CityMapper Externship 2026 UNGSC UN MAPPERS in Cameroon (first cohort)
Дата публикации: 22-06-2026 12:44:24
Hello OpenStreetMappers!
I am particularly proud to share with you today the complete results and highlights of the very first edition of the CityMapper Externship, held from April 10 to May 10, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Within the framework of the UN MAPPERS chapters initiative pilot project, I had the honor, as Ambassador, to lead this training, empowerment, and open data utilization initiative by young Africans to solve our challenges and improve the global map. This intensive immersion program was designed to train a new generation of urban mappers while producing open, sustainable, and high-quality geospatial data for our cities.
🛠️ One Month of Immersion: From Virtual Sprints to the Field
Over four weeks, around thirty young people from French-speaking Africa (15 in-person in Yaoundé and 20 participating online from Togo, Senegal, and France) followed a progressive and intense path:
Initial Training: Mastering core open mapping tools (JOSM, HOT Tasking Manager, Mapillary, EveryDoor).
Remote Sprints: Mapping buildings and road networks across 8 HOT Tasking Manager projects linked to humanitarian missions.
Field Collection: Mapping the University of Yaoundé I campus and the city streets using EveryDoor and Mapillary.
Training session in April 11, 2026, held at Yaoundé Diver City Space.
Thanks to this incredible collective energy, our cohort generated over 86,119 OSM edits and mapped 70,633 buildings! The relevance of this work is measured by its immediate, real-world impact: these quality datasets are already feeding the local UrbanSanity platform to optimize waste management planning and guide the placement of 60 waste bins for nearly 12,000 residents in Yaoundé.
🤝 Strategic Partners at the Core of the Action
This initiative would certainly not have seen the light of day without the support of our partners who contributed heavily to its design and implementation. I would like to acknowledge them in the following order:
IVIDES DATA
GEOSM FAMILY
Geospatial Girls & Kids (GGK)
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)
TOMTOM
On the methodological front, our collaboration with Dr. Raquel Dezidério Souto greatly strengthened the scientific rigor of the project. Her technical involvement and her experience-sharing—notably through her feedback on the African geospatial ecosystem published in her OSM diary—provided a solid foundation to guide the cohort’s efforts.
Launch of the CityMapper Externship on 10 April 2026, Yaoundé Diver City Space.
🚀 Next Steps
The success of this pilot project paves the way for a larger-scale deployment. Our roadmap is outlined as follows:
Geographical Replication: Expanding the program to the cities of Douala, Bafoussam, and Bamenda in Cameroon, before supporting pilot chapter initiatives in Kenya, India, and Argentina.
Technical Advancement: Transitioning participants from data creation to advanced expert-validator skills on OSM.
UN Mappers Incubator: Supporting cohort alumni in developing local tech solutions addressing sanitation, water access, and public health challenges.
The complete open deployment guide remains fully accessible to any OSM community looking to replicate this model.
📖 Explore our Deployment Guide on the OSM Wiki
📸 Access the official Photo Album
Thank you all, and long live open, community-driven mapping led by African youth!
Modo Levo Engelbert Steve
UN Maps Ambassador – Cameroon & Project Coordinator
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