WikiIndaba 2023/Submissions/UN and African Wikimedians – Many opportunities on the horizon

Full recording of the session

ID :
Author(s): Eric Luth, John Andersson	Username(s): Eric Luth (WMSE), John Andersson (WMSE)	Type of submission: Workshop
Author(s): Eric Luth, John Andersson	Affiliation: Wikimedia Sverige	Theme(s): Partnerships, Community Engagement
Abstract: Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are international organizations that often are very large and have significant resources, including from Africa. Examples of IGOs are UN agencies and regional organizations such as the AU or EU. The Wikimedia movement has had a number of successful partnerships with IGOs over the years, but the work has most often been ad hoc and limited in scope. The partnerships have not created as many opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities as would be ideal. Partnering with intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) has a huge potential. The partnerships could provide large amounts of unique and valuable material from around the world, open up new networks, access to venues and conferences for local communities. They could also create new funding opportunities for local volunteers and Wikimedia organizations as many of them are interested in hiring Wikimedians in Residence. The Content Partnerships Hub is an initiative to create a Thematic Hub, which is led by Wikimedia Sverige. Currently five different areas of work are forming the pillars of the Hub, and partnerships with IGOs is one of them. Over the last years we have developed a large and valuable network within the IGO sector, including organizations such as UNESCO, WIPO, FAO, IEA, UNEP, EIB and more. In 2022–2023 we started formalizing these partnerships with the goal to lower the threshold for other Wikimedia affiliates to work and engage with the IGOs. One key area we are exploring is the potential for paid Wikimedian in Residence positions at the different IGOs and how to ensure that this is an opportunity that is open and possible for Wikimedians from around the world. During the workshop we will discuss the work done with IGOs, what would be most relevant material and opportunities for African Wikimedians to focus on and how to engage in the partnerships in different ways, for example as a paid Wikimedian in Residence. We will collect your ideas and plans so that African Wikimedians can engage with these new opportunities with UN agencies in numerous ways.		Level of advancement: Medium
		Special requirements:
		Extra information: Etherpad

How will this session be beneficial for the communities in the region? The UN agencies, and other IGOs, have both data, media and reports covering all parts of Africa and many different themes relevant to the Wikimedia movement in Africa. The IGO partnerships can be a way to find resources for local affiliates in Africa, through for example paid Wikimedian in Residence positions. As a training program will be developed for Wikimedian in Residence positions at IGOs we need inputs on what should be included in it, including from an African perspective. We would also like to involve any African Wikimedians that have experience in working with IGOs in developing the content for the training program and are hoping that this workshop can help us to identify those local experts.

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