The Wiki Loves Women Focus Group is an initiative founded in 2021 by Wiki In Africa with the mission to promote gender equity within the Wikimedia movement. By supporting the representation of women and their achievements across Wikimedia projects, the group aims to bridge the gender content gap. Through capacity building, mentorship, and advocacy, the focus group has been fostering a strong network of contributors committed to this cause.
Since its inception in 2021, the Wiki Loves Women Focus Group has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its reach and impact each year. Starting with 12 members from 8 countries, the group saw steady expansion, welcoming 2 new members in 2022 and 4 more in 2023. In 2024, the group grew significantly, adding 12 new members, bringing the total to 30 women from 13 African countries and France. This year, 2025, marks another milestone with the addition of 5 new members, raising the group to 35 women from 15 countries: Botswana, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Cameroon, Rwanda, Tunisia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, France, Madagascar, and Guinea Conakry. This growth reflects the group’s commitment to fostering collaboration, amplifying gender representation, and bringing diverse perspectives to Wikimedia projects.
A New Approach: Learning by Practicing
As we move into 2025, the Focus Group is introducing a refreshed approach to its work: Learning by Practicing. This hands-on methodology will encourage members to actively engage with live Wikimedia projects, gaining practical experience while contributing to the movement. By integrating learning directly with action, this new strategy will enable the community to enhance skills and make meaningful contributions.
Introducing Wiki OTO: A Wikidata Campaign for African Women
One of our most exciting initiatives for 2025 is the launch of Wiki Ọ̀tọ̀ – a name inspired by the Yoruba word for “unique.” Developed as part of our Learning by Practicing approach, this campaign is dedicated to addressing the information gap about African women on Wikidata. It encourages contributors worldwide to create, enhance, and expand content that highlights the achievements and contributions of African women.
The Wiki Ọ̀tọ̀ Global Campaign serves two primary purposes.
- First, it embraces a Learning by Practicing approach, shifting from the traditional working sessions to offer members hands-on experience in contributing to Wikimedia projects, managing campaigns, and driving impactful initiatives. This new model ensures that members gain real-world skills in project management, community building, and content creation, fostering deeper engagement and active participation.
- Second, the campaign aims to address the significant gender gap on Wikidata, where women, especially African women, are vastly underrepresented. By focusing on creating and enriching structured data about African women, the campaign seeks to document, celebrate, and make their contributions accessible, thus reducing the knowledge gap and enhancing their representation across Wikimedia platforms.
What is Expected and How to Participate
Every two months, members of the Wiki Loves Women Focus Group will vote for the new theme of the campaign. To stay updated on the latest themes and developments, please visit this page. The Wiki Ọ̀tọ̀ campaign officially begins on 1st March 2025, with the first edition focusing on “Women in Literature”, running from 1st March to 30th April 2025.
Add your name here to receive updates and news about the campaign and upcoming themes. We encourage all interested participants to join and contribute to this exciting initiative, helping us celebrate the achievements of African women and ensure their stories are reflected across Wikimedia platforms.
Join Our Event
We are excited to invite you to the online launch event of the Wiki Ọ̀tọ̀ campaign on 1st March 2025 at 6pm UTC via Zoom. During the event, Dominique Eliane and Ola will present the campaign in both French and English and share insights on how we can collectively bridge the gender gap on Wikidata and celebrate African women’s contributions.
Register here to join us for this exciting occasion!
Stay connected with us for updates and ways to get involved:
Website: www.wikiloveswomen.org
Twitter: @Wikiloveswomen
Instagram: @WikiLovesWomen
Facebook Page: @WikiLovesWomen
Facebook Group: Mind The Gender Gap
Telegram Group: WikiGenderGap
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