Wikimedia Deutschland/Plan 2024/Programs & Objectives

German version of this site

Strategic Direction Programs & Objectives Budget 2024

On this site, we present the programs we are working on to implement our strategies. In each program, we set success criteria that reflect the change we want to achieve this year - and by which we can determine if we are successful.

Mapping the programs onto the Strategic Direction

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Strong infrastructure of free knowledge Thriving and stable communities Greater diversity and equitable participation More usage, easier access Wider political and social support
1 Volunteer Support
2 Community Management
3 Appreciative interaction & support services Appreciative interaction & support services
4 Local spaces
5 Community Conferences
6 A Thriving Community
7 Technical Wishes Technical Wishes
8 Wikidata Wikidata
9 Wikidata & Wikimedia Projects Wikidata & Wikimedia Projects
10 Shared Software Development for Wikidata
11 Wikibase Cloud
12 Wikibase Suite
13 Wikibase Product Platform Wikibase Product Platform
14 Civil Liberties in the Digital Realm Civil Liberties in the Digital Realm
15 European and International Regulation European and International Regulation
16 Public Money? Public Good! Public Money? Public Good!
17 GLAM - Open Cultural and Memory Institutions

GLAM - Open Cultural and Memory Institutions
18 Marginalized knowledge
19 Free open education Free open education

About the programs

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Program 1: Volunteer Support

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These projects would not exist without the work of volunteers in Wikipedia & co. They not only create and maintain contributions, but also search for new documents, plan joint projects to create and disseminate free content, set up competitions, implement initiatives to attract new editors and promote diversity in the projects, and explain to public institutions how they can be part of the wiki world. We support them by, for example, covering their expenses for travel, venue rental, access to specialist literature, technology lending and insurance, and by advising them on the implementation of projects. Each year, we provide such support in hundreds of cases, further develop the community support infrastructure, and ensure reliable processing and quality of the support.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: Members of the communities can contribute to Free Knowledge in the best possible way.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2022:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Volunteers can rely on financial and organizational support from Wikimedia Deutschland in their commitment to Free Knowledge. Those receiving support continue to rate the individual & project support provided by WMDE very positively (average rating at least 9 out of 10 on the support barometer).
At least 85% of those receiving support during Wikimania 2024 rate the support provided by the program as positive and motivational for their volunteer work.
The support guidelines have been updated together with the community as conditions for support in line with the defined requirements.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • Digital infrastructure for community support (e.g., support database, digital cost reimbursement, email server) was improved in at least one element.
  • An overview of potential partner institutions is available as a basis for the further partnership management of The Wikipedia Library.
  • Support projects aimed at recruiting and integrating new volunteers and promoting diversity in the projects (people or content) are recorded in a separate overview including key lessons learned.
More volunteers are now aware of and use the support options offered by WMDE. At least three different measures have been implemented to strategically promote support to previously underrepresented individuals, groups or networks.
Ten scholarships for Wikimania 2024 have been awarded to volunteers who will be taking part in Wikimania for the first time.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • Priorities were identified for the strategic promotion of support based on the results of the 2023 community survey.

Program 2: Community Management

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Many community members perform important volunteer work as multipliers, extending beyond content creation. This work helps stabilize the community and solidify self-organization: They support other community members in mediating conflict situations and in imparting skills and knowledge; they inspire the further development of strategies and projects, work on collaborations and organize spaces, events and projects for community participation. Multipliers play an important role in attracting and involving new people, while also strengthening diversity in the projects. We help develop the community's capacity with process support, networking, moderation, advice and other needs that go beyond existing volunteer support programs. We make it easier for potential multipliers to decide to take on new roles.

Success criteria 2024
Program goal: Volunteers are better able to have a multiplier effect in new and existing community structures and facilitate diverse forms of engagement with Free Knowledge.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Active multipliers feel supported by our support services, which are tailored to their respective roles.
Our exchange formats and information offerings are clearly perceived and receive positive ratings.
Training and other support formats (e.g., on moderation, presentation, press relations, resilience), which cater to a wide range of roles, are used and rated as helpful.
With FemNetz and the young Wikipedians, we support two specific groups of multipliers even more intensively in their work and development as a network.
Volunteer groups such as administrators, developers and others who are committed to the structure of Wikipedia make use of our support.
Multipliers who are committed to the future of Wikipedia work with us, e.g., for the Future Congress (Zukunftskongress).
We get to know more active and potential multipliers (and ones not yet known to us at all) and their needs.
By attending (community) events inside and outside the Wikiverse, we have identified at least one potential multiplier in each case and received input on how to develop needs-based offerings.
We have identified active and potential multipliers who want to support networking between the German-speaking community and the international movement, and we have begun collaborating
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • Multipliers known to us are listed in an organized way and thus form a basis for future activities.

Program 3: Appreciative Interaction & Support Services

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People who are committed to Free Knowledge and Wikimedia projects should feel welcome and safe. Together, Wikimedia Deutschland and the volunteer members of the communities contribute to an appreciative culture of communication and conflict management and are dedicated to constructive and respectful cooperation, as well as safe and inclusive events. The effective communication and conflict resolution structures created by the volunteers are strengthened by additional advice and support services provided by Wikimedia Deutschland. Methods and concepts developed by Wikimedia Deutschland for safety, counseling and support in the event of acute or potential conflicts, attacks or violations of personal boundaries are evaluated, further developed, supplemented and offered to volunteers as support. Knowledge and skills are pooled and shared, thus enabling joint learning.

