Dear Friends,
[image: image001.jpg]
*To attend the event please r.s.v.p. to marcel.kolaja(a)europarl.europa.eu
<marcel.kolaja(a)europarl.europa.eu> with the following information: family
name, first name, date of birth, nationality,type of ID card, N° ID card*
A Citizens' Struggle: combatting disinformation by self-organised online
communities.
Perspectives from Ukraine and Czech Republic
December 1st at 12:00
at the European Parliament -- room ASP 5E1
Wikipedia is the only top 10 website in the world where content is entirely
maintained by a community. It is also an important source of facts and
knowledge about any major global development. Communities of editors and
contributors put care and effort in ensuring that the information presented
is true, factual and well documented also under rapidly evolving
circumstances. What are the key mechanisms for transparency and good
collective enforcement of rules? How does community governance manage risks
of disinformation?
Anton Protsiuk and Mykola Kozlenko from Wikimedia Ukraine and Klára Joklová
from Wikimedia Czech Republic will present cases and stories illustrating
these efforts around articles, imagery and conversations between
editors.Rebecca MacKinnon, the Wikimedia Foundation’s VP for Global
Advocacy, will give a broader overview of how the foundation supports
volunteers in fighting disinformation as well as insights on how
policymakers can best support the Wikimedia movement and other free
knowledge communities in countering disinformation.
--
Anna Mazgal
Senior EU Policy Advisor
Wikimedia
http://wikimedia.brussels
@a2na
mobile: +32 487 222 945
12 Rue Belliard
BE-1040 Brussels
--
Wikimedia Belgium vzw
BE 0563.775.480
- RPR Brussel
Antwerpselaan 40
Boulevard d’Anvers 1000 Brussel/Bruxelles
www.wikimedia.be
<https://www.wikimedia.be/>
info(a)wikimedia.be <mailto:info@wikimedia.be>
Dear all,
I hope you've had a great start to the week. I'm writing to encourage folks on this list to consider submitting a session to RightsCon 2023.
RightsCon 2023, hosted by Access Now, brings together people from around the world to discuss human rights in the digital age. RightsCon will be a hybrid event, open to online participation as well as in-person from 5–9 June, 2023. It is a free event; everyone can apply, and everyone can register to attend.
The call for proposals is open until January 12, 2023. Wikimedians who host sessions help other RightsCon participants understand the value of community moderation and debate, how Wikimedia projects can be a vehicle for documenting key global issues, and why it is important for even more people to become editors and contribute to the projects. In the past they've shared information about their work countering disinformation, running awareness campaigns about human rights, preserving cultural heritage, and more. Joining RightsCon is also a great opportunity for Wikimedians to hear about developments in the digital rights space, learn about advocacy tactics, and build new relationships.
You can learn more about RightsCon 2023 and how to submit a proposal here [1]. Please feel free to share this opportunity with your networks!
Warmly,
Ziski
_ _ _ _
[1] https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/11/27/represent-the-wikimedia-movement-at-r…
Hello everyone,
MEP Marcel Kolaja and Wikimedia Europe <http://wikimedia-europe.eu> have
the pleasure to invite you to a discussion:
A Citizens' Struggle: combatting disinformation by self-organised online
communities.
Perspectives from Ukraine and Czech Republic
December 1st at 12:00
at the European Parliament -- room ASP 5E1
Wikipedia is the only top 10 website in the world where content is entirely
maintained by a community. It is also an important source of facts and
knowledge about any major global development. Communities of editors and
contributors put care and effort in ensuring that the information presented
is true, factual and well documented also under rapidly evolving
circumstances. What are the key mechanisms for transparency and good
collective enforcement of rules? How does community governance manage risks
of disinformation?
Anton Protsiuk and Mykola Kozlenko from Wikimedia Ukraine and Klára Joklová
from Wikimedia Czech Republic will present cases and stories illustrating
these efforts around articles, imagery and conversations between
editors.Rebecca MacKinnon, the Wikimedia Foundation’s VP for Global
Advocacy, will give a broader overview of how the foundation supports
volunteers in fighting disinformation as well as insights on how
policymakers can best support the Wikimedia movement and other free
knowledge communities in countering disinformation.
--
Anna Mazgal
Senior EU Policy Advisor
Wikimedia
http://wikimedia.brussels
@a2na
mobile: +32 487 222 945
12 Rue Belliard
BE-1040 Brussels
--
Anna Mazgal
Senior EU Policy Advisor
Wikimedia
http://wikimedia.brussels
@a2na
mobile: +32 487 222 945
12 Rue Belliard
BE-1040 Brussels
--
Wikimedia Belgium vzw
BE 0563.775.480
- RPR Brussel
Antwerpselaan 40
Boulevard d’Anvers 1000 Brussel/Bruxelles
www.wikimedia.be
<https://www.wikimedia.be/>
info(a)wikimedia.be <mailto:info@wikimedia.be>
Hi everyone,
As Brussels and the EU are becoming increasingly important in shaping the
future of the internet and content moderation rules, we need someone to
reinforce our team.
