall goal for building capacities across the different parts of the movement?

Overall Goal : To create awareness about wikimedia and contribute to it's sustainebility

In terms of governance, capacity of collaboration, knowledge, fund raising, adaptation, innovative, the movement need to develop :

Knowledge on the movement
Knowledge on the management of team projects
Knowledge on communication
Knowledge on the rules that governs the movement (internal rules)
Knowledge on conflict management
Strategies on the mobilisation of resources
Good mastery of the principal language of the community (English) and local (official):be bilingual

How can leadership development and capacity building in the movement support our strategic priorities of knowledge as a service and knowledge equity?

Organize trainings in which everyone present gets involved

Do follow-ups after the trainings

Use a participaing approach during the training

Organization of trainings, seminars, Mooc on different capacities, conferences and conferences

Production of communication media (wikipedia guide, what Wikipedia is not, ...)

What are the capacities that we need in the movement and how do we build them?

Capacities :

Leadership, technical skills, communication skills, marketing skills, photography, project management
Training of trainers

Leadership : Team work, human resource, management, adminstration
Technical skills : Programming, graphic design, photography
Communication:Social media, radio, TV, newspaper
Project management : Finance, writing, monitoring and evaluation

What capacities do we already cover, in which regions and communities do we cover these and where are the gaps that we need to fill to succeed?

Train by organizing workshops

Subscribe to online training by wikimedia experts

Wikimedia organization should fund workshops organized in minor communities

Capacities we have already

Communication
Leadership
Region : South West Region, Buea municipality
Gaps : Project management, Technical skills

What capacities do partner organizations need to advance our mission, and how do we support the development of these capacities?

1.

Goals, mission

Activities

How they can partner (role)

2.

Have conversations with partners

Sell the ROI (Return Of Inverest)

Invite them to our events

Engage them on all our parternship communication activities

Always keep them updated on what we are doing

Advocacy

What policy areas do we want to prioritize on our way to becoming the essential infrastructure for free knowledge? Where do we have to align with the broader global movement?

After establishing a good juridical status in the protection of the movement, it should proceeds in the different domains of intervention be it;

Scholarly (education based)
Cultural and Arts
Environmental and forestry
Research
Water resource management and Arable farming
Mines and energy
Technology and scientific innovations etc.

This awareness process should start from bottom-top (local administration and communities to central government)

Putting in place a juridique status peculiar to the protection of the movement in every country. So, the wikimedia foundation have to support the local action near the authorities in order to render their actions visible

Uniformise the appellation of the movement groups(example :wikimedia Cameroon, wikimedia Nigeria, wikimedia Ghana) participate In big national movement (national day) to make the movement known

Interest medias to the movement through the actions carryout. Getting more closer to the network parliamentarians (deputy and senators) to make the movement know thanks to the information release by the medias

Sensibilise organisations /associations who are interested by acces to information. Meet the members of the government in order to sensitise them on the objectives of the movement to elaborate a project of laws on the free access to information.

What policy changes are necessary to achieve our strategic vision? What are areas where the movement has an opportunity to make change?

An apolitical movement as Wikimedia foundation and Wikimedia Cameroon should engaged in organizing multitudes awareness creating conferences at provincial/regional levels within the country of exercise and mobilizing at most public figures in attending events while focusing on the message of neutrality in any political party’s ambitions but rather creating a philosophy of living together as a cosmopolite citizen in a global village where everyone needs easy information accessibility and sharing at no cost.

To sensitize the institutions for a better physical and numerical availability of the data concerning them

To propose to accompany / improve the visibility of state institutions by sharing information on these institutions and coming from them

Organize targeted training within the institutions (specialized units) for the dissemination of information on these institutions (physical / digital) ie better equip the communication cells

What is the most effective way to promote public policy that advances our goals? What kind of legal, public policy and activist capacities do we need within movement organizations and communities, and how can we build them?

Let Wikimedia foundation write a booklet/journal after meticulous diagnosis on the various domains it which she wants to intervene and that thighs in line with government politics for development and then proceeding at various regional delegation, Non-governmental organisation and ministries for audience hearing.

Conferences should be advertise with use of flyers, banners hung in public roundabouts carrying the Wikimedia slogan "information access- sharing – is free to all"

Improve contributions within the community

Design membership cards at the international level (for better activism)

How do we bring awareness, support, and readiness to action to our community beyond the policy experts?

Utilize effectively the tool of Focus Group Discussion within local development association, cooperatives of all sorts and assist them routinely to build their capacity to to share while learning from that which they know and know not.

Design a guide for the Cameroonian wikipedian

Design brochures that present the vision and goals of the movement or community

How will the open knowledge movement support the growing need for legal work around the globe in defense of free speech, access to information, and open knowledge? Who is part of this movement and who are the partners we need to engage with to further our mission?

Identifying possible experts will entail first of all to outline what type of information Wikimedia foundation needs in order to meet the growing trends of globalisation and development agenda while advancing in achieving its vision 2030.

Partners here will include private (civil society group, common initiative groups) and public (central government to decentralized local administration).

How will the broader open knowledge movement organize itself to better reach and inform policymakers, legal advocates, and other stakeholders in matters related to the future of the open internet?: We suggest a delegation from Wikimedia foundation from the United States of America should fortify its new juridical right to explore in the said country and pay a courtesy visit to government officials of Cameroon for strong Sub Regional visibility and concretization of its vision, mission and objectives.
How can Wikimedia use its considerable visibility and influence to work with other open internet and open knowledge allies to advocate for press freedom, free speech, universal internet access, and other policy goals that will ensure the free flow of information?: Following the same line as in Q6 above let a call for an international forum be organised where internet operators can meet to discuss on the stakes of information accessibility, sharing at free cost through the use of the internet.

