Missing maps

Description

Missing Maps is a project led by a collective of organizations whose common goal is to create accessible mapping data on the places where humanitarian organizations are working. Each member organization carries out its own mapping activities with its extended communities, guided by a common ethos.

CartONG has been a member of the Missing Maps project since 2015 and contributes with several activities each year. To meet the need for maps to improve humanitarian response in the field, we organize mapathons across France and neighboring countries. These are convivial moments where people get together to map and to learn how to use the tools for contributing to OpenStreetMap. This corresponds to the first phase of the Missing Maps project. For us, it’s an opportunity to bring together project supporters and OpenStreetMap (OSM) communities in the West and in the target countries, to actively contribute to the activities of NGOs in the field, and to support existing local OSM communities. Since the start of our contribution to the Missing Maps project, we have organized an average of 50 mapathons a year.

In addition to the mapathons, we have also carried out other activities, such as:  

• A disaster risk reduction project in Madagascar (Atsinanana region) in partnership with the NGO Pompiers Humanitaires Français (PHF) and with the support of OSM Madagascar. This project was made possible thanks to the support of CNES (French Space Agency). 
• Launched 5 initiatives with small NGOs (ONG Karya, Rombo Consevancy, Yaam Solidarités, etc.).
• Participated in several awareness-raising and education projects around OSM (including Educ’OSM and State of the Map France, OSM GeoWeek 2018, GeoNight 2018, Geneva Health Forum to name a few).
• Provided remote support to several projects among CartONG’s historical partners such as UNHCR, but also small NGOs abroad (Karya in Nepal, Ecosur in Ecuador, and Hydrauliques Sans Frontières in Cameroon) with the support of CartONG volunteers.
• Continued to support the mapping of refugee sites on OSM for the UNHCR and mapped 21 refugee sites on OSM in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Myanmar.
• Mapped 2 refugee sites in Myanmar for Solidarités International.

Helped several small partners with their mapping needs: Yaam Solidarités and OSM-Burkina Faso, Pays de Savoie solidaires with Dessalines, and Hydrauliques Sans Frontières. We also contributed to the mapping of the MapATI project in Togo as part of the AMI mechanism for funding projects run by our volunteers.