Commons:Wiki Loves Monuments/DEI research 2022/Final report/Roadblocks
| Overview | Introduction | Learnings | Recommendations | Possible roadblocks | What is in the pipeline? | Appendix |
Local Perceptions and attitudes towards Wikimedians and affiliated projects[edit]
.jpg)
Implementing viable solutions in certain countries may require an in-depth understanding of the daily working structures and the culture that governs them. In conversations with Wikimedians working in different projects in some of these countries, it has come to light that local perceptions and apprehensions about Wikimedia communities is an issue that often goes unattended due to this lack of understanding. For instance, Wikimedians working on other Wiki campaigns in Africa shared that in countries with authoritarian governments people sometimes are afraid to associate with Wikipedia. This is due to their fear of coming under the government radar and becoming easy targets. This subsequently affects ways in which local partnerships and outreach networks are formed and approached. However, more targeted conversations within the Wikimedia Movement about these attitudes may help us navigate local DEI struggles in a more effective manner.
Time constraints[edit]
Identifying issues, finding targeted solutions and framing strategic implementation plans all require heavy time investment. While time is certainly not an immediate roadblock, it is a crucial factor to keep in mind while setting DEI goals and expectations. This would mean prioritising certain goals and requirements over others.
The amount of time needed for strategisation and implementation would depend on the scale and specificity of the DEI issue being tackled. For instance, larger collaborative initiatives, such as the pilot network in Africa, intend to help organisers tackle multiple DEI concerns and require coordination between different stakeholders within and outside the Wikimedia movement. Such initiatives then require time commitment by the WLM-i team and national teams in order to set-up and ensure optimum utilisation of the network. If successful, the replication and implementation of such an initiative across different regions would require another 1-2 years given that the strategy may need to be tweaked to fit multiple regional contexts.