Success criteria 2024
Program goal 1: Wikimedia Deutschland strengthens, protects and supports the people who dedicate themselves to Free Knowledge in WMDE-supported community projects and at events. This takes the form both of preventative measures and of needs-oriented interventions in the event of potential or acute conflicts, attacks and assaults or other stressful situations that may arise within the context of volunteering.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

The existing care concept for dealing with abuses of power, assaults and violations of boundaries is being revised by employees and volunteers together and carried over into a new concept. Existing gaps are being closed and responsibilities distributed more broadly in order to create more transparent and trustworthy structures.
The revised concept has been piloted at WikiCon 2024 to assess its applicability and acceptability before its final adoption.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • A steering committee consisting of volunteers and full-time staff has been formed. It evaluates the existing care concept and revises it based on the new findings and suggestions.
  • The steering committee agrees on a new concept version and submits it to the committee responsible for adoption.
In cases of attacks, abuses of power, violations of personal boundaries, conflicts, burnout and other emotionally stressful situations that arise in the context of performing their volunteer work, volunteers can access advice and a safe haven where they can receive needs-oriented support for their concerns.
The advisory service has been defined, communicated via the usual community channels, via the organizing teams of the local spaces, via multipliers and at the initial events, and is visible as a permanent service offering.
In a survey to be conducted after consultations, at least 75% of those providing feedback have rated the advisory service as helpful and supportive.
For community conferences, the organizers used safety advice or requested a team of qualified people who provided awareness advice on site as part of a coordinated safety concept.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • Internal process description/handouts and transparent presentation on Wikipedia
  • Standardized and analysis-friendly questionnaire with a plan for distribution
  • Process description for requesting awareness advice at community conferences
Program goal 2: Together with the active members of the communities, Wikimedia Deutschland contributes to an appreciative culture of communication and conflict management in the Wikimedia projects.
Volunteers within the community use offerings of further training and support services according to their needs, e.g., for the preventative and acute handling of conflicts, tension or stress. Five events have been offered, for which a total of 50 registrations were received.
In followup oral and written surveys, participants have found the formats helpful for their commitment.
Two new support offers have been developed and communicated.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • Events
    • Events motivated by the community will continue to be offered, for example:
      • Peer consulting for admins
      • Coping with volunteer burnout
    • Further training and awareness-raising opportunities for volunteers and full-time staff are being tried out as a new shared format, for example:
      • Online workshop to raise awareness regarding discrimination
      • Online introductory workshop on nonviolent communication
      • Dealing with conflicts
      • Dealing with accusations of mansplaining
    • The following support options are available:
      • Training for protection and safety, for example (first aid / MHFA course)
      • Mediation support offer

Program 4: Local Spaces

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Wikipedia and its fellow projects can not only be used on the net, but also experienced live! There are local spaces in Berlin, Fürth, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Munich and Neu-Ulm. In these spaces, volunteers open their doors, work on joint projects and are happy to explain Free Knowledge projects to guests. We finance these spaces and advise the local groups on their projects.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: Volunteers are better able to have a multiplier effect in new and existing regional community structures and facilitate diverse forms of engagement with Free Knowledge.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

The organizing teams of the local community spaces are achieving the goals they set for themselves as part of ongoing trusting collaboration with Wikimedia Deutschland. The local organizing teams and WMDE meet at least once a quarter for mutual information and inspiration for their Free Knowledge projects as well as to reflect on the collaboration. At least one of the meetings each year takes place in person. Between meetings they regularly exchange information via chat, video conferencing and other formats.
WMDE regularly advises the local organizing teams on defining and implementing their own goals in the annual support applications and on their individual needs (e.g., training offerings) and provides support related to administrative issues.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • At least once every six months, the full-time managers meet on site with the respective organizing teams of the local community spaces.
  • Concepts for occupational health and safety as well as building safety (fire protection, making spaces accessible, etc.) and child welfare are available and have been adapted to all spaces.

Program 5: Community Conferences

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Many of those who contribute to Free Knowledge in their free time also leave their screens to meet up in person. The largest meeting in the German-speaking world is WikiCon. The two largest specialist conferences are AdminCon and the FemNetz meeting. All three formats arose from the community's desire and need to come together, discuss their favorite topics, plan joint activities and feel like they are part of a community. We implement the conferences together with volunteers, and we take responsibility for organization, logistics and implementation.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: Professional and personal exchange in the community and volunteer motivation are bolstered.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Together with the community, we implement conferences in which members of the community can share their experience and strengthen their motivation for volunteering.
At least 90% of participants rate WikiCon 2024 as a motivational boost for their volunteering.
At least 80% of the AdminCon participants rate the participation and professional exchange as helpful for their volunteer work.
At least 90% of participants in the FemNetz Conference 2024 rate their participation as having strengthened their connection to the network.
At least 90% of those participating in our Community Conferences rate them as safe spaces in which they can openly exchange ideas.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • A handbook on organizing community conferences along with a set of helpful tools is compiled. This handbook makes a set of processes and structures for safe, inclusive and hybrid events available to the community.
  • Target group-specific needs for accessibility and inclusion have been identified.