Please see more details here:
https://jobs.euractiv.com/job/senior-eu-public-policy-specialist-mfd-241891
We are grateful to the European affiliates that have taken on the endeavour
to establish Wikimedia Europe
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Europe#top/>, and to the
Wikimedia Foundation that has supported the process and ensured we have
what it takes to move ahead. We are determined to keep our Brussels policy
presence as a showcase of collaboration within Wikimedia.
If you have any further questions, please contact me on or off the list.
Cheers,
Dimi
---
Dimitar Dimitrov
EU Policy Director
wikimedia.brussels
mobile: +32497720374
Rue Belliard 12 Belliardstraat
Brussels
*Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the
sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment.*
www.wikimedia.org
--
Wikimedia Belgium vzw
BE 0563.775.480
- RPR Brussel
Antwerpselaan 40
Boulevard d’Anvers 1000 Brussel/Bruxelles
www.wikimedia.be
<https://www.wikimedia.be/>
info(a)wikimedia.be <mailto:info@wikimedia.be>
Hi everyone,
Don't miss out on your chance to attend WikiConference North America this weekend. It is co-hosted with OpenStreetMap and will run from Friday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 13. The conference is fully remote and free to all. See link to register [1] and link to the full programme [2].
The WMF Global Advocacy team will be hosting two conversations on Saturday, November 12 (details below).
Additional programme highlights include: A tagging party to stump OpenStreetMap; EFF Director of Investigations demonstrating how his team is combining public records, satellite imagery, and virtual reality to reveal the locations of surveillance towers; OpenStreetMap and Pokemon GO; Future of North American Wikimedia affiliates.
--------
"Wikimedia sued the National Security Agency for mass surveillance. Now what?" [3]
Saturday, Nov. 12 @ 13:00 EST
Panel discussion featuring
* Sarah Taitz, staff attorney, ACLU National Security Project
* Patrick Toomey, Deputy Director of ACLU National Security Project
* Alex Abdo, Litigation Director, Knight First Amendment Institute
* James Buatti, Legal Director, Wikimedia Foundation
--------
"Reclaiming the right to privacy, the bottom-up way: grassroots activism tactics" [4]
Saturday, Nov. 12 @ 13:45 EST
Panel discussion featuring
* Evan Greer, Director, Fight for the Future
* Micah Epstein, Founding member, Coveillance Collective
* Dr. Matt Mahmoudi, Researcher & Adviser, AmnestyTech
* Jennifer Lee, Technology & Liberty Project Manager, ACLU-WA
We hope to see you there!
Ziski & the WMF Global Advocacy Team
____
[1] https://pretix.eu/openstreetmapus/wcna-mappingusa/
[2] https://wikiconference.org/wiki/2022/Schedule
[3] https://wikiconference.org/wiki/Submissions:2022/Wikimedia_sued_the_Nationa…
[4] https://wikiconference.org/wiki/Submissions:2022/Reclaiming_the_right_to_pr…
Dear list,
Several of you asked Anna and myself about the Big Fat Brussels Meeting
VIII [1]. In particular, what to expect, how to prepare and whether you can
join without prior experience (yes, of course!).
On a more general note I will share that the event has three functions:
1) Re-build the network of advocates, that started fading away over the
last two years
2) Share what issues are relevant and topical around the continent
3) Make concrete plans for actions to be taken on some of these topics
If you feel like you need to ask you more specific questions or suggest
some agenda items ahead, we are inviting you to an office hour next week:
*Thursday, 17:00 CET (Brussels), meeting link
<http://meet.google.com/mpg-smeb-djb>*
Cheers,
Dimi
[1]https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/EU_policy/Big_Fat_Brussels_Meeting_VIII
--
Wikimedia Belgium vzw
BE 0563.775.480
- RPR Brussel
Antwerpselaan 40
Boulevard d’Anvers 1000 Brussel/Bruxelles
www.wikimedia.be
<https://www.wikimedia.be/>
info(a)wikimedia.be <mailto:info@wikimedia.be>
The European Commission released part of its work programme for 2023. The
DSA was published in the Official Journal. The AI Act is progressing
through the instances.
