About Us
OpenMap Development Tanzania is a registered NGO based in Dar es Salaam and operating across Tanzania. Since its establishment in 2017, OMDTZ has executed and promoted several community mapping projects, generated map awareness, actively pledged open datasets, and continued to build a network of enthusiastic mappers in Tanzania. OMDTZ heavily contributes to the OpenStreetMap (OSM – https://www.openstreetmap.org/) platform, which is both a map and database of geographic data owned by contributors on OSM; anyone can view, create and use this information for free.
Our strength is built by the volunteer network, community members, and our ability to advocate the use of open-source software in different institutions i.e. universities, government agencies, public and private institutions.
Our goal is to create a community that uses and develops freeware for our own social development. We involve university students, community members, and partners with different backgrounds ranging from technology, social, economic, political, and academia. We believe in creating a stronger community in Tanzania that advocates for freeware and trains different users so we can reduce dependency on proprietary software that creates a gap in technological development as many Tanzanian youths can not afford to buy licenses for proprietary programs.
We create open datasets for different courses such as disaster response for floods, waste management, etc to help decision-makers with maps to improve challenges faced by communities on the ground. OMDTZ has promoted a number of community mapping projects, generated map awareness, actively pledged open data sets, and continues to build a network of enthusiastic mappers in Tanzania.
We are involved in the success of community mapping and open geospatial data in Tanzania. We have also conducted training for government entities i.e. (President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government offices- PORALG), university institutions, etc on the use of open data–which included.
OMDTZ envisions to become the center of open mapping in Tanzania and promote the use of open sources and open data in different development initiatives.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our mission is to grow and empower communities that contribute to and use open data and open technology to attain global development goals and solve socio-economic and humanitarian challenges in Tanzania
Our vision is to leverage the power of open data and open technology to attain global development goals and solve socio-economic and humanitarian challenges in Tanzania.
Meet the Team
Our Objective
- To raise community awareness on open mapping, open data, open technology and maps throughout Tanzania.
- To engage, train, and further support youth and local communities in open mapping and open data through the use of open-source tools and technologies.
- To capacitate the government and organizations on the use of open data and open-source technologies in making informed and effective decisions to solve socio-economic and humanitarian challenges.
- To sustain and champion the growth of open mapping and OpenStreetMap communities in Tanzania (including hosting annual mapping-stakeholders’ events such as “State of the Map Tanzania”).
- To support and promote innovations from communities that use technology in solving local and international community’s problems.
At OpenMap Development Tanzania, we believe that data can be a powerful tool for positive change. By equipping Tanzanian communities with mapping and data collection skills, we empower them to address their own challenges and create a brighter future for themselves and their neighbors.
Innocent Maholi
Excutive Director
Modelling Exposure Through Earth Observation Routines (METEOR)
At present, there is a poor understanding of population exposure in some Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries, which causes major challenges when making Disaster Risk Management decisions. Modeling Exposure Through Earth Observation Routines (METEOR) takes…
Kyela Community Mapping
In 2020 OMDTZ collaborated with Tanzania Data Lab (dLab) for the community mapping projects conducted in Kyela Mbeya, Tanzania. Kyela community mapping project aimed to make data available, facilitate accessibility, and better use of data…
Effluent DischargeMapping
There are many problems associated with the discharge of wastewater from industries into water bodies. These problems can lead to environmental pollution which in turn leads to a variety of diseases and a decline in…