The Africa Environment WikiFocus encouraged Wikimedia and other communities to contribute content related to Africa’s Climate to the Wikimedia projects in March 2023 and beyond! The WikiFocus was a project created and developed by Wiki In Africa (WIA) and Wikimedia Community User Group Côte d’Ivoire (WMUG IC) as an integral part of the African Knowledge Initiative (AKI) series of campaigns. The Africa Environment WikiFocus was a content creation and contribution WikiFocus that launched on the African Union’s Wangari Maathai Day (3rd of March).

AKI Africa Environment drive 2023 Visual 1

Main goals of the programme

The main focus of the initiative is to encourage Wikimedia and other communities to contribute content related to Africa’s Climate to the Wikimedia projects. Individuals, communities, and organizations were invited to contribute in a variety of different ways. The topics covered in this focus related to the climates of Africa, and the impact of climate change and environmental issues or threats faced by countries and communities across Africa. The main elements were:

  • Content creation :
Add to and improve existing articles that reflect your community, focus or passions. Understand the challenges through practical application
  • Knowledge transfer :
Find out about Wikipedia, Wikimedia projects and communities, Open licences and copyright, partnerships, etc.
  • Skills acquisition :
Learn how to edit, work with info boxes, add data, upload images, teach others, where the best resources are, etc.
  • Visibility and outreach :
Launch and closing event. Strong social media campaigns etc.

Project Impact (end 2023)

 
WikiAfrica Hour Episode 22 Special Edition launch of Africa Environment WikiFocus

Content

  • The link of the Dashboard gives a general view of ALL (the numerous) contributions by participating communities related to Climate and Climate Change in Africa.

Community cohesion and outreach

  • dozen of Online office hours
  • One global launch event
  • 1 global mid-term event
  • 1 global closing ceremony
  • Increased visibility through an active social media campaign

Training and skills building

  • 3 Training sessions
    • 1 webinar to assist increasing entrants’ understanding of the campaign
    • 1 training webinar about Dashboard
    • 1 training webinar about Wikidata

Local activation

  • Local meetings (training, edit-a-thon, conference etc.) were organized by up to 17 groups

Read more:

Project Partners

Read more about partners

The organising partners of the Africa Environment WikiFocus was conceptualised in its current form and has been implemented and managed by Wiki In Africa and Wikimedia Usergroup Côte d’Ivoire.

The Africa Environment WikiFocus was created in response to a community call for submissions to the Africa Knowledge Initiative (AKI) around a celebration of Wangari Maathai Day, an Africa Union designated day to draw attention to environmental matters across Africa.

The Africa Knowledge Initiative is managed by a working group of members from the Wikimedia Foundation, Africa Union and Africa No Filter.

The Drive was locally implemented by 17 groups through training sessions, edit-a-thons, in-field trips, presentations etc. by Local Organizing Partners.