Mapping 4 Peace
This project will use open source mapping technologies to create a virtual dialogue space that supports peacebuilding in places where geography, identity/culture and resources are all factors in violent conflict. Important for this project is an engaged civil society as well as an "official" level peace process.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Jonathan
Last Name
Rudy
Country
United States, PA, Lancaster County
Section 2: About Your Organization
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Organization Name
Organization Website
Organization Phone
Organization Address
Organization Country
How long has this organization been operating?
Less than a year
Is your organization a
Not registered
Your idea
Name your project.
Mapping 4 Peace
Describe Your Idea
This project will use open source mapping technologies to create a virtual dialogue space that supports peacebuilding in places where geography, identity/culture and resources are all factors in violent conflict. Important for this project is an engaged civil society as well as an "official" level peace process.
Country your work focuses on
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
Mapping 4 Peace allows parties in conflict to articulate their culture, values, history and world view in such a way that differences in expression can form the basis for contrast and discussion. Utilizing a web-based Geographical Information System that supports map layering on a detailed scale, this project will enable parties to peacefully express their views while clearly highlighting conflict issues. These highlighted issues can then form the framework for the peaceful resolution of these issues.
The project includes getting parties who are in conflict to input their unique data into the map using technology. Some areas where these conflicts are in full force are devoid of the internet resources to do real-time input, thus GPS-based cameras and audio/video recording are ways to capture the wisdom of elders by youth who know how, or could be taught how, to use these technologies. The populated map will be used at a national peace panel level as a technical resource. The map will be useful as well at the community/grassroots level as a resource for sustainable peace. An additional benefit of this project would be the creation of an open source human terrain database of social groupings (tribes/clans/gangs/castes/sects/denominations) that has not been previously been available. The project would use extensive linking to disparate information already available on the web but not collected in one place.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
Tell us about the social impact of your innovation. Please include both numbers and stories as evidence of this impact
This innovation creates an infrastructure that aims to map ancestral domain (identity tied to place, borders/boundaries and land ownership), cultural heritage, value systems, and world view, overlaid on an open source map; the differences that often produce violent conflict with another group in geographical proximity can then be held in the light of the public domain thus stimulating discussion rather than fighting. The act of gathering this data will be the task of the youth in any given tribe/community, necessitating their cooperation and listening to the elders. This generates youth development and leadership while at the same time preserving culture. The information generated will be a resource to conflict resolution mechanisms at a national and local level, thus enhancing security for vulnerable populations normally displaced by violent conflict.
Problem
Violent conflict reduces dialogue space between communities on different sides of the 'battle lines.' The issues at the heart of the conflict get little attention as parties focus on traumatic incidents, crises and immediate security concerns. Dialogue space for understanding differences in ancestral domain (identity tied to place, borders/boundaries and land ownership), cultural heritage, value systems, and world view is limited in highly contested areas.
Actions
The first task is to find and/or modify a web Geographical Information system (GIS) application that supports map layering on a detailed scale. This GIS application must also include the ability for parties in conflict to be able to articulate their culture, values, history and world view in a way that the differences in expression are shown in contrast to parties of the conflict and thus form the basis for discussion of the conflict issues. The second phase of this project includes motivating parties who are in conflict to input their unique data into the map. This phase has a technological aspect in that some areas where these conflicts are in full force are devoid of the internet resources to do real time input. GPS-based cameras and audio/video recording are ways to capture the wisdom of elders by youth who know how to use these technologies. Training on the use of these technologies would be part of phase two. The third phase is for the populated map to be used at a track 1 peace panel level as a technical resource. The map will be useful as well at the community/grassroots level as the basis of discussions, a necessity for sustainable peace.
Results
Over the next three years this project will be piloted in Mindanao, Philippines so as to be usable in any area where conflict is prevalent. For Mindanao conflict has cultural, religious, resources, territorial integrity, property ownership, and historical precedent components. Markers for success include extent of map population, value as a national level peace process technical resource, and amount of dialogue traffic on the map website. For year one the technical aspects would be completed in that the web site is set up, people are trained in populating the site. Year two would see the web site being populated and beginning to be used as a technical resource by the official peace process. Year three would see the various groups in conflict showing signs of understanding the other parties in the conflict.
How many people will your project serve annually?
More than 10,000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
If so, how?
Parties in a conflict often do not have a clear understanding of the cultural heritage, value systems and world view of their opponent. By offering this information to the general public, civil society can pressure governments to prioritize peace process in a way that respectfully addresses differences and diversity. Local governments will also have a resource that is available to understand the diversity within their jurisdictions to assist in their making fair and equitable decisions regarding resource allocation and development projects. For Mindanao this is critical because land and resource use decisions are often made without deference to local residence and their ways of life thus spawning conflict.
