2025:Program/Local Solutions, Global Impact: Adapting Anti-Disinformation Trainings across Regions
Session title: Local Solutions, Global Impact: Adapting Anti-Disinformation Trainings across Regions
- Session type: Workshop - 55 minutes
- Track: Legal & Advocacy
- Language: en
Combatting disinformation is a global challenge, and effective solutions must be locally relevant. This session will explore how Wikimedia Indonesia’s anti-disinformation training program ahead of major elections was successfully adapted by Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA) in Ghana and is now being expanded across Africa. The session is split into two parts. In the first part, speakers from Wikimedia Indonesia and OFWA will share how they tailored the approach to different socio-political contexts while maintaining the program’s core objectives, and why they pursued this initiative in the first place. The second part is a workshop. Participants will have a chance to experience for themselves how the training was run, and to learn from regional experts how Wikimedians and journalists work together to combat disinformation online. Participants will also have a chance to brainstorm how they might adapt this training format to their own contexts.
Description
Disinformation is a growing global threat, affecting elections, public discourse, and trust in information ecosystems. While fact-checking and media literacy initiatives exist, their success depends on local adaptation and community engagement. This session will explore how Wikimedia Indonesia’s anti-disinformation training program ahead of major elections was successfully adapted by Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA) in Ghana and is now being expanded across Africa. The session is split into two parts. In the first part, speakers from Wikimedia Indonesia and OFWA will share how they tailored the approach to different socio-political contexts ensuring that interventions resonate with local audiences while maintaining core objectives, and why they pursued this initiative in the first place. The second part is a workshop. Participants will have a chance to experience for themselves how the training was run, and to learn from regional experts how Wikimedians and journalists work together to combat disinformation online. Attendees will learn how Wikimedians can play an essential role in combatting disinformation, strengthening media literacy, and fostering partnerships with key stakeholders, including UNESCO, media organizations, and civil society partners.
Aims and Objectives: Showcase Cross-Regional Collaboration- To showcase how anti-disinformation training models can be successfully adapted across different regions and contexts. Empower Participants – Provide attendees with hands-on experience in detecting misinformation and contributing to reliable election-related content on Wikipedia. Encourage Local Action – Inspire attendees to implement similar training and workshops within their own communities and organizations.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
Our session aligns closely with the event theme of Inclusivity, Impact, and Sustainability by addressing the challenges of misinformation and harmful content online through community-driven, inclusive strategies that empower diverse voices.
Inclusivity: The initiatives from Wikimedia Indonesia and Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA) emphasize multilingual and culturally relevant approaches, ensuring participation from local communities, media professionals, and Wikipedia editors from diverse backgrounds.
Impact: By equipping volunteers, administrators, and civil society actors with the tools to combat misinformation and enhance access to reliable information, the session contributes to strengthening democratic processes and informed decision-making.
Sustainability: The workshop component of our session ensures practical skill-building that attendees can apply beyond the conference. Attendees will leave with actionable insights and strategies to integrate into their own work, fostering ongoing impact in their respective communities.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
Speakers
- Jael Serwaa Boateng
- Jael is a dedicated Wikimedia advocate, HR professional, and community leader passionate about open knowledge, digital advocacy, and capacity building in Africa. She serves as the Executive Director of Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA), an organization committed to promoting access to free knowledge and supporting Wikimedia communities across the region.
- Her work within the movement aligns with inclusivity, sustainability, and impact, ensuring that African narratives are well-documented on Wikimedia platforms. She continues to drive partnerships and programs that empower new editors, strengthen local communities, and expand Wikimedia’s reach across Africa.
- Rachmat Wahidi
- I am a contributor to Indonesian Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons since 2012. I participated in developing articles about popular culture. In Indonesian Wikipedia, I am a bureaucrat and administrator.
- On the organizational side, I have been a member of Wikimedia Indonesia since 2012. I was a staff there from 2014 to 2025 and focused on education and GLAM. In 2022 to 2025, I served as the Chairperson of Wikimedia Indonesia and Project Director.
- Sakti Pramudya (WMF)
- Sakti Hendra Pramudya is a Senior Partnerships Manager at the Wikimedia Foundation, supporting collaboration and capacity-building across East, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. Since joining the Wikimedia movement, Sakti has led impactful partnerships with institutions such as UNESCO, Google, and UNFPA, and championed inclusive knowledge initiatives, including the Wikisource Loves Manuscripts. His work centers on advancing knowledge equity, fostering regional cooperation, and amplifying underrepresented voices in the Wikimedia ecosystem.