World Bank, Google announce map maker to monitor projects in Ghana, other countries

The  World Bank and Google January 16, 2012 announced an agreement aimed at improving the ability of developing countries to access a web-based community mapping tool and data to help better monitor public services, and improve disaster and humanitarian response efforts.

“Under this agreement, Google will provide the World Bank and its partner organizations – including governments and UN agencies – with access to Google Map Maker underlying geospatial data that includes detailed maps of more than 150 countries,” the bank said in a statement.

The statement said “Initial World Bank country offices that plan to pilot the Map Maker agreement include Ghana, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Nigeria, DRC, Moldova, Mozambique, Nepal, and Haiti.”

The Bank explains that these countries are where governments have a strong interest in supporting the use of technology and data for decision-making and community monitoring, and in encouraging projects that support government and citizen engagement in geospatial mapping.

Through this tool, the World Bank says citizens are able to directly participate in the creation of maps by contributing their local knowledge, and those additions are then reflected on Google Maps and Google Earth.

“These maps include locations like schools, hospitals, roads and water points that are critical for relief workers to know about in times of crisis, and will help NGOs, researchers, and individual citizens to more effectively identify areas that might be in need of assistance,” it added.

By Ekow Quandzie