The Groundtruth Initiative empowers communities through digital media, mapping, and open data tools to enhance their influence in development and democracy, particularly in Kibera, Nairobi. The initiative trains local youth in various technologies, creating comprehensive maps and community news platforms like Voice of Kibera and Kibera News Network. Key challenges include addressing the risks of extractive data collection, navigating donor preferences, and ensuring meaningful community participation.

1. GroundTruth Initiative
Map Kibera
Erica Hagen * Mikel Maron
photo: http://gallery.me.com/dbullington#100816&view=null&bgcolor=black&sel=12

2. GroundTruth Initiative, LLC
We help communities use digital media,
mapping, and open data tools
for greater influence and representation
in development and democracy.

3. What we do:
Train in creative use of new technologies for data
collection and storytelling (mapping, video, mobile,
web)
Engage with specific geographic communities
in-depth
Support open, accessible information for action

4. Why we do it:
Local communities are the most reliable,
important knowledge-holders
for development and political engagement.
Participatory and open technologies and media
are key to amplifying voices
and increasing influence.

5. Why we are here:
We love doing this, and want to do more.
Maybe in collaboration with you.

6. Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya…
~ 250,000 people, 2.5 km2

7. …was a blank spot on the map

8. This is all the media shows about Kibera…

9. GroundTruth starts Map Kibera pilot project to help
Kibera people get “on the map”

10. Screenshots of three
projects? VoK, KNN,
the Map?
Three projects evolved to create rich information
resources by and for the Kibera residents.

11. The Mappers: 13 Kibera youth
* The Mappers

12. OpenStreetMap
Global Collaborative Mapping
“like Wikipedia for Maps”

13. What did they collect?:
• water points
• public latrines
• medical clinics
• informal schools
• churches/mosques
• video shops
• salons
• community organizations
• tons more

14. PHOTO of the guys out with GPS
around neck

15. Kibera Map Today

16. The Densest Map Ever?

17. Citizen Journalism
Content chosen/edited by Kiberans (not us)
Using available and accessible technology
Focus on getting stories out there, not fitting
professional quality standards – building the Supply

18. Voice of Kibera: Mapped citizen reporting
www.voiceofkibera.org

19. Community News Site
• Community website for
sharing info relevant to
Kibera residents
• News, videos, and SMS
• Reports are mapped on the
Map Kibera map

20. Editorial Board

21. Reports

22. Reports

23. Promotion

24. Kibera News Network (KNN)
www.KiberaNewsNetwork.org

25. Need photo here of the guys
out on a shoot…

28. Some KNN video topics:
- Landslide in Kibera
- Fire outbreak
- Profiles of local artists, clothing designers, musicians
- Protest over anti-Muslim schoolteacher
- Stray monkey entertains Kibera
- Kibera from a dog’s perspective
- HIV positive woman’s story
- Christian basketball tournament
- Railway line evictions

29. Example: Referendum Reporting

30. Example: Referendum Reporting

32. Thematic Mapping:
Health
Education
Water/Sanitation
Safety

36. Map Kibera Outcomes
Engaged and skilled young citizens.
Strong slum-tech links.
Information sharing platforms.
Map Kibera Trust

37. Map Kibera Partnerships
Institute for Development Studies
PLAN Kenya
Hivos/Omidyar
UN Habitat Youth Fund
Ushahidi

38. Onwards: Careful Replication vs Scaling Up

39. Currently: Map Mathare

40. Mathare is the second largest slum in Nairobi
Photo: Life in Abundance International, Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28477230@N04/

41. Mathare:
Insert screenshot of Mathare Valley
blog, and new map, ?

44. Currently: IDS Research
Participatory
Development
and
Participatory
Technology
Research that
helps us too

45. Key Lessons:
Community data collection risks being
an extractive process.

46. Key Lessons:
Participation and empowerment are
still only buzzwords most of the time.
(and therefore so is democracy…)

47. Key Lessons:
Stay agile. Experiment small and adapt
to every context.
Artisanal Development.

48. Map Kibera Lessons and Challenges
Donors favor silos, and duplication.

49. Map Kibera Lessons and Challenges
NGO fatigue.
(The world is getting smarter)

50. Map Kibera Lessons and Challenges
Volunteerism conflicts with local
economics;
NGOs distort the economy

51. Map Kibera Lessons and Challenges
Technology is easy. Social change is
still the most important and
hardest part.

52. GT Next Directions: Haiti?
From emergency mapping to sustained, comprehensive
community information
Need images here from Haiti projects,
COSMHA and C-Haiti or whatever,
Noula…

53. GT Next Directions: (What we’d like to do)
Build global Citizen Journalism
More grassroots Mapping
More small pilots and research
Building the Information Commons

54. GT Next Directions: (What we’d like to do)
… budget tracking, Yelp for international
development, feedback and monitoring of
projects, human rights online activism,
strengthening the media…

55. Thanks!
contact@groundtruthinitiative.org
@ricaji, @mikel, @mapkibera
groundtruthinitiative.org
mapkibera.org
voiceofkibera.org
kiberanewsnetwork.org