Affiliations Committee/News/Issue 5

Welcome to the fifth issue of the AffCom News! This newsletter distributes relevant news and events about the work of Wikimedia's Affiliations Committee. This issue covers January-March 2025 (Quarter 3 2024-25).

The AffCom News is delivered quarterly to all Wikimedia Affiliates and individual subscribers. You may leave comments or ideas for future newsletters on the talk page. You can also help us by translating the newsletter into additional language(s). Subscribe to the newsletter by adding your talk page to this list.

If you have an interesting story about what your Affiliate has been doing and want to share it with the entire movement in the next newsletter, feel free to reach out to us at affcom@wikimedia.org.

Affiliate Recognition and Derecognition

AffCom is responsible for overseeing the recognition and derecognition process for Wikimedia movement affiliates (Chapters, Thematic Organizations, and User Groups). This section covers updates of affiliate applications as the applications progress through the review process.

Here are the new Wikimedia Affiliates that were recognized between January and the end of March 2025:

Inari Saami Wikimedians User Group: “a Wikimedia user group that is dedicated to promoting the Wikimedia projects in Inari Saami and to increasing the visibility of Inari Saami in digital linguistic landscapes” (AffCom resolution)
Wikimedia Community User Group South Sudan: “a vibrant and growing community dedicated to advancing the mission of the Wikimedia movement within South Sudan” (AffCom resolution)
Wikimedia Community User Group Burundi: “a user group of Wikimedia projects contributors who have been meeting in Bujumbura since September 2019 serving to extend the reach of Wikimedia activities in the country” (AffCom resolution)
Wikimedia MKD User Group: "a user group “to run mission-aligned initiatives and projects in order to promote the Wikimedia projects and the values of the Wikimedia movement on the territory of Macedonia” (AffCom resolution)

In the past quarter, AffCom derecognized the following affiliates:

Shared Knowledge and GLAM Macedonia User Group were derecognized as Wikimedia User Groups effective 6 February 2025, as the two entities struck an agreement for a merger into the Wikimedia MKD User Group (resolution).

Chapters/Thematic Organisation Recognition Status Report

Wikimedia Brasil was officially recognized as a Chapter by the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees last quarter, on 11 December 2024 (resolution). The news was officially published on 13 February 2025. Read more about the recognition on Diff here.

AffCom received an expression of interest for a potential Chapter application from a User Group based in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Committee looks forward to continuing to support these affiliates and ensure their smooth development within the Wikimedia movement.

User Group Recognition Status Report

In January-March 2025, the Affiliations Committee received 1 new User Group application:

WikiLinguila User Group

You can track the status of User Group applications on this page on Meta-wiki.

Affiliate Activities and Compliance Report

A Wikimedia Ukraine meetup celebrating the 20 years of Ukrainian Wikipedia in Kyiv, March 2024

As of 15 April 2025, 192 Wikimedia affiliates are recognised and active:

39 are Wikimedia Chapters
2 are Thematic Organizations
151 are User Groups.

Affiliates in good standing: 90%.

The current compliance level of all Wikimedia User Groups: 88%.

The current compliance level of all Wikimedia Chapters: 97%.

The current compliance level of all Wikimedia Thematic Organizations: 100%.

Compared to September-December 2024 (Q2 FY24-25), in Q3, the level of compliance level for Chapters (97%) and Thematic Organizations (100%) remain unchanged, while there is an increase in overall compliance for the User Groups (from 84%). See the detailed quarterly compliance archive for January-March 2025 (Q3 2024-25) on Meta-wiki.

Here are the activity reports from Wikimedia Affiliates published within the past quarter:

Chapter reports

Thematic organization report

Wiki Project Med

User group reports

AffCom Conflict Intervention

AffCom had 7 active affiliate conflicts with 2 new reports in the last quarter. The committee continues to address cases involving governance challenges and difficulties in collaboration within overlapping spaces.

In addition, AffCom has issued final action recommendations to 3 affiliates. These cases are deemed resolved once the affiliates have acted on the recommendations. The Committee remains committed to strengthening governance and encouraging constructive collaboration within the affiliate landscape.

AffCom Movement Contribution

AffCom participates in Wikimedia movement conversations that relate to the affiliate system or where AffCom's experience and expertise would be otherwise beneficial. This participation includes answering questions about the affiliate system, providing advice relevant to affiliates or potential affiliates, and sharing knowledge and lessons related to operating as a committee with other movement bodies. The engagement in conferences helps strengthen AffCom’s visibility and alignment with community-led initiatives.

In the past quarter, AffCom members participated in the following conversations:

Wikimedia+Libraries International Convention 2025

AffCom’s Suyash Dwivedi and Mehman Ibragimov represented the committee at the Wikimedia+Libraries International Convention held in Mexico City, Mexico.

Wikisource Conference 2025

AffCom’s Agus Damanik attended the Wikisource Conference in Bali, engaging with Wikisource contributors, learning about ongoing challenges and innovations in the free knowledge ecosystem, and sharing insights on how AffCom can support structured growth and sustainability in content-focused communities.

AffCom Administrative Updates

New appointments and departure for AffCom

AffCom sought to expand its committee by recruiting new members and advisors. To this end, applications were open from 16 October 16 to 18 November 2024. The Committee received many applications. In collaboration with the Board liaisons, AffCom conducted a thorough selection process, including interviews with potential candidates. Following this evaluation, new members were welcomed to the Committee both as voting members and advisors.

Lucas Teles (Teles), an advisor since 2024, transitioned from Advisory to Voting member until 28 February 2028.
Aleksey Chalabyan (Xelgen) has been re-appointed as a Voting member until 28 February 2028.

Voting Members

Incumbent AffCom members who are continuing their terms until 28 February 2027:

Jeffrey Keefer (FULBERT)
Suyash Dwivedi (Suyash.dwivedi)
Mari Avetisyan (Մարի Ավետիսյան)

Mehman Ibragimov (Mehman)
Harriet Henry Bayel (Mwintirew)
Agus Damanik (Agus Damanik)

Advisory Members

The following non-voting advisors have been appointed for a one-year term starting from 1 March 2025 until 28 February 2026.

Maor Malul (Maor X) - transitioned from a Voting member to an Advisory member.
Juan Bautista Alegre (Buszmail) - renewed
Delphine Ménard (notafish) - renewed
Nyinawumuntu Jeannette Rebecca (RebeccaRwanda) - renewed

Robert Jamal (Robertjamal12)
Tochi Precious (Tochiprecious)
Bobby Shabangu (Bobbyshabangu)

Departing members

At the conclusion of their terms, Hakan (HakanIST) and Aaryaa Joshi (आर्या जोशी) decided not to seek reappointment. AffCom is grateful to both for their invaluable contributions, dedication, and lasting impact on the committee's work.

Upcoming AffCom Events

In April-June (Q4 2024-25), AffCom will be participating in the following events:

ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025

This year’s edition of ESEAP Strategy Summit, the biannual meeting of ESEAP Hub for regional governance and strategic matters, will be held in Manila, the Philippines between 23-25 May 2025. The summit is hosted in collaboration between four Philippines-based Wikimedia groups, including the Wiki Advocates Philippines User Group, in coordination with the ESEAP Preparatory Council.

AffCom’s Suyash Dwivedi, Agus Damanik, and Johnny Alegre will be involved in a session about the Affiliate Health Criteria (program here), supported by Ramzy Muliawan of the Wikimedia Foundation.