The document outlines a self-assessment toolbox designed to help individuals and organizations determine if the Ushahidi platform is suitable for their projects, emphasizing strategic preparation, partnership, and resource identification before launching. It provides various tools and tips for assessing project goals, audience engagement, communication strategies, and the technical requirements for successful implementation. Additionally, it highlights the importance of planning, community involvement, and funding considerations for effective project execution.

1. Toolbox #1
Self-Assessment

2. Why do the toolbox?
These tools are based upon the rich experiences of people and organizations that have used
the Ushahidi instance. The following toolboxes are crucial to your success!
Checklist
 TOOLBOX 1- SELF ASSESSMENT
 TOOLBOX 2- IMPLEMENTATION
 TOOLBOX 3 - USING YOUR INFORMATION
TIP: An Ushahidi project doesn’t start with setting up the platform and putting it on-line. You
need to prepare your strategy, study the context, understand the implications, secure
cooperation and knowledge of the tool for all of the actors involved. The launch of the platform
is the last step of the project, not the first one. (Anahi Ayala Iacucci)

3. Tips on using these toolbox documents:
These toolboxes are in beta (draft). We are using this
content to test for the final web and print versions
toolboxes. Please provide feedback.
Print documents do not include the extra notes which
appear in the online versions.
Online documents will show rotating tips,
which are shown as extra comments in the notes field.

4. Toolbox 1
Self-Assessment
Helping you take the first steps to determine if the Ushahidi platform is a fit for your project
- Learn about Ushahidi
- Find out if Ushahidi will fit into your project goals & objectives
- Think about partnerships for your project
- Identify the information, communication and technology needs for your
project
- Think about what resources are necessary to make your project successful

5. Let’s Begin…..
First Name:____________
Last Name: ____________
Are you an individual or part of an organization?
 Organization Organiza(on
Name:
____________
 Individual
Email Address:___________________

6. You
can
use
the
Ushahidi
Pla[orm
for
informa(on
collec(on
and
sharing,
visualiza(on
and
interac(ve
mapping.
There
have
been
over
3000
uses
of
Ushahidi/Crowdmap.
Here
are
some
common
types
of
uses
of
the
Ushahidi
pla[orm
(Ushahidi
video
introduc(on)
(FAQs)..
And
more
Deployments
Ushahidi
Prototype
Hot
Flash
For
emergencies
like
natural
disasters,
unexpected
Hai(
Crisis
Map
icon
events….(more
text
here).
Uk
Riot
Cleanup
Chicago
Blizzard
Japan
Earthquake
Slow
Burn
For
ongoing
or
complex
emergencies,
to
track
changes
War
on
Gaza
icon
in
communi(es
or
responding
agencies
….
(crime
DRC
mapping?)
Zim
Poli(cal
Crisis
Point
on
a
For
events
like
elec(on
monitoring,
media
campaigns
Uchaguzi-­‐Kenya
icon
Calendar
with
ending
dates….
(more
text)
Sudan
Vote
Monitor
Unsung
Peace
Heroes
Long
Term
For
ongoing
programs
and
ini(a(ves
(human
rights
Voice
of
Kibera
icon
monitoring,
media,
environmental
mapping,
local
gov
KANCO
(health)
mapping,
resource
mapping
)
Uchaguzi-­‐Kenya
EXAMPLES..

7. Thinking about How Ushahidi will Help your Project
Here
are
some
things
you
might
want
to
think
about
before
you
start
using
the
plaAorm…..
This
toolbox
will
help
you
answer
many
of
these
quesFons..
Who
is
your
target
audience?
What
is
the
incen(ve/mo(va(on
for
people
to
use
your
pla[orm?
How
is
mapping
going
to
contribute
to
your
project?
How
are
you
collec(ng
and
using
data
now?
Do
you
just
want
to
use
a
new
cool
and
free
tool?
Is
there
a
gap
you
are
trying
to
fill?
Example:
Linda
Racree
and
her
team
wanted
to
gather
informa(on
on
the
amount,
types,
and
loca(on
of
violence
happening
in
communi(es
where
they
were
working
on
a
Violence
Against
Children
project.
They
wanted
to
know
where
the
violence
is
happening
most,
and
what
kind
of
violence
it
is.
The
informa(on
was
then
going
to
be
used
by
the
youth
and
project
par(cipants,
staff,
and
relevant
local
or
na(onal
authori(es.
The
goals
were
to
generate
awareness,
inform
programma(c
efforts,
and
advocate
for
more
aeen(on
and
services
to
prevent,
respond
to,
and
treat
violence
against
children.

