How can NGOs use GIS and mapping?

Geospatial Information Science is a powerful tool in the hands of NGOs or Non-profit organizations, the understanding and use of spatial data in an organization is no-longer a luxury!

It is the missing link in how donor aid can be effectively used in Africa and donors are beginning to realize this, because of the effectiveness of maps and spatial data in creating project visibility, transparency and accountability.

GIS grew out of an idea of taking geographic knowledge, map layers or map data and putting it in digital form and then being able to analyze it and use it for various applications. Mapping used to require a lot of specialized skills and expensive software - but not anymore.

Maps for visualization

A picture is worth a thousand words!. A map or satellite imagery of the affected area can communicate the problem much more effectively. Whether it is drawing the world's attention to a humanitarian crisis or protecting environment, maps can tell a more compelling story.

Mobile Phones and GPS for field work

Field data collection is also an integral part of what organizations do. GPS devices can help capture the exact location of a place and tie it with data about that place. Collecting location of water pumps in a rural area, or capturing the location of illegal tree logging etc. can be done easily with a handheld GPS device.

GIS softwares like QGIS, ArcGIS can process this data and help do detailed analysis or create maps. An example is a group using field mapping to carry out Community water distribution and monitoring of local borehole. With the advancement of mobile technology in Africa, data collection has never been easier, cheaper and time-saving. Several applications such as Fieldmaps, GPS Essentials, LogAlto, ODK and ArcGIS Survey123 can be used to collect these informations with more detailed information.

GIS for decision making

Imagine that you’re in the centre for disease control and you are about to be hit by a pandemic like Ebola, Marburg, bird flu and so on, and you needed to map everything and understand what was going on, you needed to understand the relationship between this disease and the environment that was causing it and get people emergency supplies, GIS can help you do that.

NGO'S can use mapping not only to effectively communicate externally, but also internally for better decision making. Where the resources should be allocated? Which regions need more attention? etc. are the questions that can be answered by simple GIS analysis.

For example, when faced with an epidemic or emergency, an NGO helping victims can use GIS to set up a medical camp in a location that would serve the largest amount of population.

Finally to put all this into perspective imagine this for a second... Two NGO’s seeking for refunding on a similar project, one presents a 30-page report and the other 5-page report with several illustrative GIS generated maps. Of the two reports which one will most likely be paid attention to?....... Don’t be the NGO that gets left out, this is because GIS creates visibility, transparency, accountability, that has for long been lacking in many organizations.