Shaping the Future: Insights from the Affiliations Committee Strategy Retreat 2024

In November, AffCom gathered to talk about the future of the movement organization ecosystem, as part of the third pilot outlined in the Board’s resolution of the Movement Charter text. This gathering, held from November 22 to 24 in Frankfurt, Germany, marked a pivotal moment for the committee as they explored the affiliate strategy, honed their vision, addressed pressing challenges in supporting the affiliates, and reimagined their workflows.

AffCom, as outlined in its charter, is tasked with supporting the overall health of the ecosystem of Wikimedia movement affiliates. The retreat served as an opportunity to reflect on these responsibilities and strategize for the future. Central to the discussions were two guiding questions:

• What role will affiliates play in shaping the future of the Wikimedia movement? 
• What does the affiliate ecosystem need to look like to effectively support these roles?

During the retreat, AffCom revisited the seven key affiliate activity areas, exploring whether they believe these remain relevant or require evolution. There is no clear answer yet, but AffCom hopes that this year of learning from the updated Affiliate Health criteria reporting will provide more insights into what makes an affiliate and an affiliate ecosystem healthy. The outcome of these future discussions will shape recommendations from AffCom for affiliates to better align with movement goals. 

Capacity building emerged as a cornerstone for affiliate health, ensuring that the ecosystem evolves to meet the movement’s needs. AffCom discussed the importance of capacity building to strengthen affiliate health and leadership pipelines. Currently, this responsibility has not been assigned to any specific entity, which is one reason AffCom took it on during the Charter update. This marks the beginning of the effort to define what capacity building truly means and how we can proceed with it moving forward. AffCom discussed a support framework that fosters peer learning, connects affiliates with existing resources, and enhances their ability to thrive. While AffCom is not going to provide direct capacity-building training, the committee has a pivotal role to play in identifying needs and connecting affiliates with resources. You can read more about capacity building in the committee’s charter.

The immediate priorities for 2025 include conducting assessments based on the affiliate health criteria reports to identify affiliate needs and establishing a network of identified capacities to support the ones in need. Success indicators include improved member retention in affiliates, reduced conflicts within affiliates, and increased collaboration across affiliates. The committee sees the future of a sustainable movement through building a network of leaders equipped to guide affiliates through challenges and opportunities. This will ensure that affiliates not only survive but thrive as integral parts of the Wikimedia ecosystem.

As AffCom evolves, the need to streamline operations and redefine roles has become evident. Delegating routine communication and operational tasks to Foundation staff will allow the committee to focus on strategic priorities. However, AffCom will continue to oversee the subcommittees and maintain decision-making authority to ensure accountability and alignment with affiliate expectations.

The retreat offered an opportunity to pause and realign efforts for the movement’s evolving needs. AffCom reflected on the current landscape and the need to gather more information on affiliate health through the updated criteria. Moving forward, AffCom will continue to work with the Foundation on pilot 3 to provide feedback and inputs into the ecosystem of movement organizations.

The Wikimedia movement stands at a pivotal moment. As we look to the future, we recognize that the world has changed significantly since AffCom’s last strategic gathering in 2022. AffCom will create opportunities for you to join us in this conversation, to share your ideas and perspectives, and to help us build a stronger, more sustainable movement that empowers free knowledge for all. For instance, we are exploring new ways to support affiliates in achieving their goals, through reflections from Health Criteria Reports and by extending Capacity Building support. What role will we play in shaping a future that empowers free knowledge for all? What does the world need from us now?

The path ahead is complex, but together, we can build an affiliate ecosystem that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and purpose.

Stay updated on AffCom’s work by signing up for our newsletter.