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Idea phase
Does your organization have a board of directors or an advisory board?
Does your organization have any non monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non monetary partnerships with businesses?
Does your organization have any non monetary partnerships with government?
Please tell us more about how partnerships could be critical to the success of your innovation.
I have been a facilitator at the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) for 10 years. I tested this idea in May 2010 and received a warm welcome for this idea. The network of NGO relationships I have in Mindanao and who are affiliated with MPI will be called on to use their networks to gain support for choosing a location for pilot testing this idea.
We would like to learn more about how your initiative is financially supported. Please explain your business plan/revenue model
This is still an idea awaiting resources to move it to the pilot stage.
A Changemakers grant would attract others interested, be they technical or benefit communities, making this idea become reality.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
This idea is the culmination of my 15 + years of peacebuilding and work in less-developed countries. Peace processes often lack technical details as well as civil society input into those process and this is a way to have the grassroots voice speak to multiple layers of peacebuilding.
Tell us about the social innovator—the person—behind this idea.
I am a big picture thinker, always trying to connect ideas and people and resources. I am striving for inner peace while using the techniques of nonviolence, peacebuilding and reconciliation to achieve some measure of social/global peace. I have lived Asia and Africa as well as the USA.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Through another organization or company
If through another source, please provide the information.
Peace and Collaborative Development Network
Additional
Which (if any) of the following strategies apply to your organization or company (check as many as apply)
Formalizing and documenting property rights (i.e. titling, leasing or certification), Developing/applying technology for surveying, mapping and documenting property rights, Other.
Please explain how your work furthers one or many of the above strategies (if you selected “other”, please explain your strategy)
This project includes documenting land claims and will clarify where disputes over ownership lie while developing ways to make that information public. Critical for project success is the use of commonly available technologies for data collection, including GPS/Camera and audio/video. Other benefits include development of an open source map linked human terrain library.
- Login to post new content in this forum.
Comments
You mention open source mapping technologies, I'm curious about what set of tools you are looking at to help you meet this challenge? It's an exciting landscape currently, especially with mobile mapping tools becoming more accessible.
Jon thanks for the comment. I am just beginning to scope out what is possible with some colleagues so don't yet know if there is anything out there that does what we want. So far I have checked out ArcGIS and of course Google Earth but not in enough detail to know if they are flexible enough.
Are you involved in GIS and peace mapping?
I wish I could say I was involved directly, but I can certainly point out some great starting points. Definitely take a look at Ushahidi/CrowdMap , which gathers locational data from SMS/email/web postings (used in Haiti, and a gazillion other disaster/election/dev/peace projects).
Best of luck!
In addition to Jon's suggestions, thought you might also want to reference an interesting initiative rolled out by the UN: Global Pulse (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/). Their goal is to map real-time data, innovations, emerging technologies to narrow the information gap across the development sector, and identify actionable opportunities for improvement and change. Hope this is helpful.
Tito thanks for the heads up. This would be a valuable resource as this idea develops. I can see lots of connections between local communities and agreements and initiatives at a national/international level.
Mr.Jonathan,i must say that your project is very interesting.however i could like to know more about your government's response.
Edward:
Thanks for reading my proposal. Could you say more about government response?
I envision this resource being used in an informal way thus, for example, government peace panels might reference information that was gathered and posted but not formally acknowledge it as a source. This is all in theory and would have to be generated by the site being used fully.
Hi. Thank you for sharing your idea. I have a few questions.
1) What is your strategy after populating a map? Are you going to provide consistent training to local people how to read/update a map and utilize the map for the conflict resolution?
2) Do people who know technologies get paid by helping with GPS?
3) Are you planning to develop social entrepreneurial quality or depend on grants/donations?
Thanks!
Saeko thanks for the good questions. I was thinking about populating the map at first by doing a pilot of a few groups that have the distinct identity. It would involve working to develop the power of the tool and then seeing if ownership can be established. There would be a series of trainings to test the validity and buy-in then having persons within that group providing the data collection by whatever means is most practical.
In terms of the sustainability of this, since it has a technical support component to the track 1 peace process, I would anticipate grants would be a major source of input. However, you do raise an interesting question about the social entrepreneurial nature of the tool which may lead to a greater buy in. This would only be possible if some niche was found since the social media sites are already pervasive and attractive.
Thanks for reading my proposal. I hope to do some more work on it before the deadline.
peace...jon
Hi. Thank you for sharing your idea. I have a few questions.
1) What is your strategy after populating a map? Are you going to provide consistent training to local people how to read/update a map and utilize the map for the conflict resolution?
2) Do people who know technologies get paid by helping with GPS?
3) Are you planning to develop social entrepreneurial quality or depend on grants/donations?
Thanks!
Post new comment