Until recently, Kibera, a massive slum in Nairobi, Kenya, was a blank spot on any public map. The Nairobi City Council considers it a forest, and it was not marked on Google and “OpenStreetMap” online maps, despite an estimated one million people living in this informal area smaller than New York’s Central Park. Although many non-governmental organizations, government offices and academic institutions have been involved in data collection and even mapping in Kibera, none of the results were publicly shared or available at a local level. “Map Kibera” was created to address this gap, based on the premise that without basic knowledge of geography and available resources, it is impossible for residents and other stakeholders in any community to have an informed discussion on how to improve the lives of citizens.
So in November 2009 “Map Kibera” trained 13 young people, one from each village in Kibera, in the tools and techniques of “OpenStreetMap”. Over three weeks, assisted by local GIS professionals, they collected data with GPS units and edited their map using open-source software. Since we were newcomers to Kibera, this was made possible through strong local partnerships with Kenyan organizations Carolina for Kibera, Kcoda (Kibera Community Development Agenda) and Sodnet (Social Development Network). We also worked widely with the technical and international development communities in Nairobi, building relationships for the project and involving participants from wider society.
Data without a story has little life. At the same time, we engaged community media groups in Kibera (the newspaper *Kibera Journal*, radio station Pamoja FM, and online video group Kibera Worldwide), showing how they could tell more effective stories using digital media and map information. Using the Ushahidi platform, we began development of a community media aggregator, which publishes reports with geographic context on *http://kibera.ushahidi.com/. Realizing that community journalists needed extra support in order to broadcast their stories, we trained Kibera Worldwide’s Flip video program in digital reporting and editing, and they accompanied mappers in the field.
The result is one of the densest maps ever created in the commons, poised for use in many applications, and an empowered nascent community of data users and storytellers in Kibera. Current projects emerging in Kibera based on this pilot include: a community journalism partnership among media groups within Kibera for improved reporting and online presence; mapping of the locations of CDF projects; merging map data with other research on Kibera from other organizations to create a shared knowledge base; a joint SMS reporting platform for local news and urgent needs.

Links: http://mapkibera.org/

Abdul Faraj, Anusa Pisanec, Arafat Mohammed, Douglas Namale - Mapper, Erica Hagen, Evans Kipngletich, George Otisno Ouma, Gideon Odiambo - Mapper, Gideon Victor Kapila Mwakina - Mapper, Hassan Yusuf - Mapper, Jeffrey Okoro, John Kipchumba, Joshua Goldstein, Kennedy Kibet Rotich, Kennedy Odhiambo Ogola - Mapper, Kevin Otieno - Mapper, Leonard Okwako - Mapper, Luchiri, Lucy Fondo - Mapper, Marimbo Fednance, Maureen Omino - Mapper, Midred Joyce Amwayi - Mapper, Mikel Maron, Millicent Achieng Odoyo - Mapper, Philip Thigo, Primoz Kovacic, Regynnah Awino - Mapper, Robert Muinde, Zack Muindi - Mapper

Map Kibera emerged as a crazy idea from a Nairobi Bar Camp in April 2009. Mikel Maron and Jubal Harpster developed a project concept, and found funding from JumpStart International. Much preparation took place before arrival, particularly facilitated by colleagues at Ushahidi. Erica Hagen and Mikel Maron arrived in Nairobi October 2009 to lead the project. Partnerships were quickly established with Sodnet, Carolina for Kibera, and Kcoda. A team of local youth was recruited, trained, and created the map with incredible speed. We are now working in partnership with Unicef.