InterAction launches online mapping project for NGO community
Danielle Heiberg of InterAction highlights a new mapping software that helps people visualize NGO efforts on a geographical level.
As a child, unfolding maps of Africa or Australia and seeing the names of towns dotting the vast lands, my imagination was sparked. Today it’s rare to use a paper map; everything is online with detailed directions and nearby landmarks (need to find an ATM in Lima? No problem, your phone can find one and map it).
I began working on an online mapping project of a different sort this year at InterAction. It’s not intended to help you get from point A to point B, but rather to give you a detailed look of the work NGOs are doing in post-earthquake Haiti. The new Haiti Aid Map provides a snapshot of who’s doing what where (under the same initiative, we are also currently mapping food security and agriculture projects). Currently, the map is only in the prototype stage, but there will be a fully built out site mapping the work of InterAction members and other NGOs by the end of the year.
What fascinates me most about this project is not the map itself, but how you can use the map to better understand the work of the NGO community. Using public datasets available from the mapping software, you can overlay information to get a better understanding of where donations are being put to use or even see where more aid is needed. Someone wanting to research school construction in Haiti could map educational projects and overlay it with data on collapsed schools or attendance records.
I believe the power of today’s online mapping is its ability to tell a broader story than geographical locations. The goal of InterAction’s mapping initiative is to help the larger community to see a fuller picture of how our efforts are helping those who need it most.
InterAction is an alliance of U.S.-based international NGOs focused on the world’s poor and most vulnerable people. To learn more about the Haiti or food security/agriculture mapping projects, please email mappinginfo@interaction.org.
- Danielle Heiberg, Strategic Impact program associate, InterAction
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August 2, 2010 at 1:40 pm
This is really an impressive map and a wonderful use of technology. It’s obvious that many NGO’s have done wonderful work helping the people of Haiti during this especially tough time.
I am concerned though about the long term effects of NGO’s running day-to-day operations on the ground in Haiti. How will the Haitian’s ever gain the skills to run their own nation?
Earlier this summer, I was fortunate enough to speak to Dr. Paul Farmer founder of Partners in Health who had personal observations to share about this topic. See this recent blog about the Congressional Black Caucus hearing, “Focus on Haiti: The Road to Recovery – A Six Month Review,” for more from Dr. Paul Farmer.
http://haitirewired.wired.com/profiles/blogs/paul-farmer-haitian-government
I’m interested to hear what other ONE members think.
-Lori Saltveit
ONE San Francisco Bay Area
August 3, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Hi Lori, I’m the new media coordinator at ONE. Thanks for your comment!
We love your question, so we’re going to post it up on our Facebook wall and open it up for our Facebook community and ONE members to respond to. You can follow and participate in the discussion there. Good luck!
http://www.facebook.com/ONE?v=wall&ref=ts
August 3, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Malaka — Thanks so much for noticing my question and sending it over to the facebook wall. It’s been great seeing all of the feedback today.
-Lori
August 15, 2010 at 5:41 pm
for Haiti
One Half An Island
or Haiti Moringa
One half an island floating so near
close to the world now they see never hear
maybe we’re hiding maybe we’re cold
forever together looking for gold
walking to dance singing to die
wonder to faith red butterfly
don’t look at me now……….
cuz I’ll turn away………..
fighting my tears……….
I have nothing to say………..
But I love,…. what you’ve done…. flowers discreet
quakes may be gone………. but never the heat
beaches and deserts shedding the pain
look what we paid for ten minute rain
One half an island floating away
maybe tomorrow never today
wading through bodies tearing the sand
blood oven drying tiles the land
hills that go hunting trying to swim
hammer and nails writing a hymn
shock to the teeth grimace for pain
memories lost heaviness wane
tapping on lead leftover burn
search around soul sleeping in turn
don’t look at us now…….
cuz you’ll turn away……..
more than here dying…….
still learning to pray…..
But I love, what you’ve done….. stones in the air
big letter written……. whenever not care
traps find the hunger cry in the night
steal in the city darker than white
One half an island floating no more
hung up on star dust jupiter’s shore
no other lovers lost in the art
water green flowing looks out the heart
beautiful people where will you go
surfing on concrete heaven to show
But I love, what you’ve done…….. seven days made
sinking on summer…… loneliness shade
angels now weeping turn on the mirror
calling to orphans peace is now here
don’t think of us now……..
cuz you’ll never see……
haiti moringa……
invisible tree…….
by Jerry Retzlaff January 22, 2010
August 23, 2010 at 8:37 am
piz contact me.
October 26, 2010 at 11:34 am
this could help alot of people in need of that.