By Eunice Mwaura, Vice Versa Global
“It is important to maintain and observe ethics in mapping, collecting and packaging data. This has proven to be quite a challenge. Around 30% researchers and academia – that's all – return to the communities researched to confirm and share data collected in these places”. To face it head on and understand how to deal with this issue, we spoke with Nicera Wanjiru, a young activist who works to transform her community in defense of the right to community control of their own data and information.
Our story begins in Kibera, arguably the largest informal settlement in Africa in terms of population per square kilometer. This scenario makes it susceptible to problems such as sexual violence, gender violence, crime and drug abuse. With the most basic needs like water and sanitation being considered a privilege, Nicera seeks to overcome this through proper planning. She created a foundation, Community Mappers, which uses data to improve the quality of life among members of her community.
The data and mapping process
We met in Kibera at around 2pm, at a community market, as agreed. As we walked down a long stretch of alleys and residential blocks, we talked. “This is where we meet every Thursday,” she said. “Before going out to collect data, we do a mapping to identify the regions with the most serious problems in our community. This initial draft (she points to a whiteboard) represents the areas in Kibera that suffer most from rampant crime, sexual and gender-based violence. After identifying them, we conducted research throughout the mapped areas. Finally, we compiled the findings.”
How is data the new currency?
“What do you mean when you say data is the new currency?” I ask her. “When I say this, I mean that communities cannot be developed without working with data and mapping. Thanks to data we have been successful in putting pressure on political authorities to meet our basic needs, such as schools, water and sanitation. An example of the role that data has played in Kibera is what has happened during this period of COVID”, he adds. “The current pandemic has had a huge impact on the community. Many people have lost their jobs, which makes them, along with their families, more vulnerable to various social problems, including hunger.”
“I clearly remember when there was a stampede during a food distribution by a benefactor. Many people suffered serious injuries. Women and children, crying, panting, searching for what might be the only meal they'd had in a long time. Many people knock on the door asking for help with basic necessities almost every day. This motivated us to carry out a needs assessment survey. I am proud to say that we managed to collect food for 250 families after publishing our data”, she says. “It is impossible to exert political pressure for development without evidence of scarcity. Only through mapping and data are we able to identify these needs.”
GIS Labs in Kenya
According to research by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), only 5 of the 47 counties that administratively make up the country have established GIS (Geographical Information System) laboratories. Some counties are in the process of installing units, and four of them not only do not have them but are not even considering doing so. This is a sad statistic, as GIS is a rapidly expanding and evolving technique that has become an essential tool in planning. It can determine and meet planning needs and bridge the gap between the present and the future we want. The necessary legislation was approved a long time ago, but the supporting resources – hardware, software, human resources and data – are still scarce.
Investment in GIS structures in counties must consider all four components, instead of just focusing on the acquisition of hardware. The fact that most counties do not have the capacity to acquire, much less use, this technology has led local governments to contract outsourced services. In practice, this means that the data collected is not guaranteed. Partnerships are the key to success in this scenario, where, for example, counties can offer internship opportunities, and universities can train their employees.
Partnership between researchers and the community
“It is important to maintain and observe ethics in mapping, collecting and packaging data. This has proven to be quite a challenge. Around 30% researchers and academia – that's all – return to the communities researched to confirm and share data collected in these places. When these findings are not verified or shared with the communities involved, it is impossible to identify problems in the data. This makes me reflect on the role of researchers and academia in the development of research and communities. How can the public trust, support and participate in research if the process is not transparent?” ponder.
“Surprisingly, researchers hire data collectors without even informing them what use they will give to the data. Yesterday I organized a meeting with young women who brought up troubling issues. They said that whenever they hear someone knocking on the door, they are almost certain that it is someone else who has just come to ask questions. Some even expel them. It is time for researchers and academia to value the presence of the community. They exist to be heard, not to be used.”
The future is promising
“But it is not all darkness and destruction, for the winds of change are blowing gradually but surely. Through partnerships with NGOs, we are able to practice a bottom-up (from bottom to top) in collecting and packaging data”. Community engagement is promoted during this process, with the community being invited to take part in the research. We have also been able to share a significant portion of the data with the local government, who are grateful and responsive. The geospatial environment has also opened up and shown itself to be more welcoming to people from informal settlements”.
“I never thought I would be a speaker at one of the international geospatial platforms held in Romania in 2019. Through these forums, I was able to represent and fight for a better society. I long for the day when communities learn to collect and own their own data. A day when they will position themselves in front of external organizations, taking the lead to tell them what they want, and not just have their needs determined by others. We also collaborate with researchers and academia in an effort to improve the quality of their research and the quality of life of my community”, he concludes.
For more information: www.communitymappers.com
You can follow Nicera on Twitter via #CommunityMapper or reach it through nicerawanjiruk@gmail.com
Photos: Beryl Achieng
Originally published at: https://viceversaonline.nl/2021/03/03/data-the-new-currency-in-africa/
