In this episode, I chat with Angela Oduor Lungati, the CEO of Ushahidi. Ushahdi is a mobile platform dubbed “Africa’s Gift to Silicon Valley” by the New York Times. Born out of a crisis, the open-source software enables virtually anyone with a cellphone or internet connection to efficiently crowdsource information, map it and share it with those the most in need and guide those who can provide aid. Ushahidi is a powerful planning and decision-making tool for communities and cities in the midst of an emergency and has been used by groups worldwide to track everything from COVID-19 recovery to police brutality and everything in between. 

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • how Ushahidi has been leveraged by communities and governments worldwide, 
  • how to keep communities at the center of innovation, 
  • and much more!

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Guest: Angela Oduor Lungati, Ushahidi

Angela is a technologist, community builder and open-source software advocate who is passionate about building and using appropriate technology tools to impact the lives of marginalised groups. She currently serves as the Executive Director at Ushahidi, a global non-profit technology company that helps communities quickly collect and share information that enables them to raise voices, inform decisions and influence change. She’s also a co-founder of AkiraChix, and serves on the Board of Directors of Creative Commons.

Timestamps

  • 5:17 | Can you walk me through the process of using the platform?
  • 8:32 | Who are the typical users of Ushahidi actually creating the deployments vs the people using it?
  • 9:47 | How does Ushahidi make the software accessible to both those collecting the data and those viewing the final maps?
  • 12:58 | What have been some of the challenges of getting communities to actually use the platform and take part in this crowd-sourcing process?
  • 16:44 | Can you share some examples of projects that have been created by Ushahidi that you find particularly noteworthy?
  • 22:54 | Why is crowd-sourcing data important for city builders?
  • 24:47 | What do you think city-builders should consider in ensuring that the smart cities of today don’t leave anyone behind?
  • 26:56 | What kind of policies or partnerships do you think cities/ governments can provide to organizations like yourself to expand the reach of your work?
  • 28:47 | What's next for Ushahidi?
  • 30:52 | How can people support the work that you’re doing?

Show Notes

Sources

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning. 

The School of Cities "convenes urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities and urban regions more sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and just". To learn more about the School of Cities visit www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca. 

To learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning and the different undergraduate and graduate programs available please visit www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Support
  • Editor and Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
  • Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

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