8. Project Goals and Objectives
Example Goals
What
are
the
project
goals?
(user
enters
text
here)
Violence Against Children Project
Voice of Kibera
Uchaguzi Kenya
What
are
the
project
objec(ves?
(user
enters
text
here)
Example Objectives
Uchaguzi Kenya
TIPS: How will you achieve your goals? How will the collected information achieve the goal.
What
kind
of
project
are
you
working
on?
(please
check
all
that
apply)
Is
this
a
new
or

Health

Children
and
Youth
exis(ng
project?

Water
and
Sanita(on

Educa(on

Media

Gender
Based
Violence

HIV/AIDS
 Economic
Development
new

Environment/Conserva(on

Security/Protec(on

Women’s
Issues

Poli(cal
Violence

War/Conflict

Elec(ons/Elec(on
Monitoring
old

Natural
Disasters

Other,
please
describe______

Human
Rights
Is
this
a
development
or
humanitarian/crisis
project?
(defini(ons
and
examples)

Development/Governance

Community
Programming

Humanitarian/Crisis

Other

9. Expected Outcomes / Impact
Your
project/program’s
goals
and
objec(ve
are:
Type
With
the
goal
to
_____Users
can
correct
the
auto-­‐
inserted
text
here________.
icon
The
program/project
objec(ves
are
Users
can
correct
the
auto-­‐
inserted
text
here__.
What
are
the
expected
outcomes/impact?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
How
will
the
Ushahidi
pla[orm
help
you
achieve
your
expected
outcomes/impact?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
TIPS: How will you achieve your expected outcomes?

10. Mapping and Visualization
Why use a map? What is the benefit of using mobiles or mapping to track your information? The information does not
need to be crisis related. You might want to map existing community resources within a geographic area or raise
awareness of local events. (Linda Rafferty)
Mapping
data
is
important
for
creaFng
responsibility.
The
fact
that
people
see
their
report
is
the
biggest
moFvaFon
to
engage
them.
-­‐
Oscar
Salazar,
Cuidemos
el
Voto
Mapping
informaFon
will
benefit
your
project
by:
TIPS:
The
mapping
system
in
Ushahidi
is
not
automa(c:
you
need
to
geo-­‐reference
informa(on
manually.
You
can
do
it
at
the
admin
level
with
volunteers
or
other
people.
If
you
plan
to
use
it
as
a
crowd-­‐source
system,
you
need
to
have
a
big
number
of
What
kind
of
informaFon
will
you
map?
How
do
you
intend
to
use
it?
people
mapping
those
messages,
or
you
need
to
do
it
only
by
web-­‐
submission
(it
means
also
forget
about
the
media
monitoring,
SMS,
e-­‐mails
and
twieer
submissions).
What
level
of
precision
does
the
Who
do
you
want
to
view
the
map?
mapping
require?
Do
you
want
data
points
or
data
areas?
(Anahi
Ayala
Iacucci)
icon
Learn more… case studies instance sites Blogs/media