======
Artificial Intelligence Act
======
Lawmakers are trying to hammer out rules that will protect people from
potentially harmful artificial intelligence. The main scenarios being
discussed are instances in which opaque and biased algorithms make
life-changing decisions (think education admissions, social benefits,
policing).
—
As the EU doesn’t want to impose bureaucracy and strict obligations on all
software and AI, it becomes necessary to look for criteria that limit the
scope. One such way out proposed is to target the strictest rules on
“High-Risk AI” only, a definition that includes systems that could put the
life and health of citizens at risk or may determine the access to
education and professional course of someone's life .
—
A High-Risk AI system would need to undergo an approved conformity
assessment and continuously comply with AI requirements as set forth in the
regulation. For certain systems an external body will carry out conformity
assessment. Furthermore, registration of stand-alone Hi-Risk AI systems
will take place in a dedicated EU database, a declaration of conformity
must be signed and the Hi-Risk AI system must carry the CE marking
(Conformité Européenne).
—
From what we know and observe, machine learning systems and tools developed
by Wikimedia organisations or deployed on Wikimedia projects are currently
not falling under the “high risk” category. But as the European Parliament
and the Council continue to squabble about rewording definitions, changes
are possible.
—
As the EU can’t and doesn’t want to control whether data is reliable and at
which point human oversight is necessary for each and every system, the AI
Act leans heavily on industry forums (e.g. ETSI.org) to outline their own
technical instructions that will aim to ensure AI systems are trained on
unbiased data and ultimately determine how much human oversight is needed
and what needs to be done to prevent the software from going off-track.
—
Relying on the industry’s own bodies to call shots on ethical questions has
some stakeholders and lawmakers worried, as they fear it would clash with
their business interests. Hence, this is currently also a hotly debated
issue in parliamentary committees.
—
[1][2][3]
========
Draft Work Programme
========
The European Commission has published its draft work programme for the
second quarter of 2023. [4] It is mostly made up of non-legislative
initiatives, one of which will deal with online piracy of live sports
events (live streams). The broadcasters and the sports federations have
been pushing hard for hard law on this and will be disappointed.
—
Among the legislative proposals we can find a file with the working title
“Compulsory Licencing of Patents”. EU countries regulate their own
compulsory licensing schemes and the Commission believes that during some
crises a EU-level rule might make sense. The scope is still unclear, it
will for sure cover pharmaceuticals, but the file is included in the
“digital section” of the programme, so we expect some possible applications
to online services.
—
Where is the right to repair? [5] The European Commission was expected to
propose legislation encouraging the repair and refurbishment of digital
products by the end of the year. Talk of town has it that it was reordered
to rework its initiative by the legal services. Now MEPs are worried it
might get scrapped at the last moment and are exerting pressure to either
go ahead quickly or include it in the work programme.
============
Net Neutrality
=============
Parts of the European Commission, led by Commissioner Thierry Breton, are
pushing hard for a legislation that would oblige tech companies using a
significant portion of web traffic to pay telecoms. [6] Depending on how
it's done, this could undermine the principle of “net neutrality”. In
Brussels the vocal deliberations by Breton have unfolded a lobbying battle
between “big telcos” and “big tech”, respectively between Member States and
MEPs. [7].
—
Looking at the Commission’s work programme, a public consultation can be
expected in the first quarter of next year. However, according to Politico,
the Commission is planning to send out a “questionnaire” to telecoms and
technology firms on 21 December with the idea of getting a broader picture
on the topic in advance. Fom experience we know that publishing anything
this close to Christmas and sidestepping formal procedures are often
indicators of controversial plans. We will definitely ask to receive the
“questionnaire”.
—
Our position: Wikimedia has had a zero-rating project in the past:
Wikipedia Zero. It was dropped for various reasons, though no clear
explanation has been communicated. Asking around our movement, one hears
arguments such as “low user numbers” and “incompatibility with basic
principles”. In any case, as a movement we have an interest to ensure that
access to all platforms and projects, including small and not-for-profit
alternatives, remains equal.
=====================
Big Fat Brussels Meeting
=====================
The draft programme is out! Additionally, you could help us by indicating
on the Meta-Wiki page whether you plan to come:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/EU_policy/Big_Fat_Brussels_Meeting_VIII
====
END
====
[1]
https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?refere…
[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_Intelligence_Act
[3]
https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/ai-act-eu-parliaments-discuss…
[4]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iFj9ubNnfJXp9lyJ1_6ZG7Jv80lWsn8S/view?usp=…
[5]https://repair.eu/
[6]
https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-consult-big-tech-contribution-telco-n…
[7]
https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/seven-eu-countries-warn-the-c…
Dear friends,
On behalf of the Global Advocacy team, I am delighted to share refreshed resources and upcoming spaces for us to learn from, question, and collaborate with each other.