Program 6: A Thriving Community

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No new collaboration would be possible without an understanding of the value of Free Knowledge, how the Wikimedia projects work, and how they originated. We therefore ensure visibility, show appreciation for existing volunteer work, and invite new people to get involved through our communications and campaigns. We provide help in the form of information and low-level incentives to encourage them to try their hands and get involved. To make sure that this participation and experimentation leads to lasting involvement, we develop learning materials together with volunteers to explain not only the technical but also the cultural and social structure of Wikipedia. We collaborate with the community on improving the framework conditions to make long-term involvement more attractive, and we highlight ways to get involved that go beyond editing.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal 1: More people are informed and inspired to participate in Wikipedia.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

We expand our reach through cooperations and address target groups through which we win people interested in participating. We assess the effectiveness of cooperation with at least one partner who has access to at least 1,000 people and reaches at least 200 people with a single format.
We want to use communication work to raise awareness of the fact that Wikipedia is open for collaboration. (KOM) The fact that anyone can contribute to Wikipedia gains greater visibility in the press. Press clips dealing with the topic should number 7, along with 1 feature on the topic.
We want to use communication work to encourage those interested to actively participate in Wikipedia and get involved in a vibrant and permanent community for the long term. (KOM) The number of new registrations for the Wikipedia Challenge (or a similar introductory offering) has risen to 2,000.
Our outreach inspires 5 edit-a-thons / workshops and other projects organized by volunteers in this area. We measure this specifically by consulting with the organizers and aim to contribute to the success of the respective events.
Program Goal 2: People choose to participate in Wikipedia and remain active in the Wikimedia communities.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2023:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

More people than in the previous year decide to create a user account after learning about our services and information. 100 of the recipients of our information services register on Wikipedia. The recipients consider the information helpful.
People who have only made a few edits are motivated to become more active. 1,000 people who have not yet reached viewer status and whom we address with suggestions and knowledge pertaining to participation via a target group-specific banner campaign show a higher number of edits in the three months after the campaign than before the campaign.
Newly registered users receive onboarding help, thereby increasing the number of new returning users. Together with the WMF and community members, at least one piece of functionality was optimized for new editors.
Working with the community, a solution will be found in Q1 for the structured support of newly registered users. As a result, 10% of at least 20,000 newly registered users we have reached in this way become new returning users.
Program Goal 3: Community members engage with WMDE to retain new participants.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

New formats for networking between new participants and experienced community members have been developed and implemented. After at least one format, the new participants (at least 20) are more active in Wikipedia.
Community members in supporting roles receive support from WMDE. A format for supporting trainers who run introductory courses has been developed together with volunteers, or an existing format has been refined, and that format has been promoted; participants find it useful based on evaluation.

Program 7: Technical Wishes

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With the Technical Wishes project, we are improving MediaWiki – the software behind Wikipedia and its sister projects – to make the volunteers' work easier. The collaboration with the Wikimedia communities is a central part of this effort. We are working on focus areas chosen by the German-speaking community, aiming to find solutions beneficial to the whole movement.

Success criteria 2024
Program goal 1: Members of the communities are empowered by the technical infrastructure to make their contributions to free knowledge.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Reusing references within an article page on German-speaking Wikipedia becomes easier. On German-speaking Wikipedia, the extends attribute to reuse references was used 100 times by the end of the year.
Members of the German-speaking wiki communities that are working with community tools are better supported. We have fulfilled at least 5 requests about broken community tools in collaboration with community members.
Milestones / Outputs
  • We have developed a concept for supporting community requests to fix broken community tools and gadgets on an on-going basis.
Program Goal 2: Members of the communities can collaboratively determine (“mitentscheiden”) which technical improvements are implemented in Wikimedia projects.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Members of the German-speaking Wikipedia community are able to determine the next area of technical improvement. At least 1000 people participate in the Technical Wishes Survey.
Milestones / Outputs
  • The next focus area for the Technical Wishes project is established.
More diverse groups of people shape the technical improvements that are implemented. We see a more equitable distribution within different aspects of diversity (e.g. disability, gender) for the participants in our user research activities.
We further evolve the concept of community-centered software development. A strategy and roadmap for community-centered software development has been developed.
Milestones / Outputs
  • We have agreed on an approach to the international distribution of community-centered software development with WMF.
  • We have defined our approach to financial and structural support for building an international network of community-centered software development teams.