Should in case it is organise, while at an international forum let Wikimedia foundation gather enough reasons to show the negative impacts of lesser information accessibility and sharing due to the cost price placed on a document to be downloaded for an eventual development of our planet earth. For example:

It slows personal human development
It's twice cost consuming that is through (internet Bytes and price paid on downloaded documents )
More time is taken to produce pertinent results due to financial limitation towards especially paying for download which most at times scare or restraints research works from developing nations as Cameroon.

Roles & Responsibilities

Quelle est la définition du « mouvement Wikimédia », qui en fait partie et quels sont leurs rôles ?

Le mouvement Wikimedia est un groupe hiérarchisé ayant pour mission de permettre l'accès au savoir et partage des connaissances

Les membres sont tous ceux qui adhèrent volontairement au mouvement et participent à l'expansion, la promotion et la production du contenu

Quels changements devons-nous apporter dans nos structures organisationnelles, nos processus décisionnels mondiaux et la dynamique du pouvoir pour mettre en œuvre notre priorité stratégique d’équité ?

Maximum de visibilités
Représentativités au niveau mondial, régional et local, tout ceci dans le respect des genres et des communautés linguistiques
Au Cameroun, une proposition a été faite concernant les membres du board : Il est important de prendre en compte la représentativité des femmes, et des composantes linguistiques officielles du Cameroun (français et anglais)

Comment partageons-nous les responsabilités au sein du mouvement mondial afin que les personnes, les organisations et les groupes aient les moyens de remplir notre mission au mieux, et d’avancer dans notre direction stratégique ?

Au travers de la décentralisation

Transfert des compétences (formations et responsabilités) : Mêmes structures du sommet à la base (mondial, régional et local)
Ressources humaines
Ressources financières

Quels sont les rôles et objectifs de la Wikimedia Foundation, de ses affiliés et comités ?: Wikimedia foundation définit la stratégie politique du mouvement, finance les différents projets issus du mouvement, règle les litiges; Les communautés implémentent la politique mondiale et assurent aussi les activités d'autofinancement pour leurs projets
Quels processus devons-nous initier pour gérer le changement futur de manière inclusive, participative et efficace ?: Responsabiliser tous les membres; Former les comités en leadership et fundraising

Revenue Streams

How can we maximize the revenue for the movement?

Go in partership with the united nations organisations to support in some of our activities in relation with some of their own activities (other like Unesco for education, WHO for health...)

What do we need to change or add to our current fundraising structures and processes to make them more sustainable, adaptive, and distributed appropriately?

Organise a funding structure in our own localities (training the community in our local areas to have it's own money) and training on how to build partenership and selling yourself

What “red lines” should exist to guide our practices? What new approaches are we willing to consider to maximize the revenue streams for the movement?

Wikimedia should remain a free world for knowledge as started in it's initial mission or visions and it should be emphasized

Members of Wikimedia mouvement should have an ethical or professionnal standard / guidlines gouverning them

Include peer mentorship or transfer of know how, for example organising workshop or trainings for community members.

Which (movement) bodies should take on what (local, regional, global) responsibilities in ensuring revenue streams for the movement? How can these efforts be best coordinated?

We need to decentralised the structures, internationnally, national, regional and local

A proposed decentralised revenue structure
- International (San Francisco) - Africa and others continents - Cameroon and others countries - Douala, Yaounde, Buea and others towns

Do we need to connect or align our strategic approaches for revenue streams with those for resource allocation?: Definitely. Because the revenue raised must be efficiently and effectively allocate and used.

Products and technology

What is the future of Wikimedia product and technology and who are the stakeholders that need to be included in this conversation?

We build system which understand local languages and collect speach to text to improve content and later import into wikipedia

Develop system to automatically check content during article and suggest changes concerning the articles if it contains malicious content

The Stakeholders to help us include :

Gouvernment and institutions where there is ongoing research on technology and innovation
Students in universities who are passionate about technologies
Others communities/developers who develop products and use technologies which the wikimedia products/technologies will depend on

What are the structures we need to engage with a wider spectrum of stakeholders from the Wikimedia movement and beyond to contribute to these conversations?: We visit the following structures : Universities, Tech innovation hubs, Tech research centres; This is in order to get informations on products developed using recent technologies which wikimedia depends on or would likely depends on
How can we build local volunteer developer networks and connect them with the local communities they serve to advance our aspiration to become the essential infrastructure in the ecosystem of free knowledge?: By building local work centers with basic facilities like laptops and internet to enhance local developers work; Organizing hackathons/workshops where volunteers or staffs can help these developers to acquire new skills on new/current technologies
How must the experience of access, consumption and contribution evolve to engage communities that are currently unserved or underserved?: Install wikipedia and other projects like Wikidata on a server in schools and research centers to ensure access offline for research; Install this local version in work centers

Reflections from participants or partners

Video of the Yaoundé strategy salon
Video of the Douala strategy salon

Photographs or videos

Strategy2030 video presentation
Working group during the session in Buea
Photo of participants in Douala
Working group during the session in Yaoundé
Photo of participants in Yaoundé
Report of the work of a working group in Buea

Statement on your budget

The total budget for this event was 1480 USD, covering accommodation, transportation as well as meals, catering... An amount equivalent to 196 USD remained after ending the event.