Empowering Youth for Change

Description

In response to Plan International Germany’s call for proposals, CartONG embarked on a transformative 3-year project aimed at mapping basic services and peace factors across the Lake Chad Basin (Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon). This initiative, coordinated by Plan International Germany and executed by Plan International Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria, culminated in the creation of an accessible online public map, available in both French and English.

As part of the broader project, “Youth Leading Stabilisations Efforts in The Lake Chad Basin,” Plan International sought to collect and monitor data on four fundamental services—health, education, youth participation, and economic opportunities—in the region. The online map focused on displaying infrastructure-related data, including education, health, and youth-led organizations. This dynamic mapping project, spanning 2021 to 2023, aimed to track the evolving presence of these services and facilitate year-to-year comparisons.

The project comprised two technical components: implementing data collection and developing a mapping platform. Beyond technicalities, a crucial third dimension involved youth capacity building, aligning with Plan International’s mission. Local youth played a pivotal role in managing every stage of the project, from field data collection to the integration of data into the online mapping platform.

To realize the vision of youth-driven mapping, CartONG supported the initiative through:

• Mobile Data Collection: Implementing user-friendly tools for young data collectors.
• Mapping Platform Development: Creating an online platform for displaying results, tailored for ease of use by youth.
• Training Sessions: Conducting comprehensive training for teams in each country, enabling young participants to take ownership and maintain tools throughout the project.

Flexibility was key as the project evolved. Initially straightforward, data collection needs grew more complex, prompting the creation of distinct forms for different actor categories and customized versions for each country. CartONG facilitated administration on KoBoToolbox, ensuring each country had control over its data. The mapping platform, initially suggested on uMap, was eventually custom-developed with Javascript, respecting both the project’s requirements and KoBoToolbox constraints.

The project’s success laid in its robust capacity-building process and adherence to empowerment principles. Since its launch in May 2021, the map-based platform has continued to evolve. New features, such as a satellite view and a “cluster” view for proximity-based services, have been added, enhancing data interpretation.