Wikimedia Germany Strategy
Strategic direction and goals
The Strategic Direction 2030 provides guidance for our Supervisory Board, the Executive Board, and the employees of Wikimedia Deutschland e. V in their work and decision-making. The entire text is binding, not just the five priorities, which are weighted equally regardless of their order. The strategic direction was developed in a participatory process together with members and representatives of the community based on the 2022-23 values of the association. It is supported by the Supervisory Board, the Executive Board and the employees and was adopted by the General Assembly in June 2023.
For each of the strategic priorities, there are one or two measurable goals that will guide our work until 2030. These strategic goals serve as a compass for our annual and long-term planning up to 2030 and will enable us to track our progress towards these goals and make adjustments as needed. We regularly report on our progress toward achieving these goals to our Supervisory Board and the public . The strategic goals were developed by the Executive Board and employees of Wikimedia Deutschland e.V.during 2023-24.
Preamble
Wikimedia Deutschland is part of a global network of people, technologies, communities and organizations of free knowledge that are connected and interact with each other. In particular, it is the volunteers within the communities who bring this network to life in a variety of ways. The central components of our work are to design technical elements in this network – together with the communities – to support people, to connect and to enable others to actively participate. We are open and optimistic about new technical developments and take a critical look at them. We assume a responsible and supportive role in the development of this network and are committed to a non-commercial, more democratic and more open Internet. We are aware of our privileged position and the power and influence of Wikimedia projects on human knowledge. We always act in accordance with this responsibility.
This strategic direction describes Wikimedia Deutschland’s contribution to the implementation of the global Wikimedia Movement Strategy 203. We thereby take responsibility for ensuring that a democratically organized Wikimedia Movement develops in a fair and sustainable manner.
On this basis, we as Wikimedia Deutschland’s Supervisory Board, Executive Board, and staff, with the support of our members, commit to achieving the five strategic priorities listed below by 2030:
A strong infrastructure for free knowledge
The technical, social, and financial infrastructure of free knowledge should be resilient and sustainable. With the greatest possible participation of the various communities, we shall work to create, maintain, and develop essential elements of this infrastructure as well as potentially no longer supporting less forward-looking and sustainable aspects.
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Goal 1: Strong infrastructure
By 2030, the technical, social, and financial infrastructure will be continuously improved so that 50 percent more people are connected through the services provided by Wikimedia Deutschland.
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Goal 2: More technology creators
By 2030, the number of technology contributors contributing code to Wikimedia’s Linked Open Data will have doubled. At least half of them will live outside Europe and North America.
Thriving and enduring communities
We want to nurture and strengthen communities within the free knowledge network that share our vision and values. Toward this goal we shall support existing communities and encourage many more people to join them.
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Goal 3: Respectful communication within communities
Wikimedia Deutschland will help ensure that by 2030, twice as many Wikipedia contributors in Germany perceive communication within the community as respectful. The difference between established and new contributors will be less than 10 percentage points.
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Goal 4: Community growth
Wikimedia Deutschland will help ensure that by 2030, the German-language Wikipedia communities and the Wikidata communities experience sufficient growth and activity so that Free Knowledge remains available to everyone in the future. The number of returning editors as well as those engaged in special roles will increase by at least 10 percent in Wikipedia communities and by at least 30 percent in Wikidata communities.
Greater diversity and equitable participation
We want to make it possible for more people from structurally disadvantaged groups, who have experienced discrimination caused by societal power structures, to meaningfully participate in all areas of our work. By breaking down barriers that currently prevent participation, we intend to fulfill our obligation as an influential player in the network of free knowledge.
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Goal 5: Inclusive Wikimedia communities
By 2030, Wikimedia Deutschland, together with the Wikimedia communities, will have opened existing structures to promote an inclusive culture in which at least 80% of individuals from various marginalized groups perceive their perspectives and communities as present, valued, and supported.
More usage, easier access
We want to see the content of Wikimedia projects used much more by many more people. At the same time, we want to pave the way toward easier and more equitable access to this content.
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Goal 6: More end users
By 2030, Wikimedia Deutschlandw ill have created new access paths to project content, reaching 10 percent more end users who are aware that they are using Wikimedia content.
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Goal 7: More usage by external projects
Wikimedia Deutschland will advocate for external projects, preferably those focused on the common good, to facilitate and improve access to Free Knowledge so that the use and visibility of Wikimedia content increase by 20 percent by 2030.
Wider political and social support
We shall bring more decision-makers in politics and society to use their skills and influence to create a world in which all people can freely share in the sum of all knowledge.
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Goal 8: More free knowledge in publicly funded institutions
Wikimedia Deutschland will help increase the number of publicly funded institutions in Germany that implement policies, strategic goals, or practices for open content and data by 50% by 2030, primarily through changes in laws and regulations.
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Goal 9: Working together for free knowledge policies
By 2030, Wikimedia Deutschland will have achieved that 10% of WMDE members actively advocate for our goals by engaging with decision-makers and staff from politics, administration, business, and society.