Grants:Committees/Committee Opens Call/Sub-Saharan Africa/en

Application for Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Funds Committee Members

Region-specific criteria

The following are some desired qualities we are looking for in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Regional Funds Committee members, but not all are required:

ability to commit to attending 80% of meetings, with a commitment of approximately 10 hours per month.
strong ability to participate effectively in collaborative decision making and thought partnership in a committee context (e.g. good speaking and listening boundaries, able to give and receive honest feedback in non-conflictual way, able to think strategically at a high level, open to changing your mind, able to receive and offer help, empathetic and kind)
alignment with the values of the 2030 strategic direction and the movement strategy recommendations. Alignment with the trust-based philanthropy values outlined above under the heading "What is our approach to grantmaking?".
understanding of or willingness to learn about participatory grant-making.
a demonstrated commitment to sharing skills and experience, and helping others grow.
professional and/or volunteer experience and skills related to committee review work, such as budget management and review skills, experience with governance of non-governmental organizations, background in common programmatic areas like culture and heritage, education, etc. Experience in evaluating financial and technical components of proposals.
has applied for and received Wikimedia grants in the past.
understanding of Wikimedia programs, in addition to contributions to the online projects, experience in organizing events/ campaigns and managing projects.
expertise, including lived experience, related to diversity, equity and inclusion to help promote and support knowledge equity, and the increasing of geographic, gender, or age diversity.
Experience in organizing Wikimedia events and/or campaigns.
Has no current block across any of the Wiki projects.

Instructions

To apply for the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Regional Funds Committee, please review the open call and then submit your application by providing a statement below with the following information.

Applications are currently open.

What country are you based in?
Tell us about yourself and why you want to join a Regional Committee. Please consider responding to some of the questions below, but it is not necessary to respond to all of them in your application. Please keep your statement under 500 words.
- What is your current participation in the Wikimedia movement or the Free Knowledge Ecosystem?
- How do you think you could contribute towards the committees’ role and ways of working?
- How do you think the committee could make decision making more participatory?
- How do you think the committee could improve grant making so it has a greater impact?
- What skills, background or experience could you bring to the committee? You might address grant making, knowledge equity, or other relevant areas.

You are not required to post your application on Meta-wiki. Applications may alternatively be sent to the Regional Program Officer, Willy Buloso (wbuloso-ctr wikimedia.org) for review. In your email, please use the subject line Regional Committee application and your name or username for clarity. Please note that after receiving your application over email, we will publish your username/full name on Meta-wiki to support a more transparent application process.

Candidates for the Sub-Saharan Africa Committee

Example username of candidate

What country are you based in?

My response

Tell us about yourself and why you want to join a Regional Committee.

My response

What is your current participation in the Wikimedia movement or the Free Knowledge Ecosystem?

My response

How do you think you could contribute towards the committees’ role and ways of working?

My response

How do you think the committee could make decision-making more participatory?

My response

How do you think the committee could improve grantmaking, so it has a greater impact?

My response

What skills, background or experience could you bring to the committee? You might address grant making, knowledge equity, or other relevant areas.

My response

King ChristLike

What country are you based in?

Nigeria

Tell us about yourself and why you want to join a Regional Committee.

I am a dedicated medical laboratory scientist, researcher and serial volunteer with a strong passion for knowledge-sharing and community-driven initiatives. I joined the Wikimedia movement since 2020 and have been an active member, contributing significantly to various projects and campaigns. Over the years, I have played key roles in organizing Wikimedia events, mentoring new editors, and leading impactful programs within my community. My work on community initiatives has helped bridge knowledge gaps, especially in underrepresented African communities. Additionally, my background in governance, event organizing, and financial/resource management equips me with the skills necessary to review grant applications, assess project feasibility, and support grantees effectively. Joining the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Funds Committee aligns with my vision of empowering communities through equitable access to resources. I am particularly drawn to the participatory grant-making approach, as it ensures that funding decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve. I am committed to knowledge equity, diversity, and inclusion, and I believe that my project management skills, understanding of the Wikimedia movement and lived experiences as an African Wikimedian will provide valuable insights into addressing the challenges faced by communities in the region, and contributing meaningfully to the committee’s work.

What is your current participation in the Wikimedia movement or the Free Knowledge Ecosystem?

I have been an active Wikimedian since 2020, contributing to Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and other sister projects with a focus on improving content related to underrepresented communities, particularly the Igbo language and African knowledge. Beyond editing, I have organized meetups, edit-a-thons, and workshops, including serving as Programs Manager in the Igbo Wiki Fan Clubs and co-facilitating the Wikidata 12th birthday celebration in the Igbo Wikimedians User Group. My contributions extend to tool development as a co-builder of Finderly, a Wikimedia tool designed to enhance the editing experience. Beyond Wikimedia, I have spoken at conferences such as the Wikimedia Nigeria Conference 2024 and Google I/O Extended, advocating for open knowledge and community engagement. I am a member of the program committee for the LD4 conference, amongst several other committees. I also participated in Wikidata Reuse Days 2025, sharing insights on structured data applications. At Wiki Mentor Africa, we organize hackathons and encourage technical contributions that support the movement. We’re currently developing the Audio Lexeme Matching Tool. My experience in content creation, event organization, tool development, grant management, and mentorship is a testament of my commitment to Wikimedia’s mission. I am passionate about knowledge equity and fostering a thriving community of contributors.

How do you think you could contribute towards the committees’ role and ways of working?

I will contribute to the SSA Regional Funds Committee by leveraging my experience in Wikimedia projects, grant management, and community engagement. Having successfully applied for and managed Wikimedia grants, I understand the application process with it’s challenges and can help assess proposals effectively. I have worked closely with diverse communities, fostering collaboration and inclusive participation. By serving on this committee, I will contribute to strengthening Wikimedia’s grant-making approach in Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring transparent and equitable resource distribution to impactful community projects.

How do you think the committee could make decision-making more participatory?

The committee can make decision-making more participatory by actively engaging diverse voices from the Wikimedia community, ensuring that funding decisions reflect real needs. This can be done by community consultations, getting feedback through surveys or open discussions, and involving local Wikimedians in the grant evaluation process for inclusivity. Clear guidelines and sharing decision rationales, should be published. Providing additional mentorship and support to applicants, particularly from underrepresented communities, will empower more people to engage in the funding process.

How do you think the committee could improve grantmaking, so it has a greater impact?

The committee can improve grantmaking for greater impact by prioritizing community-driven needs, simplifying the application process, and ensuring equitable access to funding. Additionally, introducing more flexible funding models, such as microgrants for smaller projects and multi-year grants for long-term projects, will enhance sustainability. Regular impact assessments, grantee check-ins, will also help track progress, identify best practices, and refine funding strategies.

What skills, background or experience could you bring to the committee? You might address grant making, knowledge equity, or other relevant areas.

As a strong advocate for knowledge equity, I have worked to bridge content gaps through various on-wiki and off wiki initiatives. I bring extensive experience in Wikimedia projects, grant management, and community development, which will be valuable to the committee. Having successfully applied for and implemented Wikimedia-funded projects, I understand the grantmaking process from both applicant and reviewer perspectives. My role as Programs Manager in the Igbo Wiki Fan Clubs, has equipped me with skills in evaluating project feasibility, impact assessment, and strategic planning.