Map Kibera

University of Sussex, June 22, 2010GroundTruth Initiative

OpenStreetMap

photo: http://gallery.me.com/dbullington#100816&view=null&bgcolor=black&sel=12

Map Kibera Model: expand the conversation!

• Training in use of new technologies for development (mapping, interactive websites, video, mobile)

• Engagement with specific geographic communities in-depth

• Flexibility in application based on tools needed

• Support open, accessible information, storytelling, ability to collect and represent information for advocacy, planning

• Make connections between community-owned and shared info and larger institutions as well as global tech communities

…but this model is not fixed! It all started with a map…

Kibera 500,000 people(?), 2.5 km2 was a blank spot on the map

OpenStreetMapGlobal Collaborative Mapping

“kinda like Wikipedia for Maps”

Phase 1

October – December 2009

Existing Datasatellite imagery

Partners and Allies

NGOs/CBOs: Social Development Network (Infonet), Carolina for Kibera, Kibera Community Development Agenda (KCODA)

Broadcast and Community Media: Pamoja FM, Kibera Journal, Kibera WorldWide

Tech Community: Ushahidi, OpenStreetMap

Funding partner: Jumpstart, International – American NGO

Cooperation with the local administration

* Recruited MappersRecruited Mappers

* The MappersThe Mappers

Tech CrewLocal GIS experts

Film CrewKibera WorldWide

* international support -- Harry, Mike, Lars

International SupportHarry Wood/HOT, Mike Migurski/Stamen, Lars Bromley/AAAS, Geofabrik, &

many more

Mappers took to GPS Surveying naturally

What did they collect?

• roads and paths and rail• water points• pit latrines / sewer• medical facilities• schools• churches/mosques• businesses• community organizations• administrative units

and much more!

The Lab Infonet offices, Lavington

The Map!

The Densest Map Ever?

Impacts for Mappers:

•Computer/tech skills•Social skills and

confidence•Group cohesion and

identity•Better knowledge of

Kibera

BUT

What's it good for in a place like Kibera?

The question we were constantly asked

and asking ourselves

-Very few with internet access-Most mobiles also basic

-Everyone already knows how to get around

* open data ... all about potentialPotential of Open DataCan be a little abstract in Kibera

GroundTruth Initiative … Our vision

Create a corps of citizens in the developing world who are versed in a variety of new technologies and empowered to report on, tell stories about, and generate data, news reports, and map information about themselves and their community, and to use that information for action.

Some basic GroundTruth principles:

• Communities hold latent information about themselves and are the most reliable, important knowledge-holders for development.

•Technology provides a means for communities to share, debate, and impact dialogue around development, even creatinginformation resources that bypass traditional means of data collection.

• Crowd-sourced information and citizen media are critical means for these communities to have greater influence over policies and perceptions that affect them.

Phase 2

February – August 2010

Develop Entities and Skills

• Kibera Mappers• Kibera News Network (video journalism)• Voice of Kibera

(Ushahidi)• SMS Reporting

Deeply Explore Themes:

HealthEducation

Water/SanitationSafety

with detailed mapping and reporting

Work with the Community

• Community meetings around printed maps in issue areas

• Help them use this information for action

Voice of Kibera www.voiceofkibera.orgShortcode: 3002, “Kibera”

• Community website for sharing info relevant to Kibera residents

• News, videos, and SMS

• Reports are mapped on the Map Kibera map

Community Sharing Site

Reports

Reports

Voice of Kibera program

• Editorial Board : 7 Kiberan volunteers • SMS reporters and approvers

• Media campaign for getting the word out

• Possibility of submitting in specific issue areas such as budget tracking, health outbreaks, gender-based violence

•NGO directory, Business directory, job board. “Yelp” for NGOs?

Non-conflict Ushahidi and SMS reporting – why do people report?

-Publicize their own organization’s activities

-Interest in technology

-Civic engagement and volunteerism

-Community news interest

-Other reasons?

Issue Mapping and Community Meetings

• Partnership with Unicef• Going in-depth on specific themes• Engage with networks on thematic issues for map drawing• Support use of completed map to advocate on specific needs• SMS and Voice of Kibera

Kibera News Network (KNN)www.youtube.com/KiberaNewsNetwork (in partnership with KCODA)

KNN

- 20 young people in 5 news teams- Flip video cameras- Youtube – also Voice of Kibera- Planning community showings- Training on video editing and camera- All-volunteer including two lead trainers, who are from Kibera- Anticipating digital village at KCODA- Beginnings of youth media center

Some completed KNN videos:

- Landslide in Kibera- Power disruptions- Protest over anti-Muslim schoolteacher

- Stray monkey entertains Kiberans- HIV positive woman’s story- Draft constitution campaign- Railway line evictions

• A group of engaged and skilled citizens, mappers, and journalists

• Linkages between Nairobi tech scene and slumdwellers

• Platforms and mediums to share the information locally and globally (printed maps, SMS reporting, USHAHIDI and new media creation).

• Slowly building movement for shared and open information among NGOs and CBOs

Map Kibera Results:

• Register mapping group locally• Expand to other communities in and around

Kenya – including the other slums in Nairobi • Taking the model to Haiti and elsewhere via

GroundTruth• Materials and curriculum, thorough

documentation and training others• Maps for Data: your surveys for our printout

Plans:

• Map Kibera website, blog, and wiki explain in detail most of our development – we are not afraid to expose failures or thinking process!

• All our outputs are re-usable, open and free• We’re actively trying to reduce the number of

data-collection exercises (baselines, household surveys, evaluations)

• We don’t think bigger is always better when it comes to development

What is different about us?

• Organizations don’t usually collaborate or share information

• Kibera is a distorted economy• Volunteerism is not easy in a poor community• Skepticism and cynicism in Kibera • Technology challenges – electricity, familiarity• Sustainability financially and technically• Donor structures favor silos and wheel re-

invention

Issues and Challenges:

Things we’ve learned the hard way:

• Best to target those with vested interest in specific issue areas rather than general

• When it’s better not to pay• You have to demonstrate and get hands-on• There are always early-adopters and those

who “get it” – they are your best friends• Not everyone needs a map• Journalism can be physically dangerous• Information is sometimes hidden for a reason –

but usually for no reason

Things we’ve learned the hard way:

• Best to target those with vested interest in specific issue areas rather than general

• When it’s better not to pay• You have to demonstrate and get hands-on• There are always early-adopters and those

who “get it” – they are your best friends• Not everyone needs a map• Journalism can be physically dangerous• Information is sometimes hidden for a reason –

but usually for no reason

Contact us!http://mapkibera.org/contact@mapkibera.org