Dear Friends,
Wikimedia User Group Nigeria( WUGN) is exploring a partnership with a
Nigerian technology company to develop an Election Monitoring and
Information Integrity System. The proposed platform will leverage Wikipedia
and Wikidata to help curb election-related misinformation, document
verifiable electoral events, and track incidents of election-related
violence in a neutral, transparent, and verifiable manner.
The initiative is conceived as a public-interest, non-partisan tool that
strengthens access to reliable information during electoral processes,
while aligning with Wikimedia’s core values of neutrality, verifiability,
and free knowledge.
As part of our ongoing engagement with the technology partner, we are
seeking insights from Wikimedia affiliates, movement partners, and
practitioners who have prior experience working on elections, civic
technology, misinformation response, open data, or human rights
documentation within the Wikimedia ecosystem and beyond.
Specifically, we would welcome guidance on the following areas:
1. Ethical and Policy Considerations
Risks related to editor safety, privacy, and data protection
Neutrality, conflict sensitivity, and avoidance of political bias
Compliance with Wikimedia policies, including BLP, NOR, and verifiability
2. Key Challenges and Risk Factors
Misinformation, disinformation, and coordinated manipulation
Data reliability, sourcing, and real-time verification constraints
Legal, regulatory, and security challenges in electoral contexts
3. Lessons Learned and Success Stories
Examples of similar initiatives within the Wikimedia movement or allied
open knowledge communities
What worked well, what failed, and why
Strategies for community engagement and sustainability
4. Potential Funding and Partnership Opportunities
Likely funding organizations, donors, or grant mechanisms
Opportunities for collaboration with civil society, election observers, or
research institutions
5. Impact and Measurement (Optional Input)
Indicators for measuring impact on misinformation reduction and public trust
Long-term value for Wikipedia, Wikidata, and the broader free knowledge
ecosystem.
The feedback from this consultation will inform our design choices,
governance framework, and sustainability plan, ensuring the initiative is
responsibly implemented and aligned with movement-wide best practices.
Best regards,
Amb. Olushola Olaniyan