Hello fellow mappers, I’m Ezekiel Kiariro, a passionate GIS and remote sensing expert based in Tanzania, and I’m truly honored to be nominated as a 2025 Voting Member of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). I’ve been mapping since 2020, and what began as curiosity quickly turned into a calling. Today, I serve as the GIS & Open Mapping Manager at GeoTE Tanzania, where I lead and support various community-based mapping initiatives across the country. I’m excited to share a bit more about myself, what HOT means to me, and how I hope to contribute as a voting member.

What Does HOT Mean to Me?

To me, HOT is a movement that embodies equity, collaboration, and action. It’s about creating open, accessible geospatial data to solve real-life problems, especially in vulnerable and underserved areas. HOT represents a community where people from different backgrounds use open mapping as a tool for change, resilience, and empowerment.

How I Got Involved in HOT and Mapping

My journey started through Youth Mappers and university training sessions in Tanzania. Inspired by the potential of OpenStreetMap to support humanitarian response and planning, I became an active mapper, trainer, and later a national organizer. Since then, I’ve:

• Organized local and national mapathons and Open Data Day events
• Supported field data collection using OSM-based tools
• Co-led the GeoTE-Tanzania Field Training Program, a five-week initiative to integrate OSM into university curricula
• Mentored young mappers and helped local communities map their own spaces, such as informal settlements and health risks From mapping roads and buildings in disaster-prone areas to leading sessions on NDVI and land cover classification using OSM-integrated datasets, I’ve seen how open mapping directly contributes to decision-making, planning, and community resilience.

Why I Want to Be a Voting Member

Being a voting member gives me the chance to:

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The SMCoSE YouthMappers Chapter, renowned as one of Tanzania’s largest mapping communities, hosted a transformative mapathon on April 14, 2024, at the esteemed Sokoine University of Agriculture. This event marked a pivotal moment of collaboration, extending invitations to other YouthMappers chapters in Morogoro, thus amplifying the inclusivity and impact of the initiative. Central to the mapathon’s objective was the concerted effort to contribute to Project #15530 within the HOT Tasking Manager, focusing on mapping cities across the Eastern and Southern Africa Region. By leveraging the power of open data, participants aimed to craft detailed base maps crucial for diverse applications, ranging from urban planning to efficient disaster response strategies.

Amidst an atmosphere described as “fantastic,” the event witnessed a remarkable accomplishment, the successful mapping of approximately 25,000 buildings. This feat not only underscores the collective dedication of the participants but also showcases the tangible outcomes of community-driven endeavors. Moreover, the mapathon served as a platform for new mappers to acquaint themselves with essential mapping tools such as ID Editors and JOSM, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to the OpenStreetMap ecosystem.

Special recognition is duly owed to the Open Mapping Hub Eastern and Southern Africa (OMHESA) for their unwavering support, notably through the prestigious Spatial People Award. This acknowledgment not only highlights the significance of collaborative partnerships but also accentuates the pivotal role of organizations in facilitating impactful mapathons and community initiatives. In essence, the event epitomized the ethos of collaboration, learning, and contribution inherent within the mapping community, further advancing the cause of open data dissemination and spatial awareness in the region.

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I recently had the privilege of attending the State of the Map Africa 2023 conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The event, focused on “Open Mapping as a Support Tool for Local Development in Africa,” provided a platform for diverse perspectives and insightful discussions over three engaging days. Representing YouthMappers from Tanzania and GeoTE-Tanzania, I actively participated in various sessions, sharing experiences and insights on harnessing open mapping for community betterment.

Mapping Trees for Climate Change Resilience. In my first session, I delved into the critical role of open mapping tools like OpenDataKit in mapping trees for climate change resilience. The discussion highlighted practical approaches to leverage these tools, emphasizing the importance of mapping initiatives in building climate-resilient communities. The power of collaborative mapping became evident as we explored strategies to enhance environmental sustainability through open mapping.

Gender Inclusion in OSM Africa. The second session focused on gender inclusion within the OpenStreetMap (OSM) community in Africa. In a lively panel discussion, we explored avenues to improve gender representation and participation. It was inspiring to share ideas with fellow panelists and conference participants, brainstorming on practical steps to foster a more inclusive OSM environment for everyone.

Building Sustainable Open Mapping Communities Across Africa. The final panel discussion, led by Mr. Innocent Maholi from OpenMap Development Tanzania, delved into the theme of building sustainable open mapping communities across Africa. Joined by panelists Ezekiel Kiariro, Nathalie Sidibe, and Severin Menard, we exchanged insights on strategies to create enduring mapping communities. Our discourse covered topics ranging from community engagement to resource mobilization, leaving us with a roadmap for nurturing vibrant and sustainable mapping ecosystems.

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