Program 8: Wikidata

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Wikidata is a free, collaboratively created knowledge graph. In 2012, we started the project at Wikimedia Deutschland; in 2022 we celebrated its 10th birthday. During this time, both the amount of data and its subsequent use have increased significantly. We support the Wikidata community in creating and maintaining a trustworthy and equitable knowledge graph for the Wikimedia projects and the world. In 2024, we continue to place a special focus on providing the editors with everything they need to to maintain high data quality in order to enable broad re-use of Wikidata's data as well as a strong social and technical base for Wikidata.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal 1: Increasing the data quality on Wikidata becomes more efficient for the community.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Wikidata moves towards a more consistent data model. The Wikidata Community increases its use of Entity Schemas which is a lever to improve data quality. This is visible through:
  • More classes being connected to their modelling definitions (i.e. Items representing classes that are connected to an EntitySchema) (baseline: 0)
  • Increased number of page views of EntitySchema pages and the textual representation of EntitySchemas (baseline: 376 combined views, 30.9.2023)
Program Goal 2: More people are empowered to build applications powered by Wikidata’s data.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Wikidata’s data is more visible and accessible for third-party developers Wikidata’s new REST API is actively used by an increasing number of third-party projects (measured in approximation based on analytics data, e.g. number of unique IPs making requests).
Milestones / Outputs
  • We have conducted developer outreach and marketing activities to increase awareness, understanding and excitement around working with Wikidata's data
Program Goal 3: Build towards a more sustainable infrastructure for the technical and social systems of Wikidata.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

It is possible to make significant improvements around Item editing for a specific user group. We have received feedback from at least 10 members of the target user group on design prototypes.
Milestones / Outputs
  • The interdisciplinary Wikidata team has aligned on existing knowledge and hypotheses around manual Item editing goals.
  • We have created at least one technical prototype which tests the new architectural approach for the Item page.
Wikidata’s developers can work more efficiently because of less complexity in the code base. We deprecate WiKit, our legacy design system.
Milestones / Outputs
  • Wikidata Mismatch Finder is only made out of custom Vue 3 and Codex components
  • Wikidata Query Builder is only made out of custom Vue 3 and Codex components
  • The Special:NewLexeme page is only made out of Codex components and styles
Social cohesion and equity in decision-making increases as the project grows and matures. People from diverse backgrounds come to our social events and feel a sense of belonging to the Wikidata community; measured through post event surveys.
Milestones / Outputs
  • The Wikidata community comes together on at least 3 occasions in social spaces, events and other means.
We further increase the knowledge of the Wikidata team about how Wikidata is edited by the Wikidata Community to make more targeted improvements. New quantitatively founded insights impact the key decisions of at least one major Wikidata initiative (e.g. the initiative to improve Item editing for a specific user group).
Milestones / Outputs
  • We have a shared artifact about central concepts within at least one core area (e.g. contributors, content, or consumers).
  • Establish our first data pipelines to collect an initial set of metrics, utilizing our new infrastructure

Program 9: Wikidata & Wikimedia Projects

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From its beginning, Wikidata intended to support the other Wikimedia projects. Wikidata stores specified Wikimedia data in a central location and helps to distribute the maintenance workload across language and project boundaries. Today, Wikidata and the other Wikimedia projects are supporting each other heavily. It is important to WMDE to strengthen this mutually beneficial relationship, and ensure its long-term sustainability. We will therefore set up a dedicated team for this work in 2023 and 2024. One of its first initiatives will be to increase the understanding of the current state of Wikidata integration into other Wikimedia projects.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: Wikidata and the other Wikimedia projects increase their collaboration for mutual benefit.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

The editors' workflows on other Wikimedia projects improved because of a better integration with Wikidata. A workflow has improved because of an improved Wikidata integration.
Milestones / Outputs
  • A dedicated development team for “Wikidata and the Wikimedia projects” has been formed.
  • We've identified a blocker in a workflow that's possible to efficiently and effectively improve
Community members’ needs drive the development process. At least 5 different users gave feedback throughout each step of the development process.
50% of our participants are from communities outside of Europe and North America.
Milestones / Outputs
  • “Low-medium skilled” editors are included in each of our processes.

Program 10: Shared Software Development for Wikidata

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Wikimedia Deutschland wants to invest in skill and capacity development and empower local communities in the Wikimedia Movement. We want to achieve this by exploring new ways of collaboration and implementing partnerships in the Wikimedia Movement for capacity building for software development for Wikidata. With this program, we focus on languages that are underrepresented in the Wikimedia Movement and on the Internet at large.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: Members of underrepresented parts of the movement contribute to a shared software development environment in a sustainable way.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Wikimedia Deutschland and our project partners have a deeper understanding on how to further support underrepresented communities in the Wikidata ecosystem (e.g. around lexicographical data). WMDE and its partners have aligned on future scenarios for the joint software collaboration.
Milestones / Outputs
  • We have prepared a process description of a joint software development collaboration.
  • We have decided how to proceed with the partners as part of the joint software collaboration beyond the current project cycle.
The partners in the collaboration are empowered to sustainably enable their communities’ efforts to grow the Wikidata ecosystem (e.g. around lexicographical data). The Igbo Wikimedians User Group has implemented phase 2 of their mentorship program.
The software team in Indonesia has implemented its first technical changes.
Milestones / Outputs
  • Financial resources and expert support are provided on time.
  • Possible needs for support of the partners are identified and discussed during four quarterly check-ins between the partner organizations and Wikimedia Deutschland.

Program 11: Wikibase Cloud

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Wikibase Cloud is Wikimedia Deutschland’s Software as a Service offering, which allows people to create their own Wikibase instance with just a few clicks. We strive to continuously lower the barrier for people to explore the Wikibase Ecosystem; and to make it easier than ever before to create, connect, and grow a collaborative, linked knowledge graph.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: A growing number of diverse open knowledge projects can comfortably make use of the Wikibase Ecosystem.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

We have expanded our user base with better accessibility for new joiners and have fostered continuous learning to better serve their needs. More than 1200 Wikibases on Wikibase Cloud contribute to diverse knowledge under an open license.
We understand the reasons for instant drop off and reduced the share to less than 20%.
The amount of total pages created on Wikibase Cloud grows by 150%.
More than 100 of the Wikibases on Wikibase Cloud are coming from communities outside of Europe and North America.
Milestones / Outputs
  • We have achieved a further understanding of knowledge equity opportunities with a plan to actually pursue ways to foster it
Wikibase Cloud as a software service product is increasingly reliable. We have a healthier balance in managing the platform, where 60% of our efforts go to keeping the platform up and running, and 40% to introducing new functionality.
Our monitoring and alerting fully covers severe incidents directly related to Wikibase Cloud to make us aware and able to respond quickly.

Program 12: Wikibase Suite

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The Wikibase Suite is Wikimedia Deutschland’s offering to self-install and self-host the Wikibase software. Wikibase Suite is targeted at public and open knowledge projects.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: A greater diversity of public and open knowledge projects can rely on Wikibase Suite as a Linked Open Data software for mission-critical use.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2023:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Experts in the public and open use of Wikibase Suite have taken a key role in determining the future of the product. WMDE has built an outcome oriented roadmap in tandem with the Wikibase Stakeholder Group (WBSG).
WMDE has supported the WBSG in bringing more DEI into its membership and governance structures by including at least 3 marginalized groups in the process of formalizing these structures.
Milestones / Outputs
  • WMDE has published the Code Contribution Guidelines & Open Source Contribution Strategy for Wikibase Suite and built internal processes accordingly.
  • Internally: We have clarified a functional definition of who we are able to support in our partnerships efforts and who we cannot.
Beginners within the Wikibase ecosystem are increasingly well supported in pursuing success with their Wikibase projects. At least 25 people participated in capacity building workshops.
Milestones / Outputs
  • We have successfully hired our developer advocate.
  • We have audited the existing documentation owned by WMDE in terms of topic areas and user needs.
  • We have improved or added to at least three key documentation topics.
  • Internally: We have hosted at least one workshop for the Wikibase Suite team internal workshop on using a key component of Wikibase
The Wikibase Suite is reliable for professional use in public and open knowledge projects. One core element of the Wikibase Suite’s development or maintenance infrastructure was improved.
One core element of the Wikibase Suite “first mile” user experience was improved.
Wikibase Suite 2024 updates are released on average no later than one month after a new mediawiki release.

Program 13: Wikibase Product Platform

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The Wikibase Product Platform is the technical foundation of WMDE’s Wikibase and Wikidata software products. We are building this shared technical base as a dedicated internal product platform that supports WMDE’s Linked Open Data software products. The goal of the Wikibase Product Platform is to strengthen the advantages of the shared base; and to make it easier to create specialized products for our various stakeholders. This shared technical foundation will increase the productivity of WMDE teams and enable product teams to focus more on the specific needs of their stakeholders.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal 1: WMDE’s Linked Open Data product teams are more efficient in providing a consistent user experience in the Wikibase Ecosystem.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

WMDE’s LOD Engineers benefit from centralized services in their development work. The developer experience is improved, as measured in positive feedback.
Developed centralized services are used across LOD product teams.
Milestones / Outputs

At least two problems with the most potential for impact are identified and prioritized together with different LOD engineers.

Initial steps on restructuring the Wikibase software architecture to be more resilient and adaptable are made. The LOD teams have agreed on a vision for restructuring the Wikibase software architecture.
The LOD teams identified a minimum of two key areas for future focus driven by the agreed-on vision.
Milestones / Outputs
  • The problem space surrounding the topic is clearly defined and prioritized
  • The proposed solutions are discussed and voted on taking into account current and long term development needs.
Program Goal 2: Data use is made more efficient in WMDE’s LOD Products.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Wikidata and Wikibase developer communities benefit from a more reliable way to access and curate data. At least one WMDE LOD Product considers the REST API stable and gains continuous value by using it.
One of the Wikibase portfolio products adopts the REST API.
Milestones / Outputs
  • Regular feedback from communities are incorporated into the WPP REST API v2 roadmap

Program 14: Civil Liberties in the Digital Realm

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The free exchange of knowledge is also ensured through civil liberties such as free speech and freedom of information, freedom of the arts, academic freedom, and protection of individuals from monitoring by third parties. That is why we lobby politicians in Germany and Brussels to ensure these civil liberties in the digital realm are not curtailed, but rather strengthened in such a way that they promote the common good, civil rights, democracy and ecological sustainability.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: Digital policy will be further developed from a Free Knowledge perspective.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Cooperation with political organizations relevant to us is being expanded and perpetuated.
WMDE becomes part of a consortium for “Module 3”, which will lead the development of the data institute if the cost/benefit ratio during the first quarter warrants it.
WMDE is actively involved in the bits&bäume support group and contributes to establishing the alliance as a political voice.
WMDE is actively requested to give lectures, workshops or expert opinions by ministries or authorities at least 3 times.
Policymakers are increasingly considering arguments for public-interest-oriented digital policies.
The requirements for digital policy geared towards the common good and our recommendations derived from them are voiced by policymakers in 3 cases.
WMDE's participation in the Digital Summit with a focus on common-good requirements for digital projects will be evaluated and, if necessary, pursued.
At least two of our arguments for digital volunteer work can be found in the German government's Civic Engagement Strategy.
The idea of a digital policy oriented toward the common good is established and further substantiated through the work of the F5 alliance.
As part of the F5 alliance, WMDE is able to address 2 digital policy concerns at parliamentary breakfasts or executive exchange formats. → e.g., Federal Transparency Act, common good, also National Education Platform / OER strategy / DigitalPakt Schule (Digital Pact for Schools).
WMDE's digital policy goals are addressed in at least two of the alliance's statements.
Alliance presence at and co-design of a digital policy conference such as re:publica or "Das ist Netzpolitik!" which includes WMDE positions.
More stakeholders in society are aware of knowledge equity as a WMDE field of activity.
Six management-level individuals at social and political institutions that we find relevant take part in the WMDE event series "Wissen. Macht. Gerechtigkeit.” (Knowledge. Power. Equity.)
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • A conference with the working title Aufklärung 2.0 (Enlightenment 2.0) will be co-designed and organized on this topic.
The concept of "private" data as a source of Free Knowledge is discussed. Development of arguments and a position on the extent to which protection of trade secrets is necessary to safeguard innovation or can be reduced.

Program 15: European and International Regulation

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Important legal framework conditions are decided at the international level and then implemented at the national level. We therefore cooperate with other civil society organizations to ensure that our combined expertise is heard when international regulations are drawn up. We are participating in more and more debates on the regulation of public digital spaces, particularly with regard to disinformation.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: We contribute to an active network of civil society organizations on legal framework conditions at the EU and international level to promote Free Knowledge.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

The exchange between WMDE, civil society and political stakeholders and EU institutions is perpetuated.
WMDE is consulted once per quarter on regulatory issues with implications for Free Knowledge at the EU level.
WMDE is actively consulted 3 times by specialist politicians on EU and international policy issues.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • Together with civil society organizations, WMDE organizes an event in the European Parliament on the promotion of digital commons or the role of Free Knowledge in combating disinformation.
We strengthen the interests of civil society in the Global Digital Compact. WMDE is consulted by the Federal Foreign Office at least once when civil society positions are submitted for finalization of the Global Digital Compact.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • WMDE holds an event with other civil society organizations to include common interests in the Global Digital Compact.
More relevant stakeholders are aware that Free Knowledge is a tool to combat disinformation. Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • WMDE positions itself publicly in the form of publications, appearances at professional events, and conferences (on the topics of digital public realm and disinformation).

Program 16: Public Money? Public Good!

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At the very least, what is financed with public money is also a public good. This includes publicly financed research and software, as well as everything that government agencies create or commission themselves, content from public broadcasters, state-financed museums, and so on. Many such institutions are leading the way by making their collections and other products freely available in digital form. We are working towards anchoring the free availability of digital goods as far as possible as a principle in law and institutional practice, at least for publicly funded digital goods. We encourage, educate, and advise.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: The working practice of stakeholders in society relevant to us is favorable for creating and disseminating Free Knowledge.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

The legal and political environment is increasingly favorable towards making Open Data available.  The text of laws regarding the right to Open Data, whether fully adopted or still in the legislative process, contains as few exceptions as possible.
At least two additional bodies recommend an amendment to § 5 UrhG regarding the public domain status of works made available by the public sector.
More people in institutions relevant to us understand and use the principles of Linked Open Data.
The report commissioned by WMDE on CC licenses is read and put to use, and relevant organizations such as FITKO and govdata.de link to it and refer to it at symposia.
Interim results/milestones/outputs:
  • In collaboration with Team Bildungspolitik und digitalisiertes Kulturgut, we produce information materials on Linked Open Data that are also suitable for cultural heritage institutions.
“Public Money - Public Good” is gaining influence in politics and administration as a principle to be striven for. Politicians adopt WMDE’s arguments in their strategy drafts and draft bills.
WMDE members participate in up to three member activations at the three regional elections and thereby function as ambassadors for “Public Money? Public Good!”.
Interim results/milestones/outputs:
  • We publish a monthly column at netzpolitik.org on the topic of “Public Money? Public Good!”.
More educational content from public broadcasters is available under free license. Another ARD broadcaster launches a pilot project for free licenses.
We see an international “Wiki loves broadcast” network appear that engages in regular internal exchanges.
Interim results/milestones/outputs:
  • The “Runder Tisch ÖRR” (round table for public broadcasting content) or a similar event takes place
  • The ÖRR-Broschüre (public broadcasting brochure) created in 2023 is adapted for international audiences, translated and sent to interested parties
In order to enable the public sector to build the infrastructure needed to make open data available, we shall increasingly regard internalizing IT competence as a strategic mission. The text of laws regarding the right to Open Data, whether fully adopted or still in the legislative process, aids in the completion of those organizational duties prerequisite to the publication of open data.
Interim results/milestones/outputs:
  • Direct conversations and meetings with politicians on various levels (delegates, ministers, faction members, etc.)
  • Creating detailed written opinions and position papers
A growing group of volunteers from other German-speaking communities in the digital volunteer space becomes familiar with our goals for increasing Free Knowledge and stands ready to help them attain more reach. Volunteers adopt our goals for more Free Knowledge in their events and publications or by including them in their own goals.
Interim results/milestones/outputs:
  • Presence at the Chaos Communication Congress
  • We take part regularly in events in the German-speaking scene, include local spaces as well, and actively participate in presentations, workshops and contributions to discussions

Program 17: Open Cultural and Memory Institutions

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We advocate for open and free access to cultural heritage and for open cultural content and data. In doing so, we build on close cooperation with those who wish to work with Wikimedia project volunteers and want to advance openness in their professional contexts. At the same time, we support Wikimedia community volunteers to access cultural heritage while contributing to Free Knowledge. We take two approaches to this: In the community-based approach, we support and develop formats, actions and projects by and for the volunteers together with the Wikimedia community. We see our task as providing volunteers with access to cultural and memory institutions and thus to cultural heritage in its many forms, and establishing contacts and relationships with GLAM institutions. In our institution-based approach, we work starting from the needs and wishes of the institutions. We create structures so that GLAM professionals can network and collaborate on the topic of open cultural data and openness. We rely on strategic partnerships, advise and support capacity building for data donation and participation in Wikimedia projects.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal 1: The GLAM wiki community works intensively with cultural and memory institutions on the Wikimedia projects.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

The GLAM wiki community and cultural and memory institutions are gaining experience in collaborating on Wikimedia projects.
At least 250 participants from the Wikimedia community as well as from cultural and memory institutions take part in formats such as GLAM on Tour or GLAM digital.
In at least 5 cases, the GLAM wiki community works more than once with cultural and memory institutions, for example by
  • organizing events such as edit-a-thons on their own initiative;
  • contributing content to the Wikimedia projects on a larger scale together;
  • establishing long-term cooperation with local spaces or communities.
At least 50 stakeholders from cultural and memory institutions gain initial experience with Wikimedia volunteers and/or the Wikimedia projects, e.g., by participating in introductions and other events on the Wikimedia projects.
The GLAM wiki community rates the collaboration with Wikimedia Deutschland as helpful for its volunteer work. At least 85% of active members of the GLAM wiki community, participating in projects or events, rate the collaboration as positive and helpful for their volunteer work.
Program Goal 2: More GLAM professionals (actors from cultural and memory institutions such as those responsible for digital strategies and digitisation, digital humanities data scientists, digital collection managers) make digital cultural heritage and commons openly and equitably accessible and usable. Through the development, maintenance and use of Linked Open Data, they contribute to the equitable and global cultural knowledge commons.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Relevant actors from cultural and memory institutions (e.g. those responsible for digital strategies and digitisation, digital humanities data scientists, digital collection managers) form a network to consolidate their working relationships and structures. A group of relevant stakeholders establishes working and exchange structures. In the course of the year, a set of goals, rules and roles for cooperation is available (in writing) and includes, for example:
  • They have developed common goals and defined themselves as a group;
  • Expectations, roles and responsibilities have been clarified;
  • Working structures such as regular exchange formats and working groups are established and are taking place.
  • The network is publicly visible, and participation is possible with high accessibility.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • WMDE organizes and facilitates the establishment of these working structures by coordinating and providing infrastructure and resources.
Partners from cultural and memory organisations or culture-related research initiatives, develop with WMDE use-cases and good practices for working with open cultural data. Two to three cultural and memory institutions or culture-related research initiatives develop use cases and good practices for opening up their digital collections. Extensive documentation of these projects is available.
At least one of them represents positions critical of power structures (e.g., marginalized or decolonial).
At least one of these cultural and memory institutions is of importance in its field beyond a single region.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • WMDE advises, supports and promotes the partners in the implementation of their data projects. This includes:
    • Developing a partnership process
    • Consulting/exploration
    • Process planning
    • Support with implementation
    • Setting up wiki projects, data modeling, networking with other community members
    • User-friendly preparation and documentation of use cases.
The use cases and good practice examples as well as further resources on the topic of open cultural data/linked open data can be easily found and used by multipliers. We establish tracking and evaluation measures:
  • We track website visitor numbers and user journeys.
  • We evaluate the use of the materials with feedback tools and user surveys.
At least 50 people take part in lectures, workshops, etc. at meetings and conferences on the subject of open cultural data.
Intermediate results / Milestones / Outputs
  • Creation of a landing page for openGLAMs on wikimedia.de
  • Subscription to the mailing list.
  • Collection and curation of information on the subject of open cultural data, LOD, etc. (work in progress)
  • Participation in meetings and conferences

Program 18: Marginalized knowledge

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What finds its way into the body of knowledge and official accounts is determined to a large extent by questions of power. This applies to archives, museums, and media as well as to open, collaborative projects like Wikipedia. We strive to ensure that the Wikimedia projects reflect the knowledge and perspectives of people who experience structural discrimination, and that those projects thereby contribute to greater social justice. To do this, we collaborate with people from marginalized communities and the Wikimedia communities.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal 1: Marginalized groups explore and expand their knowledge and skills related to free licenses and the Wikimedia projects.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Marginalized groups participate in counseling and training services on working with Free Knowledge. At least 50 people from marginalized groups participate in counseling and training services on working with Free Knowledge.
Marginalized groups reflect barriers and needs to contribute to Free Knowledge. At least 25 people from marginalized groups participate in an event format, designed to reflect barriers and needs.
The results of this reflection on barriers are published together with strategies on how to deal with them.
People engage in projects/activities that aim to make marginalized perspectives visible in Free Knowledge. In at least 15 projects and activities, people engage to make marginalized perspectives visible in Free Knowledge.
Program Goal 2: Community members identify existing barriers and needs to contributing to Free Knowledge.
Objectives 2024

