Affiliations Committee/Candidates/2024/Robertjamal12

Robertjamal12 (Robertjamal12)

Robertjamal12 (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)

Preferred name	Robertjamal12
What languages do you speak, and at what fluency level? (Please include your English proficiency.)	en-5, tw-N, fat-N
What region(s) of the world do you have experience with, and what kind of experience do you have? (“Experience” can mean you have lived or worked there or are currently living or working there; you’re familiar with the culture and language; etc.)	I have spent my entire life in Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in Ghana, where I currently live and work. I’m familiar with the cultures and languages here and have actively contributed to growing Wikimedia communities in the region
What Wikimedia project(s) do you actively edit? And in what language(s)?	I actively edit Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, Incubator, and Meta. I primarily contribute to the English, Twi, and Fante Wikipedias, on which I am an admin on the Fante and Twi.
What affiliate(s) are you actively involved with? In what capacity are you involved? Do you serve in a leadership role or have you in the past?	I am actively engaged with the Wikimedia Ghana User Group, where I have held various positions, including Chief Volunteer, Community Development Program Lead, and Program Manager. Currently, I serve as both a grantee and a Specialist for the group. In addition, I co-founded and currently lead the Fante Wikimedians Community, which is an unofficial group aligned with our mission.
Have you served on any committees (movement-related or otherwise)? And what was your role on the committee(s)?	I currently serve on the Conference Grant Review Committee and was a member of the Program Committee for the GLAM-Wiki Conference 2023 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Additionally, I am part of the core team for the Ghanaian Languages Meetup, where I contribute to the scholarship team and lead communications.
Please describe any experience you have with conflict resolution and/or consensus building.	As the group leader of the Fante Wikimedians Community, I handle various community issues, such as differing opinions and disputes between members. I prioritize active listening, encouraging open dialogue, finding common ground to resolve conflicts, and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. One example of consensus-building was leading the proposal to close the Akan Wikipedia from editing. Given that Akan is a language family with languages like Twi and Fante, and there was already a Twi Wikipedia, contributors were mixing all Akan languages on the Akan Wikipedia. I initiated consultations with different language communities and movement experts to develop a shared understanding. This led to the agreement that Akan Wikipedia should be closed to editing and creating distinct Wikipedias for Fante and other languages like Nzema. The process involved addressing concerns and securing buy-in from various stakeholders, resulting in a consensus to make the change for the benefit of the language communities.
In your ideal world, what does the affiliate model and ecosystem look like?	In my ideal world, the Wikimedia affiliate model and ecosystem would be an environment where affiliates work collaboratively to support the movement's vision and strong growth and development support. It would enable groups to transition seamlessly between models, promote best practices, and create a lasting impact within the movement.
In your ideal world, what are AffCom’s roles and responsibilities in relation to the movement and affiliates?	AffCom would serve as a component of the Wikimedia movement by ensuring that affiliates align with the movement’s vision and strategic goals. It would actively assess affiliate performance, provide support to address their needs, and regularly update affiliate standards to reflect the evolving needs of the movement and its diverse communities. AffCom would promote good governance and ethical practices by monitoring compliance with established policies. Additionally, it would act as a mediator to resolve conflicts within and between affiliates.
What role within AffCom are you most interested in: advisory or voting member?	Voting member, though I am open to contributing in the advisory capacity as well.