OMDTZ 2024 Highlights and Reflections
Written by Aisha Hamis
OMDTZ celebrated 7 years since incorporation in December. As we step into 2025, we reflect on key milestones and initiatives in 2024 that shaped our work and impact. Here’s a look back at OMDTZ 2024 highlights
Winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize
In October 2024, OMDTZ was announced among 31 Zayed Sustainability finalists with approximately 5,980 submissions from 156 countries and ultimately crowned the winner of the Climate Action category during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. This recognition results from OMDTZ’s commitment to integrating local knowledge, geospatial data, and open technologies for climate resilience. The prize grant will be used to further create disaster-resilient communities in Dar es Salaam, Pwani, and Morogoro by ensuring geodata and community information are accessible to those who respond and develop disaster action plans. More details on the sub-projects of the prize will be shared.
OMDTZ is Hosting State of the Map Africa 2025
OMDTZ will be hosting the State of the Map Africa 2025 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania! The conference brings together mapping enthusiasts, geospatial experts, and community leaders across Africa and beyond. Drawing on our experience from hosting a successful State of the Map Tanzania in 2023, this event will showcase the power of open data and OSM in humanitarian development and more. If you want to get involved in the organization of the event, please reach out to sponsor@stateofthemap.africa
2024 Highlight Projects
Solid Waste Management Projects
Over the years, we have collaborated with the World Bank Tanzania to create different datasets for cities and climate resilience. In 2024, we conducted a baseline data collection for solid waste services in Dar es Salaam, covering 43 wards of the city. We were able to create data that will be used for strategic options for solid waste management in Dar es Salaam and efforts to localize service provision based on the nature of the neighborhood. In a similar aspect, we also partnered with Taka ni Ajira Foundation to leverage our diverse expertise and work together in exploring innovative solutions for waste management
Anticipatory Action in Mnyamani
Flooding presents significant challenges for residents of Mnyamani Ward, Dar es Salaam. The risks are heightened by poor drainage systems, rapid urbanization, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. To address these issues, CartONG partnered with Open Map Development Tanzania (OMDTZ), with funding from the H2H Network, to pilot an innovative solution aiming at strengthening community-led anticipatory actions, empowering residents to better prepare for and respond to flooding events. The project combined local knowledge with advanced tools to enhance flood preparedness, streamline early warning systems, and improve coordination among stakeholders. Read a full case study here prepared by our partner, CartONG.
The 360° Street View and Intensive Remote Mapping project
OMDTZ in collaboration with Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology (HeiGIT), Mapillary, and TOMTOM worked to advance street-level mapping in Dar es Salaam, covering 18 wards and 715 km to enhance OpenStreetMap data for urban planning and disaster response and waste management. The project fosters community-driven data collection and aims to expand citywide, integrating automation and AR/VR for better decision-making and resilience planning — read more about this work here.
OMDTZ collaborated with HOT, TURP, and SDI to conduct mapping and settlement profiling in Mwanza and provided drone imagery, trained local partners to use data-driven solutions for addressing urban challenges. The initiative was to support the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI Tanzania) that is preparing and organizing a project to upgrade the geospatial and household data to represent community interests in direct upgrading work and advocacy and collaboration with local authorities.
GIS Training to Support EUDR Compliance in East Africa
OMDTZ conducted a 5-day intensive GIS training for Fairtrade Africa’s coffee program team to prepare participants for compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was set to become mandatory in December 2024. The focus was on equipping participants with essential GIS skills for land use monitoring, deforestation tracking, and mobile-based data collection. Recognizing the EUDR’s stringent standards for traceable, deforestation-free agricultural products, the training addressed the critical need for reliable data and spatial tools to assist smallholder farmers and their partners.
Collaboration and Visibility/Events
Exhibition of OMDTZ Work at Digital Technology and Youth Skills at the University of Dar es Salaam
At the Geospatial Data, Digital Technologies, and Youth Skills for Social Innovations Workshop, hosted by the Resilience Academy in collaboration with the University of Dar es Salaam, we showcased how our geospatial solutions drive social impact in disaster preparedness, urban planning, waste management, and youth empowerment.
Attending GeoPalooza 4.0 in Nairobi, Kenya
In July 2024, we joined global geospatial experts at GeoPalooza 4.0 in Nairobi, organized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This is an annual event that aims to elevate the profile of geospatial approaches in global development, focusing on knowledge exchange, networking, and envisioning the future of geospatial solutions for global development.OMDTZ showcased various geospatial and open mapping solutions, including a nationwide school mapping initiative and its impact on education and food security, as well as waste management geo-solutions.
Climate Adaptation Advocacy (CBA18 Conference)
We attended the CBA18 Conference in Arusha, a conference organized by the International Institute for Environment and Development (iied) that aimed to decolonize climate action and promote locally-led innovation and adaptation. The OMDTZ team shared experience on how community-driven solutions can amplify global climate adaptation efforts, reinforcing our mission to integrate local knowledge into sustainability goals. This year, the conference will be in Recife, Brazil — more details here.
State of the Map 2024
OMDTZ team attended SOTM 2024, where we connected with fellow OpenStreetMap enthusiasts, shared our insights, and gathered valuable knowledge to enhance our work. The event was an incredible opportunity to showcase our projects and learn from global leaders in the geospatial community. OMDTZ presented on different topics including bulky data export from OSM, Low-cost 360 mapping of Dar es Salaam using customized tricycles, supporting women in GIS, and integration of external data into OSM. Additionally, we joined the global OpenStreetMap community to celebrate 20 years of collaborative mapping by hosting an in-person Mapathon in Dar es Salaam. The next State of the Map 2025 will be hosted in Manila, check out their website for info: https://2025.stateofthemap.org/
Community engagement
Celebrating Women in Geospatial and mapping for change
OMDTZ, in collaboration with Map Zambia, OSM Uganda, and Build a Woman, hosted a webinar to highlight women’s contributions to geospatial technology and inspire the next generation of innovators. Wrapping up with a special Mapathon focused on mapping areas affected by early marriages, empowering participants to use geospatial tools for advocacy
Validation Workshops
OMDTZ hosted a 2-day Validation Workshop in Dar es Salaam on Baseline Data Collection for Solid Waste Services. Working alongside key stakeholders, we reviewed the collected data, identified challenges, and addressed data gaps, all to improve data collected for waste management across the city.
OMDTZ remains dedicated to creating lasting impacts through mapping, open data, and technology. Thank you for being part of our journey — let’s make 2025 a year of even greater achievements and collaboration! If you are interested in collaborating with us through our work, events, training, etc — reach out via info@omdtz.or.tz
