Open Mapping Hub - Eastern and Southern Africa
Advancing community development and humanitarian response through open mapping solutions.
We are on a mission
To advocate for and actively facilitate the creation, utilization, and widespread dissemination of high-quality open map data in disaster preparedness, climate resilience & building sustainable cities.
The Open Mapping Hub - Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), was established in 2021 to better respond to the growing humanitarian needs in the region.
As of 2025, we have completed over 30 projects in Eastern and Southern Africa.
What we do
Support humanitarian response
By creating quality open map data and information to inform Anticipatory Action and Disaster Response.
Open data for decision-making
We develop and deploy mapping tools that can be used by organizations and local governments for data collection to enhance decision-making on resource allocation and service delivery.
Community Empowerment & Grants
We provide capacity development and GIS technical and non-technical support to map contributors and users through community grants. Watch an example of their impact below:
Our key projects
The hub has supported projects in Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, and more. 
Check more projects and details on Our Work page.
Our impact in numbers
| +125K | +500 | $392,665 | 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edits made to OpenStreetMap across hub activities | Volunteers trained on open mapping and GIS | Grants disbursed to project partners and community groups to advance geographical footprint and data use | Number of completed and active projects in the region since ESA Hub’s inception |
“Collaborating with the group was great because I learnt alot, having a GIS background ESA Hub gave me the chance to use my skills to help the community.”
Abisagy Nafula, Nairobi Kenya, Mapathon participant
Podcasts
Tune in to our podcasts to learn more about the incredible work our partners and volunteers are doing in the open mapping arena. Listen to their stories and insights, and gain a deeper understanding of the power of open mapping to drive positive social impact - start listening today!
Connect with us!
We’d love to hear from you! If you are interested in partnering, collaborating, or sponsoring our work, let us know!
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Office address: “The Address Building” 12th Floor, Muthangari Drive - Westlands, P.O. Box 20997-0011, Nairobi, Kenya
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Email: esahub@hotosm.org
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Social media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram