OPEN MAPPING HUB - EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Welcome to the Open Mapping Hub - Eastern and Southern Africa

The Open Mapping Hub - Eastern and Southern Africa works with organizations and communities across 23 countries in creating and updating free, editable, and shareable open map data in OpenStreetMap. We believe that open map data is universal and contributes to identifying problems, monitoring change, managing and responding to events, forecasting, setting priorities, and understanding humanitarian and development trends.

We envision a future where all people in Eastern and Southern Africa have the opportunity to contribute to and use open mapping processes and open data in their everyday lives.

Open Mapping Grants

The ESA Hub granting program aims to :

Work with organizations and communities in advancing their organization’s mission through OpenStreetMap data and Tools
Enrich OpenStreetMap data (both already existing and generated through the grants) by increasing contributions from new communities members (specifically women and other underrepresented groups)
Design and implement innovative map data solutions and projects that improve the everyday lives of people in Eastern and Southern Africa in a significant way

Applicants can apply for between $5,000 and $45,000 in project funding. All applications must directly align with one of the Hub’s five impact areas (Disaster and Climate Resilience, Public Health, Gender Equality, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Migration and Safe Displacement), and must consider the following project principles:

Movement Building and Community Growth: Evidence of local citizens/community involvement in the project (including engagement of underrepresented groups).
Quality Open Data: Generation of high-quality open data.
Collaboration: Potential to initiate strategic partnerships and bring different stakeholders together for success and scale.
Knowledge Sharing: Learning and information sharing among stakeholders.
Sustainability: An organization's capacity and expertise to continue the activities after the end of grant funding.
Data usage: For all of the data you intend to generate, collect and upload to OSM, there must be a proven use case, i.e. You must partner with an organization that has identified a particular need, data gap, or opportunity. This can be evidenced by a statement or letter from the partner or stakeholder who will use the data in your application.
Ethics: All grant applications must show that special consideration has been made for ethical data collection. This includes the involvement of the local community (in the location you are mapping), or proven commitment from the local authority to confirm permissions have been obtained to map in the locations you have selected.

The selection process for the Open Mapping Grants is competitive. Applications are open to organizations and communities across six (6) hub focus countries: Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, and Kenya.

All proposals must include a project plan and a budget that adequately reflect proposed activities.

The Hub will be hosting a 60-minute Proposal Development Clinic to walk you through our expectations. This webinar will take place on Wednesday 09 February 2022 at 3 pm EAT and will be an opportunity for you to hear about what the Hub expects from applicants, the budget requirements, and the selection and eligibility criteria.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 27 February 2022.

APPLY NOW

More information*:

Application guidelines

Eligibility + Selection criteria

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

*Please note that the ESA Hub granting structure has been updated in January 2022. Before submitting an application, please read the application guidelines, eligibility + selection criteria, and FAQs.

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