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Wikimedians for Sustainable Development/Affiliate Health

From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki

This page is an attempt to self evaluate how well the user group adheres to the new Affiliate Health Criteria. The page is based on the table at Wikimedia Foundation Affiliates Strategy/Implementation/Example.

The colors in the last column follows a traffic light model with

  • green ok
  • yellow partly ok, and
  • red not ok
Affiliate Health Criteria
Criteria Description of criteria How the criteria can be met WfSD status ToDo
1. Goal delivery
1.1 Goal delivery Actively delivering on mission goals, e.g. content creation.
  • Incorporated into the annual report, a self-evaluation against the stated goals from their plans; strategic plans (if applicable).
No explicit goals set.
2. Organisational Development
This section focuses on the affiliate's governance, resilience, and financial health
2.1 Affiliate health & resilience

Actively running activities and welcoming new users and leadership, including to its Board (if applicable), or other relevant decision-making body (e.g., committee or some other executive body). Encouraging contributors to increase their involvement with the affiliate and the global movement, and to provide development opportunities for its leaders and organizers.

  • A list of member usernames (if applicable) or verifiable volunteers who are actively collaborating with the organization/allies (e.g., who engage in the decision-making of the group) – either public or sent to AffCom if there are legal/safety concerns.
  • If there are legal (like GDPR in Europe) or safety limitations, it can be a number of members published with notes about changes in membership (e.g., an affiliate might have 100 members in 2022, and 100 in 2023, but there was still an overall change in membership by losing 50 and gaining 50 news members).
  • Highlight any activities that demonstrate members taking responsibility for affiliate activities
  • New members are being thanked.
  • Total member count reported every year.
2.2 Diversity balance (especially gender)

Encouraging actions that are conscious of gender balance as a priority, including in leadership positions. Documenting efforts of work on other aspects of diversity (if applicable).

Public information on the people who are making decisions, including a demonstration of how representative they are of the affiliate’s membership.

  • Public information on what is being done to encourage diversity in the decision-making structures of the affiliate.

Note: As far as possible, affiliate members are encouraged to utilize usernames instead of real names on public platforms, including meta wiki

2.3 Good governance & communication Good governance with public-facing governance practices about Board membership, affiliate membership (including membership criteria), democratic elections, decision-making process, reporting, links to communication channels used, etc.
  • Public information on how decision-making is happening (not only bylaws for the legal entities) – e.g., how the awarding of a scholarship to attend a meeting (global, regional, local) is decided upon, how a representative (point of contact) is selected, where the board or organising committee publishes resolutions, conflict of interest management, etc.
  • The only current membership criteria is to sign up
  • Good communication in Telegram group and talk page.
  • No other processes defined.
3. Leadership & Inclusion
This section emphasizes a diverse and skilled leadership team, and inclusivity within the affiliate
3.1 Diverse, skilled, and accountable leadership Diverse, skilled, and accountable leadership. In particular: skilled at managing funds (if it has any); communicating decisions; and being accountable to the membership.
  • Incorporated into the annual report, a skills mapping for those serving in leadership structures, succession planning.
  • Incorporated into the annual report, a description of training courses that its membership (especially leadership) underwent, if any. This includes training organized by the affiliate, other affiliates, hubs, Wikimedia Foundation, and external organizations (in line with Movement Strategy 2030 Initiative #33 "Leadership development plan").
  • Incorporated into the annual report, a disclosure of conflict of interests (if any) from the leadership.
  • No defined leadership beyond contact persons.
3.2 Financial & legal compliance Financially well managed (if the affiliate has funds) and legally compliant.
  • Financial reporting (if applicable).
  • No funds in the group.
3.3 Universal Code of Conduct compliance Incorporating, promoting awareness about, and enforcing the Universal Code of Conduct in all of the affiliate’s activities.
  • Incorporated into the annual report, evidence of preventative steps, and addressing UCOC complaints in an effective and timely manner (or seeking external help).
  • The UCOC is applied in user group meetings.
4. Engagement & Collaboration
This section assesses how well the affiliate interacts with its target audience, builds internal (membership) relationships, and establishes partnerships
4.1 Internal (membership) engagement

Creating/hosting spaces for offline/online/hybrid collaboration and engagement in the affiliate.

  • Incorporated into the annual report, a record of regular meetings with a measurable outcome(s), and not only annual meetings.
  • Ambition of regular user group meetings.
4.2 Community connection Transparent and open to, and connected with, the community it serves/supports.
  • Incorporated into the annual report, a description of how people are taking part in the affiliate activities; how Wikimedians are reacting to the plans of the affiliates and to their reports (surveys if enough capacity); meetings with the editing communities, etc.
  • Minutes of meetings, including participants, are kept onwiki.
4.3 Partnerships and collaboration Developing effective partnerships inside and outside the Movement. Collaborating with other affiliates. Not engaging in conflict unnecessarily.

Note: conflicts are a part of life, and sometimes there might be a good reason for one!

  • No explicit partnerships.
  • No conflicts.