AWA Wikipedian-in-Residence Fellowships
- Omran Aburayya
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
Code for Africa (CfA) is offering six-month, stipend-based fellowships for six African Wikipedians-in-Residence (WiRs) to enhance youth engagement in digital rights and civic technology across the Sahel region, neighboring West Africa, and the Horn of Africa. Fellows will create and improve content on Wikipedia and Wikidata related to SDG 16, e-democracy, freedom of expression, and human rights.
Fellowship Details:
Number of Positions: 6
Duration: 6 months
Stipend: USD 300 per month
Support: Hands-on fact-checking and technical training, contributor incentives, one-on-one mentorship, and ongoing assistance from CfA’s Communities and Academy Team.
Fellowship Benefits
The Wikipedian-in-Residence (WiR) Fellowships by Code for Africa (CfA) offer numerous benefits to selected fellows, including financial support, technical training, and professional growth opportunities. Here’s what successful applicants can expect:
1. Monthly Stipend
Each fellow receives a stipend of USD 300 per month for the six-month duration of the fellowship.
2. Hands-on Training & Capacity Building
Fellows will undergo fact-checking and technical training to enhance their Wikipedia and Wikidata editing skills.
Training sessions will focus on content verification, cybersecurity, digital rights, and civic engagement.
3. Mentorship & Professional Support
One-on-one mentorship from CfA’s Communities and Academy Team.
Networking opportunities with experienced Wikipedians, digital rights advocates, and civic tech leaders.
4. Contribution Incentives
Fellows will receive additional incentives for high-quality contributions that align with the program’s thematic focus.
5. Access to Exclusive Resources
Access to CfA’s digital democracy tools, fact-checking resources, and open-data platforms to enhance their Wikimedia contributions.
Support from a thriving community of African Wikipedians working towards digital knowledge expansion.
6. Recognition & Visibility
The opportunity to lead impactful projects that will be showcased on Wikimedia and partner platforms.
A chance to contribute to closing knowledge gaps related to cybersecurity, digital rights, SDG 16, and human rights in Africa.
7. Career Advancement & Future Opportunities
Exposure to international organizations and potential career opportunities in digital rights, civic technology, and media development.
Experience in community mobilization, research, and content curation to strengthen professional portfolios.
This fellowship is a unique opportunity for African Wikipedians to enhance their skills, contribute to digital democracy, and make a lasting impact on knowledge accessibility across the continent.
Eligibility Criteria
Registered Wikimedian with at least two years of editing experience.
Membership in the event organizer user group.
Preferably based in the Sahel region, neighboring West Africa, or the Horn of Africa (exceptional applicants from other African regions may be considered).
Fluency in English or French; bilingualism is advantageous.
Strong interest in digital rights and youth civic engagement.
Experience in organizing edit-a-thons and other Wikimedia events.
Skills in building topic lists and facilitating technical training.
Experience in fact-checking Wikipedia content or a willingness to learn.
Community mobilization experience.
Active contributor to Wikipedia and/or Wikidata with a verifiable portfolio.
No history of blocks or sanctions on Wikimedia projects.
Ability to track contributions and submit reports efficiently.
Willingness to participate in mentorship, training, and outreach activities.
Compliance with AWA’s and Wikimedia’s policies on attribution, privacy, and friendly space guidelines.
Application Process
Interested candidates should complete the application form available at CfA's Opportunities Page. The deadline for submission is March 28, 2025.
This initiative is a collaboration between CfA, the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), AfricTivistes, CFI Media Development, the World Scout Bureau Africa Regional Office, and the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF), with contributions from the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). It aims to address content gaps on Wikimedia projects related to the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection, e-democracy, digital mobilization in social movements, SDG16, freedom of expression, and human rights.
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