Strengthening Community Participation Around HIV/AIDS Vulnerability Through

Open Source Mapping in the Kibera Slum

A Mid-Pilot Update

Tuesday, June 7th, 2010UNICEF- Kenya

Joshua Goldsteinjgoldstein@unicef.org

Background

Initial Goal: Demonstrate how digital maps and mobile applications can increase understanding that vulnerable girls and young women have to the risks of sexual violence and as a result reduce HIV/AIDS transmission

Conceived by UNICEF HQ DOC in collaboration with HIV/AIDS section in January 2010

Why Kibera?High vulnerability: 60% of girls afraid of

being raped; 47% afraid of someone in neighborhood; only 25% have a safe space in community (POP Council, 2007)

Map Kibera, a youth-led initiative to create the first free map of Kibera, has been underway since October 2009

General indicators: estimated 600,000 residents is 2.5 sq. km, among people age 5+, HIV/AIDS and TB account for 50% of mortality burden

Phase I: Initial Mapping Phase October – December 2010

13 mappers (one from each village), ranging from age 19-34, with 5 young women and 8 young men who were established leaders

Using GPS devices (Garmin eTrex, consumer grade) mapped points of interest

Using Java OpenStreetMap application, results uploaded to Open Street Map, the wikipedia of maps

Vision was to create not just a one-off map, but engaged community around open and shared information

Phase II : Linking Mapping with Issue Advocacy

March 2010- July 2010

In consultation with UNICEF-Kenya and local partner SODNET, expanded to scope to collect not only vulnerability, but also health services, informal education and water/sanitation data points

2-6 Community map tracing exercises (per theme) incorporating 20 youth groups and grassroots organizations (200 participants) to engage with map using tracing paper and pens

OSM Kibera

Detail

Preliminary FindingsAmplifying Community Voice for Better Planning +

Policy Making (examples from the vulnerability/safety theme)

Comprehensive map of existing safe spacesPlaces where bars correlates with a lack of safe spaces for

girls; Places where young girls (13-24) spend weekend nights,

where their friends have experienced violence, Known danger points where carjacking, rape and defilement

are most likely to take place (Ayany Bridge, Nairobi Dam)

Personal Impact on Youth ParticipantsNew GPS and computer skills; the GIS experts of KiberaImproved self confidence and personal development

Findings cont. Tools for Grassroots Leaders to Self-Advocate for Improved

Services (From Predictability to Emergence)Safety/Vulnerability

Local network of GBV responders using map and potentially SMS short code to better coordinate legal, physo-social and medical response to GBV emergencies;

Binti Pamoja, a girls safety network, is utilizing map to plan improved safe spaces and advocate for a more secure Kibera in specific locations where violence takes place;

Informal Education The network of pastors that lead Kibera’s informal schools are

using the map to show which schools meet the Government criterion for community school funding.

KCODA, a local transparency network, is developing a group of community monitors to map the difference between constituency development funds (CDF) regarding education on paper and in reality.

Challenges

Technology: getting online, understanding technology, lack of access

Economics: challenges of volunteerism, paying for participation, and impact of NGO saturation

Organizations: Information silos and competitive tendency

Applying Methodology to Other Programmatic Areas

Questions to Ask

Would a Real-Time Map With Deep Information of Community Assets Help Planning and Achievement of Results?

Can Community Owned Data Lead to Better Self-Advocacy for Improved Services Amongst Young People and Grassroots Leaders?

Next Steps

Continue to Collect Theme Related Narratives and Data

Kibera: Help Youth and Grassroots Leaders to Leverage Digital Technology in Their Advocacy Campaigns Around Relevant Themes

Kenya: Present Findings to National AIDS Control Council (NACC) and National AIDS/STD Controlle Programme (NASCOP)

UNICEF HQ: Apply Methodology to Haiti to Amplify the Voices of Young People in Long Term Rebuilding

Questions?