We are a crowd

Open Knowledge Network
The Open Knowledge Network connects those in the open knowledge movement across 40+ countries.
Network meeting in Barcelona, May 2022

The Open Knowledge Foundation maintains and supports a global network of groups in more than 40 countries and counting! We use advocacy, technology and training to unlock information, to create and share knowledge, enabling people to take action to achieve local impact and collaborate with like-minded communities worldwide. We also lead in-depth debates so that we collectively build a social infrastructure that integrates openness as a design principle in our democracies.

Everyone is welcome. Anyone can join. No special skills or background are needed — just an interest in open knowledge. Check below how you can contact us if you, as an individual or organisation, would like to join our global network.

If you want to know more about the Open Knowledge Network activities, and browse through the most important projects, have a look at the Project Repository. In addition, the Network identifies specialists of the open movement to be part of the Open Knowledge Global Directory: a curated and searchable database of people with different expertise areas and language spoken. Go to the Global Directory and remember you can request a specialist today!

You can also join the #OpenKnowledgeNetwork
Get to know and join the #OpenKnowledgeNetwork

Threats, hopes and tales from the Open Knowledge Network gathering in Katowice, Poland

Our annual gathering is a special occasion, an opportunity for us to come together, share our knowledge, listen attentively, and forge meaningful connections.

‘Open knowledge is still seen as very technical in Asia, which excludes a lot of people’

Members of the Open Knowledge Network from the Asia Hub join us for the thirteenth #OKFN100, a series of conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing the open movement.

‘A vicious circle is preventing openness from flourishing in Francophone Africa’

Members of the Open Knowledge Network from the Francophone Africa Hub join us for the twelfth #OKFN100, a series of conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing the open movement.

Follow us in Poland or online at Wikimania, the biggest gathering of the open community in 2024

It’s time to get together and unite. See the details of each session and come and say hello – in person or virtually.

‘There are many data gaps in Latin America and we lack collection methods’

Members of the Open Knowledge Network from the Latin America Hub join us for the eleventh #OKFN100, a series of conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing the open movement.

AI Sauna quick reflection

Find out more about the event that brought together the GLAM community in Helsinki to discuss the impact of AI in the shared online culture.

Connect with a group or individual near you by finding them in the list below. Join their mailing list, follow them on social media, or attend their next meetup. Our groups can always benefit from more friendly faces and fresh ideas — they will be happy to hear from you!

The members operate independently, setting their own priorities for projects relevant to their country or domain. They are connected through the Open Knowledge Network to support each other, to share expertise, tools and materials, and to amplify open knowledge activities around the globe.

Established Chapters

Active Members

Historical Contributors

Everyone is welcome to join the Open Knowledge Network. No special skills or background are needed — just an interest in open knowledge. 

First of all, drop us an email: network@okfn.org.

Before you join though, it's a good idea to get some information and prepare a little bit. Here is the Network Guidelines document, which explains in detail how the Network works and the process for becoming a member.

What you need to know

  • Members can be established organisations, community meetups, or local activists located anywhere in the world. You decide about your structure and governance and whether you want to carry an official Open Knowledge name or not.
  • New members need to abide by the OKFN Code of Conduct and designate at least one representative to be part of the Open Knowledge Global Directory.
  • As a member, you will be the contact point for Open Knowledge initiatives in your country. (Have you checked if your country already has any members? If that is the case, we recommend that you get involved and join forces.)

Getting ready

Check all the requirements and benefits, a.k.a. your rights and duties.
Network Guidelines Check all the requirements and benefits, a.k.a. your rights and duties.
Stay connected, browse and contribute to past and current discussions.
Network Forums Stay connected, browse and contribute to past and current discussions.

Apply

If you are familiar with the materials above and want to join the Open Knowledge Network activities on a regular basis, get in touch with OKFN: network@okfn.org.

After an initial meeting, you will be invited to join 2-3 Network calls. After three months you will sync again with a representative from OKFN or the Network to assess the interest in formalising the membership via a Memorandum of Understanding. For your membership to be finalised you will need to be vouched for by two current network members.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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