The organization's insights were shared during the State of the Map Rwanda 2024 Conference, held on November 29, 2024, under the theme 'Empowering Rwanda's Future: Innovations for a Resilient and Sustainable Tomorrow.'
The conference brought together various stakeholders, including university professors, students, and Eco-Mappers' partners, to explore the potential of GIS in driving sustainable development and resilience in Rwanda.
Jeanette Rebecca Nyinawumuntu, CEO of Eco-Mappers Rwanda, underscored the organization's commitment to environmental and wildlife conservation. She explained that one of their key initiatives is training young people in GIS technology, enabling them to use platforms like OpenStreet Tools to collect and report critical data from their communities.
'Our goal is to equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to capture and present valuable information about their local environments using technology,' Nyinawumuntu said.
In the Nyabihu District, specifically in the Shyira Sector, youth are already actively using GIS tools to collect and share data about their communities, helping to highlight local challenges such as health concerns, landslide risks, and environmental issues.
Erias Nyandwi, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda and head of the GIS research department, emphasized the importance of effective mapping systems in addressing climate change-related disasters. He explained how GIS helps monitor real-time events such as heavy rainfall, which could signal potential landslides or floods.
'When residents observe heavy rainfall, they can send the data via their phones to a GIS system, which analyzes it and provides immediate insights. If there's a risk of a landslide, we can offer timely assistance,' Nyandwi said.
The integration of GIS into health monitoring was also highlighted during the conference. Nyandwi noted that community health workers, stationed in villages across Rwanda, send daily updates about health conditions via text messages.
When this information is processed through GIS systems, it provides valuable insights that can guide public health responses.
IGIHE