11. Technology and “the rest” – Allocating Time
Our
users’
experience
to
date
has
humbled
us
to
realized
that
the
much
of
the
success
from
organizaFons
using
the
Ushahidi
plaAorm
comes
from
the
project
planning
and
preparaFon
around
the
technology
itself……
Just
because
you
bought
a
domain
name
Allocation of Time and
ran
the
Ushahidi
installer
doesn’t
mean
In an Ushahidi Deployment that
anyone
is
going
to
use
the
system
—
and
even
if
you
somehow
get
a
lot
of
Ushahidi setup
• Requires some tech skills and reports,
you
might
not
be
relevant
to
the
training, but not much work exisFng
systems
(that
is,
all
the
other
• Set up a server, run installer,
poke around
people
who
are
working
on
the
same
problem).
So
as
Ory
said
in
Cape
Town,
“Don’t
get
too
jazzed
up!
Ushahidi
is
only
10%
of
soluFon.”
Systems
like
Ushahidi
have
turned
enormous
communicaFon
barriers
into
a
All the other stuff that makes a trivial
installaFon
and
training
process.
But
project successful
• Outreach, branding, translation, there
is
a
whole
other
90%
of
real
work.
annotation, verification, documentation, (Chris
Blow)
integration with other systems, SMS
debugging, taxonomy development
Let’s focus on that 90% and identify
Learn More:
potential partners in your project.
Why technology is 10%- Anahi
Ayala Iacucci
Allocation of Time –Chris Blow

12. Partnerships & Audience
Key to the success of your project
Who
are
your
partners?
(lisFng)
What
roles
will
they
play?
•
•
•
•
•
TIPS-­‐
One
of
the
major
partners
in
project
is
a
•
technical
administrator.
If
you
envision
customizing
your
instance
a
lot
you
should
think
TIPS-­‐
Which
partner
will
provide
the
overall
about
having
a
developer
as
a
partner
if
you
do
project
manager.
Will
it
be
your
organizaFon?
not
have
one
in
your
organizaFon.
Who
are
your
Audiences?
Why
do
you
think
they
will
use
your
plaAorm?
•
•
•
TIPS-­‐One
of
the
fundamental
parts
of
your
project
is
the
definiFon
of
your
audience.
Who
do
you
want
to
visit
the
site
and
use
your
informaFon
and
who
you
want
to
be
your
reporters?
Trust & The crowd as your
icon
Learn more… Partnerships partner

13. Information
Your Ushahidi instance will help you collect,
organize and communicate information for the goals of your project
(ExisFng
project)-­‐
What
informaFon
are
you
currently
collecFng?
What
informaFon
do
you
want
to
add
with
this
project?
IMPORTANT!
What
is
the
exis(ng
informa(on
flow
and
(New
project)
What
informaFon
do
you
want
to
collect?
how
the
informa(on
flow
you
propose
will
change
or
modify
the
exis(ng
one?
The
idea
How
will
this
informaFon
allow
the
project
to
achieve
it’s
goals?
is
that
the
more
you
modify
the
exis(ng
informa(on
flow
the
less
your
project
will
be
TIPS:
Does
someone
else
have
exisFng
indicators
or
iniFaFves
or
successful.
informaFon
needs
or
formats
that
you
should
be
linking
in
with
and
following
or
supporFng?
(Linda
Radree)
icon
Learn more… case studies instance sites blogs/articles
Type

14. Communication
Your Ushahidi instance will help you collect, organize and communicate information for the goals of your project.
Collecting information into Ushahidi platform is only half the battle.
How will you communicate information to your audience? Partners? Media?
From
slide
11,
this
is
your
audience:
Example
___________________________________________________
“The
people
who
Media
Focus
on
Africa
FoundaFon
are
targe(ng
do
not
have
How
do
you
plan
to
tell
people
about
your
project
and
how
to
Internet
access
-­‐
We
want
to
bring
the
results
back
to
the
people
using
mass
send
informaFon
into
the
plaAorm?
media.”
As
a
result
of
MFAF’s
goals,
Internet
is
only
one
part
of
the
larger
project
and

Television
AdverFsements

SMS
campaign.
This
is
not
only
true
for
the

Radio

Othe
Unsung
Peace
Heroes
campaign
but
for
all

Newspaper

word
of
mouth
of
MFAF’s
work.
Bueerfly
Works
uses

Morning
shows
mul(ple
media
types
in
their
work
as
well
so

Flyers

Twifer
the
mul(media
approach
for
Unsung
Peace

Internet
Heroes
was
familiar
to
both
organiza(ons

Facebook
and
important
to
achieving
their
goals.
How
do
you
plan
share
the
informaFon
with
your
audience?
Bueerfly
Works
and
MFAF
used
a
mul(media
approach,
including
a
website,
newspaper
ads,
radio
and
television
appearances,
par(cipa(on
in
live
events
and
TIPS:
think
about
how
your
audience
commonly
views/
word-­‐of-­‐mouth.
(Melissa
Tully)
accesses
informaFon)-­‐
and
what
way
they
are
most
likely
to
view
informaFon
during
a
crisis.
icon
Learn more… case studies blogs/articles
Type