If you've ever wondered why the Foundation has an advocacy team, what we do, why you've received emails from multiple members of the team, or how you can work with us, then this email is for you.
We're trying to provide answers and open channels for collaboration in the following ways:
* Oct. 28 & 30th calls where we're sharing our team's priorities and projects [1]
* Blog post outlining who we are, what we do, and why we exist [2]
* FAQ with answers to common questions [3]
* Monthly retrospective summarizing developments from around the world that shape people’s ability to participate in the free knowledge movement [4]
Let us know what you think!
Cheers,
Ziski & the Global Advocacy Team
____
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Public_policy/Conversation_hours_and_Events…
[2] https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/10/26/meet-the-wikimedia-foundation-global-…
[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Public_policy/FAQ
[4] https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/10/21/dont-blink-public-policy-snapshot-for…
<https://133IK.trk.elasticemail.com/tracking/click?d=1RuUS-hkey1EpYtCrPHRWRz…>
Monitoring Evaluation And Data Analysis For Community Based
Projects On 7th To 18th November 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya
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Register to attend the
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Calendar
for 2022/2023 Workshops
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Contact
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COURSE FEE: 2,400USD
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Register as a group of 5 or more participants and get 25% discount
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training(a)skillsforafrica.org or call +254-702-249-449
INTRODUCTION
This course focuses on the operations of community projects. The
course aims at educating participants on the programmes of monitoring and
evaluation implemented to ensure successful community projects. The course
acknowledges the need for an improved monitoring and evaluation system, thus
aims to equip participants with skills in the creation of effective monitoring
and evaluation systems
COURSE
OBJECTIVES
·
Processes of project management
·
Knowledge areas of project management
·
Project management formulas, theories and
charts
·
Complex project network diagrams
·
Use of data analysis software (NVivo, Stata, Excel,
SAS)
DURATION
10 Days
WHO
SHOULD ATTEND
This course targets project management official from
non-governmental organizations, National statistics offices, researchers,
governmental ministries, Planning ministries, and financial institutions, among
others.
COURSE
OUTLINE
·
Principles and concepts of project
management
·
Development and development frameworks
issues
·
Community types
·
Community development and empowerment
·
Distribution of development resources
·
Community projects designing
·
Involvement of community in development
projects
·
Management of project cycle
·
Need and project stakeholders’
analysis
·
Influence mapping
·
Control and implementation
·
Development stakeholders management
·
Monitoring and evaluation
·
Project monitoring auditing techniques
·
Evaluation of project management systems and
practices
·
Monitoring indicators and systems
designing
·
Collaboration with national bodies, and project
staff
·
Social and institutional change
evaluation
·
Results and impact measuring
·
Economic, social, and environmental impact
assessment
·
Variables and indicators
·
The LOGFRAME approach
·
Techniques of sampling and surveys
·
Characteristics of data and sources
·
Techniques of appraisals
·
Systems and tools of monitoring and
evaluation
·
Data management standards
·
Identification and presentation of data
outputs
·
Consulting stakeholders
·
Development of the project performance audit
report
GENERAL
NOTES
Ø
This
course is delivered by our seasoned trainers who have vast experience as expert
professionals in the respective fields of practice. The course is taught through
a mix of practical activities, theory, group works and case
studies.
Ø
Training
manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the
participants.
Ø
Upon
successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a
certificate.
Ø
We
can also do this as tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact
us to find out more: training(a)skillsforafrica.org
Ø
The
training will be conducted at Skills for Africa Training
Institute.
Ø
The
training fee covers tuition fees, training materials, lunch and training venue.
Accommodation and airport transfer are arranged for our participants upon
request.
Ø
Payment
should be sent to our bank account before start of training and proof of payment
sent to: training(a)skillsforafrica.org
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UNSUBSCRIBE
Dear all,
We've posted two job openings but the responses so far are from outside the
free software / open source community. If you know anyone that would
probably like to work for OFE, or if you know places where good candidates
might see them, it would help OFE a lot if you could spread these:
https://openforumeurope.org/join-the-ofe-team-as-a-content-manager/https://openforumeurope.org/join-the-ofe-team-as-a-policy-analyst/
Or if you want to apply, that would also be great. We might even have a
third open position at some point, so we're interested in multiple profiles.
Thanks.
Below is a copy&paste of the two openings.
