2024:Program/Open Knowledge for Public Good: UN–Wikimedia collaboration for open access

Session title: Open Knowledge for Public Good: UN–Wikimedia collaboration for open access

Session type: Other

Track: Partnerships

Language: en

The Content Partnerships Hub has forged dynamic collaborations with UN agencies including FAO, WIPO, and UNESCO, facilitating dialogue between intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and the Wikimedia movement. Over the past year, our efforts have yielded invaluable insights into prospective partnerships. Join us for a program track where we unveil these insights, engage in collaborative brainstorming with Wikimedians to enhance and expand them, and culminate with a hands-on edit-a-thon empowering Wikimedians to translate these insights into action.

Description

This program track will begin with a short teaser, ideally featured on the main stage. Representatives from various intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) will articulate the significance of Wikimedia engagement for their respective agencies, explain approaches for Wikimedians to collaborate with them, and outline future objectives.

Following the teaser, the session will transition into a series of interactive workshops, each designed to explore key aspects of collaboration between the Wikimedia movement and IGOs:

• Leveraging Multilingualism: This workshop will delve into how the multilingual nature of the Wikimedia movement can be effectively utilized to maximize the impact of multilingual content generated by IGOs. Participants will explore strategies for mutually beneficial engagement, aiming to harness the power of diverse linguistic resources. This includes how both individual volunteers and Wikimedia affiliates can work with IGOs.

• Expanding to Data: With a focus on broadening the scope of collaborative efforts, this workshop will address the underexplored terrain of data collaboration between Wikimedia and IGOs. Participants will discuss methodologies and tools for integrating data-driven content from IGOs into Wikimedia platforms, paving the way for innovative information dissemination.

• Navigating UN and IGO Resources: A practical session will provide guidance on effectively sourcing and utilizing resources from UN and IGO repositories to enhance content quality across Wikimedia platforms. Participants will learn how to navigate these vast repositories, identify credible sources, and incorporate relevant information into Wikimedia articles.

Following the workshops, participants will converge for a collaborative edit-a-thon. Utilizing the insights gleaned from the preceding sessions, Wikimedians will actively contribute to enhancing content on Wikimedia platforms. This hands-on session will serve as a practical culmination, allowing participants to immediately apply workshop insights and foster tangible improvements within the Wikimedia ecosystem.

Through a combination of informative presentations, interactive workshops, and collaborative editing sessions, this program track aims to facilitate meaningful dialogue and actionable steps toward strengthening the partnership between the Wikimedia movement and intergovernmental organizations. The aim is to continue this conversation beyond the framework of Wikimania, with follow-up sessions later during the year.

Join us in exploring new horizons for collaboration and collectively advancing knowledge dissemination on a global scale.

How does your session relate to the event theme, Collaboration of the Open?

The session will be held by the Content Partnerships Hub, Wikimedia Sverige and several UN agencies and IGOs, focusing on how to increase our ways of collaborating to make more knowledge accessible openly. This seems to be at the very core of the event theme.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• Eric Luth

I am Project Manager for Involvement and Advocacy at Wikimedia Sverige. In that capacity, I have recently worked primarily with international partnerships, such as with the UN agencies, and advocacy for the open movement at the national, European and international level. I have an M.A. in Comparative Literature, and live in Stockholm.

• John Cummings