15. Campaign, Messaging, & Communication Strategy
Very important too is the communication strategy of the organization,
which should explain what the platform is and what it is not. (Anahi Ayala Iacucci)
The communication strategy can be: The
Unsung
1) Announcement of the project/service Peace
Heroes
project
2) Setting expectations in
Kenya
used
a
mul(media
3) Plan for responding to individual messages publicity
strategy,
including
placing
4) Communicating information to different audiences ads
in
the
newspaper,
making
TV
and
radio
appearances,
handing
out
fliers,
par(cipa(ng
in
local
peace
events
and
having
an
online
presence,
to
spread
the
work
about
How will you inform the crowd about your project?
their
project
and
to
collect
nomina(ons
of
Peace
Heroes
throughout
Kenya.
This
strategy
allowed
them
to
target
various
How will you communicate with your partners/audience? diverse
audiences
and
in
the
end
they
received
over
500
nomina(ons
for
Unsung
Peace
Heroes
throughout
Kenya.
(Melissa
Tully)
TIPS
Be
sure
that
you
get
clearly
the
message
out:
what
you
want
to
do,
why
and
if
the
issue
is
urgent
or
not.
icon
Learn more… case studies blogs/articles Example materials
Type

16. Information Communication Technology (ICT),
Privacy, and Secuity
Information Security and Privacy can be a very important
consideration for many projects that use the Ushahidi
Instance. We encourage you and your organization to think
about how the Ushahidi instance may affect community/
organization safety, and the impact that mapping and
information will have on your audience and partners.
If
you
answer
yes
to
any
of
these
quesFons,
or
feel
that
this
topic
is
important
to
your
project
-­‐-­‐
we
encourage
you
to
take
the
mini
assessment
tool
here……….
Will
your
project
be
dealing
with
sensiFve
informaFon?
Will
your
project
potenFally
place
the
users
or
partners
at
risk?
Take
the
Does
the
government
strictly
control
informaFon
in
your
project
area?
assessment
Are
you
prepared
to
address
any
informaFon/
privacy
breaches
if
they
should
happen?
Who
now.
will
be
responsible?
Type
icon
case studies instance sites blogs/articles Learn more…

17. Technology
Ushahidi is a software, which means it requires access to certain technologies.
1
Do
you
have
regular
power/ Yes

No

If
you
project
area
has
limited
power,
and
limited
access
to
internet
this
will
internet
access?
limit
the
ability
to
use
Ushahidi
/Crowdmap.
Consider
using
another
tool
or
start
with
a
small
pilot
project……
2
Are
your
team
members
Yes

No

How
do
your
partners
and
audience
currently
communicate?
What
are
they
volunteers
comfortable
with
comfortable
using
to
communicate?
(cell
phones,
sms,
internet)
What
do
they
computers/the
internet,
etc?
have
access
to
and
can
afford?
3
Do
you
have
a
technology
Yes

No

If
YES,
then
have
this
person
take
a
look
at
the
Ushahidi
Manual
to
see
if
this
person
on
your
project?
fits
their
capacity.
If
NO
then
take
this
technology
assessment
test
here.
4
Is
he
or
she
a
PHP
developer
Yes

No

If
NO,
then
consider
using
crowdmap.
Link
Here.
and/or
designer?
5
Do
you
want
a
lot
of
Yes

No

CustomizaFons,
or
****,
will
require
a
developer
and
likely
a
designer.
And
customiza(ons?
you
have
YES’s
for
ques(ons
3
&4
What
is
the
local
use
of
ICT
in
the
country?
TIPS: How do your partners
and audience communicate
now? What are they
How
do
people
in
the
community
use
comfortable using? (cell
the
internet
and
mobile
phones?
phones, sms, internet) What
do they have access to and
can afford?
Take the tech Learn more… case studies blogs/articles
assesment!