========
Content Manager
*Deadline for application:* Friday 21 October 2022
*Interviews:* will start immediately and continue until the vacancy has
been filled
*Start date:* as soon as possible, exact date to be agreed
*Duration:* 1 year contract with possibility of renewal
*Location:* Brussels
*About OpenForum Europe*
OpenForum Europe aisbl (OFE) is a not-for-profit think tank registered in
Belgium which explains the merits of openness in computing to policy makers
and communities across Europe. The openness principles which guide all our
activities are: user centricity, competition, flexibility, sustainability,
and the importance of relying on the support of a transparent and open
community. Launched in 2002 to accelerate and broaden the use of Open
Source Software (OSS) among businesses, consumers and governments, OFE’s
work has grown and its focusses now include Open Technologies,
standardisation, Digital Government, digital platforms, public procurement,
copyright, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
*We are looking for a:*
*Content Manager*
We currently have an opening for the role of OFE’s Content Manager. This is
a new role, created to increase OFE’s media presence as well as visibility
for our numerous activities such as research, events and other
policy-driven initiatives. The key focus for this role is to manage OFE’s
core and project editorial calendars and to, in collaboration with OFE’s
policy teams, produce engaging and impactful content.
They would also support the policy team in liaising with journalists
covering the Brussels technology beat.
The person will be an integrated part of OFE’s Brussels team and will work
closely with the Executive Director. We are looking for a person with a
strong writer who shares our core values that open technology policy lies
at the heart of European competitiveness.
*Qualifications below:*
- At least 3 years of Brussels/EU experience
- Fluent/bilingual skills in English; French would be an asset
- Open source software background is an asset
- At ease with digital tools
- Previous media management relations experience; experience as a
journalist is a plus
- Minimum education required: first degree level, or equivalent in a
relevant discipline
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, only, to
jobs[at]openforumeurope[dot]org with “Content Manager” in the subject line.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at the
above-mentioned email.
For additional information about the role, contact Marcus Stober:
marcus[at]openforumeurope[dot]org.
============
Digital Policy Analyst
*Deadline for application:* 21 October 2022
*Interviews:* will start immediately and continue until the vacancy has
been filled
*Start date:* as soon as possible, exact date to be agreed
*Duration:* 1 year contract with possibility of renewal
*Location: *Brussels, Belgium
*About OpenForum Europe*OpenForum Europe (OFE) is a not-for-profit think
tank which explains the merits of openness in computing to policy makers
and communities across Europe. The openness principles which guide all our
activities are: user centricity, competition, flexibility, sustainability,
and the importance of relying on the support of a transparent and open
community. Originally launched in 2002 to accelerate and broaden the use of
Open Source Software (OSS) among businesses, consumers and governments,
OFE’s focus has since evolved. The main policy topics that we cover are:
open technologies, standardisation, digital government, digital platforms,
public procurement, copyright, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
*We are looking for:*
*A Digital Policy Analyst*
*Job description*The Digital Policy Analyst will be part of our Brussels
team. Their main responsibilities will be to:
- Monitor EU policy developments;
- Prepare and participate in events and meetings with the community and
policy makers;
- Conduct research on diverse policy areas;
- Contribute to the delivery of EU projects;
- Manage community and stakeholder relations;
- Prepare communication material for the website (press releases, policy
papers, policy statements) and social media;
This is a hands-on, intense, and challenging opportunity, with direct
policy engagement. In this role, the Digital Policy Analyst will interact
with senior stakeholder representatives in the OFE network and EU
policymakers.
*Desired Profile*An ideal candidate combines technical understanding with
an interest in EU policy. The person has:
- A university degree;
- Ability to grasp and communicate on complex policy issues;
- Interest in the EU decision making process, preferably demonstrated by
work experience;
- A good knowledge of and considerable interest in the ICT industry in
general, and the Open Source movement and EU digital policy more
specifically;
- Initiative, is reliable, and able to multitask and prioritise own work;
- Good interpersonal and team-working skills;
- Perfect fluency in written and spoken English; other EU languages
considered an asset.
Please apply by email submitting a CV and cover letter only to
jobs[at]openforumeurope[dot]org with “Digital Policy Analyst” in the
subject line. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to
contact us at the above-mentioned email.
======
--
*Giulia Guadagnoli* (*she/her*)
Senior Policy Advisor
OpenForum Europe
tel +32 (0)2 801 13 01
mob +32 (0)476 67 06 74
Book a meeting https://tidycal.com/giulia
web http://www.openforumeurope.org
Follow us on Twitter @OpenForumEurope <https://twitter.com/OpenForumEurope>
--
OFE aisbl, a Belgian international non-profit association
Registered in Belgium with enterprise number 721975651
RPM Tribunal de l’Entreprise Francophone de Bruxelles
Registered office: Avenue des Arts 56, 4C, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Web: openforumeurope.org
e-mail: info(a)openforumeurope.org