Welchen Stand wir 2024 erreichen wollen:

Indikator(en) 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Community members identify existing barriers for and structural discrimination against marginalized groups. At least 10 community members participate in an event format, designed to analyze barriers and structural discrimination.
The results of this analysis are published and discussed by at least 25 community members.
A group of trainers is active that specifically addresses the needs of marginalized groups.
Program Goal 3: Marginalized groups (and parts of the community) are joining together to support each other in working with Free Knowledge.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Marginalized groups (and parts of the community) are joining together to support each other in working with Free Knowledge. In at least one case, people regularly come together in a self-organized group to support each other.
Grantees of the re·shape program continue to engage in an active alumnae group. At least 5 grantees of the re·shape program engage in an active alumnae group, for example by getting involved in events or by taking a role in future rounds of the program.

Program 19: Free open education

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Principles of open education are legally and structurally anchored and enable more equity in the education system.

We advocate for openness to become the guiding principle for contemporary, sustainable, digital education in Germany. By free and open education we mean educational approaches that promote collaborative, co-creative and networked learning and teaching. This requires free and open access to educational materials, applications and products (open educational resources), as well as open educational practices that put learners at the centre and promote their participation and autonomy.

As an educational digital corrective for free and open education, we advocate for open education to be established in formal and non-formal education sectors across the board. We actively shape development processes in the field of open education resources and practices, open education technologies and infrastructure and the associated discourses.

Success criteria 2024
Program Goal: By the end of 2025, the principles and practices of open education are reflected in the content, design, funding and governance structure of the National Education Platform and other publicly funded education policy projects.
Objectives 2024

What we want to achieve by the end of 2024:

Indicator(s) 2024

On what we decide whether we have been successful in doing so:

Generating political support for the public-interest-oriented and open design of digital education projects and topics. At least three discussions are held each quarter with specialist politicians, research assistants to members of parliament, project managers in the ministries, decision-makers in education administration and civil society on the topics of digital education policy projects and open education.
At least 3 specialist politicians adopt the arguments of WMDE / Open Education Alliance on the topic of open education in speeches, written documents or in the minutes of political committees (digital committee, minor interpellations, etc.).
Wikimedia / the Open Education Alliance actively participates in at least two advisory meetings, consultation processes or committees initiated by education policy makers, public institutions or publicly funded projects.
Relevante Fachpersonen aus Politik und Verwaltung (z. B. aus entsprechenden Bundestagsausschüssen, Regierungsparteien) beteiligen sich aktiv an der Erarbeitung von Handlungsempfehlungen zu "KI und offene Bildung".
Relevant experts from politics and administration (e.g., from the respective parliamentary committees, government parties) are actively involved in the development of recommendations for action on the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) and open education.
Milestones / Outputs
  • Consultations are held with experts from the realms of politics and administration.
  • We publish supporting arguments for open, democratic education.
  • Principles of open education receive comment using the example of developments in publicly funded digital education projects in internal and external media.
  • Implementation of a multi-part series of events to develop recommendations for action for open AI in education.
  • Publication of at least 1 educational policy publication on the subject.
  • Presentation of the process and recommendations at conferences and meetings.
  • Implementation of already established formats such as parliamentary breakfasts and round tables at the federal political level.
Strengthening the Open Education Alliance as an education policy network in the open education community. The Open Education Alliance is evaluated and its structures revised:

Evaluation measures are carried out regarding activities, members, public impact and needs. The results of that evaluation are available and will be used to revise the alliance structure (e.g., decision-making processes, workflows, admission process for new members).
The Open Education Alliance implements at least 3 target group-specific activities (e.g., workshops, exchange formats, interviews, strategy papers, etc.) at the federal and/or state level.

Milestones / Outputs

The Open Education Alliance has initiated a change process regarding its structures and working methods. By implementing evaluation measures, these will be further developed and adapted in line with requirements, and the governance structure will be revised to make the alliance even more successful in transferring knowledge and experience, for example, in the form of policy advice to the wider education sector. The Open Education Alliance makes public appearances:

  • by submitting a session (e.g., OE policy advice or Alliance for Further Development) at the OER Camp, re:publica or similar (Q1/Q2/Q3);
  • with a local exchange format (e.g., with OESA in Hamburg) for the country-specific implementation of the OER strategy;
  • with an event to mark its 10th anniversary in Q3.
Development of research-based arguments for open education. Research on the effectiveness of OE(R) has been commissioned by Q1-Q2:
  • Research director and team are named
  • Contract created
  • Project planning and schedule coordinated

Interim results of the research have been published and presented on internal and external channels by the end of 2024.

Milestones / Outputs
  • Commissioning of initial research on OE(R).
  • Conducting work meetings to coordinate the research process.
  • Publication of interim results.