18. Resources & Funding
Here
are
some
?ps
to
think
about
when
looking
for
funding
to
support
your
project
or
idea:
‣
How
does
my
proposal
address
the
problem?
Funding
Uses
Examples
of
how
you
might
use
your
funding:
‣
What
are
the
goals
and
objec(ves
of
the
program?
‣
Funding
a
SMS
shortcode
number
to
allow
people
to
send
free
SMS
‣
What
is
the
budget
and
(meline
for
the
project?
‣
Funding
an
SMS
alert
campaign
‣
Can
you
partner
with
others
for
non-­‐financial
support?
‣
Funding
a
web
designer
to
customize
your
Ushahidi
deployment
‣
How
will
the
project
be
sustainable?
‣
Funding
a
PR
campaign:
newspaper
ads,
online
ads,
to
raise
awareness
about
your
Ushahidi
‣
Is
there
a
geographic
focus?
instance
(funders
ocen
support
specific
loca(ons)
‣
Funding
a
data
entry
resource
if
you
are
‣
What
are
the
expected
outcomes
and
how
migraFng
exisFng
data
into
the
Ushahidi
plaAorm
will
you
measure
them?
TIPS:
Have a clear budget and take into account advertisement campaign, dev work, PHONE EXPENSES if you use
SMS and alerts, server space, and time to dedicate to the project. Also fundamental, have a monitoring
&evaluation line in the budget and in your project plan and do periodical review of the project according to
goals. (Anahi Ayala Iacucci)

19. Resources
Here are some resources you may need. Fill out the cost that you will need too.
Resource
Cost
Project
Manager
TIPS
Make
sure
you
have
a
clear
budget
and
Developer
think
about
the
resources
that
will
you
Designer
need
for
your
project.
Project
Manager
Volunteers/Coordinators
Campaign
Adver(sing
TIPS
“Find
out
about
any
poten(al
licenses
Servers
you
might
need,
for
example
for
Computers
holding
a
compe((on,
this
can
ocen
be
bureaucra(c
and
take
(me
to
organise.
Phone/SMS
expenses
NOTE
Calculate
?me
for
the
design
and
Monitoring/Evalua(on
prin?ng
or
produc?on
of
all
your
Training
Workshop
materials,
making
a
website
or
flyer
and
prin?ng
it
can
take
a
few
weeks.
Planning
Workshops
(Buferfly
Works
Toolbox)
General
Office/Equipment
Other

20. Planning & Project timeline
Planning your project, and allowing enough time to prepare for volunteers, customization, campaigns, and
partner/community engagement will make you project more successful.
TIPS
PROJECT
EXAMPLES
If
you
are
looking
to
gather,
share
and
make
decisions
with
many
different
people
&
partners.
ELECTION
MONITORING
Consider:
Staff
and
Volunteers
for
the
•
Planning
mee(ngs&
workshops
early
to
make
sure
that
all
partners
have
Uchaguzi
Kenya
Project
similar
expecta(ons
and
understand
their
roles/responsibili(es
(
2010
Kenya
Referedum)
–
•
Plan
your
media/adver(sing
campaigns
early,
determine
the
cost,
and
recommend
3-­‐6
months
for
how
you
will
inform
people
of
your
project
and
set
expecta(ons.
planning
around
a
specific
elec(on
days.
Type
Example project blogs/articles
icon
timelines
Learn more…

21. Below
is
informa(on
about
your
project
that
you
entered
in
the
first
toolbox
(On
the
online
tool,
what
you
have
filled
out
in
the
previous
panels
will
automaFcally
show
up
here!)
Project
Goal/Objec?ves/an?cipated
impact
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Reasons
for
mapping
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Partnerships
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Informa?on/Communica?on
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Marke?ng
Media
Plan
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Technology
Assessment
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
I
would
like
to
make
Let’s
move
changes…..
on!

22. THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING
TOOLBOX #1!
Please save this file and add your name to the title, then return it to
support@ushahidi.com or wiki.ushahidi.com
You will receive a report from toolbox #1 to use in your project.
In your email please send comments on how
you would like this tool improved or changed!
Thank you for being a very important part of Ushahidi’s User community!