Mapping a Solution for African Pastoralists

Project Concern International and UC San Diego partner to update app showing water and vegetation in Africa

SAN DIEGO—Project Concern International (PCI) and the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) will co-host a mapathon on Tuesday, April 10, to help point African pastoralists and the humanitarian community toward greener pastures.

Students from UC San Diego’s Development Club who are enrolled in masters-level Geographic Information Systems (GIS) courses will be updating maps used on PCI’s AfriScout app. AfriScout revolutionizes the way pastoralists in Africa find pasture and water for their animals using the power of satellite and mobile technology. Since the digitized road files for remote regions in Eastern Africa can be outdated or off by several kilometers, Tuesday’s event will help PCI provide more accurate information on AfriScout’s community grazing maps.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the local GIS and volunteer community to directly contribute to PCI’s efforts to empower some of the most vulnerable populations in Africa to end hunger and overcome hardship in their communities,” said Chris Bessenecker, PCI’s Vice President for Strategic Initiatives. “The mapping will also contribute to the broader humanitarian community since we will be helping to update open source road files on OpenStreetMap. Should disaster strike, humanitarian response teams can better plan their efforts in these areas.”

Event Details

• What: AfriScout Mapathon
• Who: Chris Bessenecker, PCI’s Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
• When: Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
• Where: University of California San Diego, Eleanor Roosevelt College, Computer Lab 117, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA  92093

Interested media should contact Maureen Simpson, Senior Officer of Global Communications, at 202-662-8926.

About Project Concern International (PCI): PCI’s mission is to empower people to enhance health, end hunger and overcome hardship. PCI envisions a world in which the most vulnerable people will have the power to lift themselves out of poverty and to create vital, healthy lives for their families and communities now and for the future. PCI works in 18 countries, including the United States. For more information, visit www.pciglobal.org.