Hello, my name is Janeth Mwakisole and I’m from Tanzania.

I had the opportunity to attend the State of the Map Africa conference in Yaounde, Cameroon from 30th November to 2nd December 2023. This conference was about celebrating and showcasing the culture of open mapping in Africa. I learned a lot about the significance of open mapping in supporting sustainable community development. One of the crucial things I grasped is the value of data-based decision-making. Open data is a dependable and efficient tool, especially in communities that have limited resources. By utilizing open mapping and the information it provides, communities can make well-informed decisions that optimize their scarce resources and contribute to long-term progress.

One of the things I found particularly interesting was how open mapping can contribute to climate resilience because it is related to my career background. I also learned about waste management and how it can be improved through open mapping. Of course, there are a lot of things to share, and I have mentioned only a few of them.

During the conference, I met and connected with people from different countries in Africa and worldwide. For example, I met Geoffrey Katerrega from Uganda, Kennedy Jomokela, and Charles Chifulya from Zambia, and many more from Cameroon and other parts of the world.

I had the opportunity to moderate and participate in the panels at the conference, which was a completely new experience. I’m grateful for the chance I was given, and I believe, through what I have learned at the conference, I’ll be able to make fruitful impacts in my community and further develop my career.