1. Engaging NGOs in geospatial initiatives using FOSS4G for improved development work at various scales Marc Delgado and Frank Canters Vrije Universiteit Brussel BELGIUM

2. Grassroots-led real-time disaster reporting http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=115956470311312588880.000474a230d17e01a3021&ie=UT%20F8&z=13

3. NGOs in the Philippines 1986: Return of democratic government 1992: UN Conference on Environment and Development Over 3,000 NGOs (2007 estimate) Working Themes -Poverty reduction -Political reform advocacy -Environmental management

4. NGOs have started using Geospatial Technologies, but its use is hampered by: Lack of technical skills. Sustaining financial resources.

5. FOSS4G as a way to face these challenges!

6. Case study from 3 Projects National: Poverty mapping Institutional: Targeting sites for water taps Community: Natural resource management

7. Framework of the Projects Researcher NGO PO Community GIS Innovation Skills training Local Knowledge, data gathering Research Experience Community trust Funding sources Administrative support Access to national databases Funding sources

8. Participatory GIS (PGIS) Integration of local knowledge and stakeholders perspectives in GIS. The core of PGIS is participation through trainings and other capacity-building activities. Local stakeholders as true owners and stewards of spatial information and its management.

9. FOSS4G tools used Digitization of paper maps: Wintopo version 1.7 Management of GPS data: DNR-Garmin version 5.4.1 GIS-based activities: Mapwindow GIS ver 4.6 Easy to use? 78 % Yes 88% Yes 82% Yes 22% No 12% No 18% No

10. Scaling the Projects Number of Stakeholders Geographic extent Institutional Community National 10 GIS users 6 GIS users 2 GIS users Basic characteristics of our stakeholders: -Non-geographers. -Low to medium computer users (Windows-based). -Development workers facing real-world problems.

11. Scaling the issues: Building FOSS4G skills with trainings Institutional Community National Man hours in a month 1500 hours 600 hours 240 hours Duration of trainings (man hours)

12. Scaling the issues: Data requirements and accessibility Primary data (Survey, interviews, etc.) InstitutionalCommunityNational Secondary Data (from journals, publications, etc.) National Census databases Maps in digital format Non-existence of spatial data infrastructure make it difficult to acquire maps! red-tape

13. Funding for GIS projects is crucial. Doh. -Homer Simpson

14. Project Budget: Business as usual scenario Hardware Costs 30% Data acquisition & processing 30% Training & data Management 5% Software costs 35% Software costs takes up 30-35% Training and data management gets the least priority.

15. Project Budget: Using FOSS4G scenario Hardware Costs 30% Data acquisition & processing 30% Data Management 15% Training 25% Focus on training of potential users. Data management is separately funded. Sustainability of projects is extended as costs are re-directed to building capacity.

16. Scaling the issues: Sustainability Institutional Community National Years 2 years 1 year Planned duration of the projects (without FOSS4G) 6 months

17. Scaling the issues: Sustainability Institutional Community National Years 4 th year 2 nd year Current duration of the projects (with FOSS4G) 28 th month

18. Lessons Learned 1. Geospatial requirements vary in terms of: - skills-training requirements. - data requirements and acquisition. - sustainability. 2. The use if FOSS4G tools can help sustain the projects by - minimising costs on software. - re-focusing efforts on training and data management.

19. Lessons Learned 3. Building spatial data infrastructures is important to access to spatial information. 4. Funding sources to support GIT work is crucial, but using FOSS4G can be used as a leverage when applying for financial support. 5. Sustainability of GIT Projects rely on commitment of stakeholders, not just on the availability of FOSS4G tools.

20. Thank you very much! mdelgado@vub.ac.be