--- title: Community url: "https://www.mapme-initiative.org/mapme-community/" date: 2026-01-19 modified: 2026-01-23 lastUpdated: 2026-02-02 --- # Community ![](https://www.mapme-initiative.org/_assets/processed/-gfkl9V6Z8LhGpc8tYzIM5E4LJF8t6pONupjZaW9Qvs/q:85/c:5724:3034.4827586207:fp:0.495:0.50374812593703/rt:force/w:640/h:339/fn:Y3NtX0RTQzAwNjg3X18xX19hZjMwNzIzNTM0:t/cb:67698bd53f4214a56fd5dcc953f23911e9e4ced0/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi91c2VyX3VwbG9hZC9EU0MwMDY4N19fMV8uSlBH) MAPME Community =============== The MAPME Community is a space where researchers, sector experts, impact evaluators, field organizations, and funders can meet, share experiences, propose open source tools and datasets, offer free training, and collaborate on developing new tools and guidelines for the development sector. [Join the community](#c2924) [Subscribe to the newsletter](#c3004) --- ![](https://www.mapme-initiative.org/_assets/processed/R1ETVx72wUZzsvLehoZdwHobo_ej0jmjfvA7Nxoimf0/q:85/w:388/h:259/fn:Y3NtX0RTQ0YxMzgyXzU0MDdjMzU0ZDE:t/cb:fcdbefa8cd986123dfbdcb4e540654b2691c5461/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi91c2VyX3VwbG9hZC9EU0NGMTM4Mi5KUEc) A community for what? MAPME is a community-driven initiative that connects people, fosters synergies, and jointly develops tools and solutions to support project planning, monitoring, and evaluation through Earth observation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). We bring together and support users, developers, and donors alike. The MAPME community provides a space to: - Foster synergies - Share best practices and experiences - Exchange with all members or specific groups - Ask questions, share challenges, and receive support from the community - Stay closely informed about MAPME news and activities - Discover and participate in key events and initiatives All this with the aim of: - Supporting project planning, monitoring, and evaluation through Earth observation and GIS - Leveraging geospatial data to address climate change, poverty, and environmental degradation - Strengthening collaboration in international development cooperation - Advocating for the value of open-source tools, data, and approaches ![](https://www.mapme-initiative.org/_assets/processed/qPkkHClJwjF_ntAfkbeboxXESHa9NgIA83ozlAA1bx4/q:85/w:388/h:259/fn:Y3NtX0RTQ0YxMjEwXzhhYTk5MzU4ZjU:t/cb:9530706d22d820d735f30d70d3835660f2e44d08/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi91c2VyX3VwbG9hZC9EU0NGMTIxMC5KUEc) A community for whom? Whether you are a professional, researcher, thought leader, institution, or enthusiast, the MAPME community brings together people committed to leveraging geospatial technologies and open data to address global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and environmental degradation. ### Explaining community roles ### Community Organizers **Organizers** are members who have signed the Collaboration Agreement or volunteered for structural roles. They facilitate contributor meetings, onboard new members, manage the Discord community, coordinate events and working groups, guide the community’s strategic direction, and share official updates via MAPME’s LinkedIn page. **Meeting Schedule:** Once a month — remote support session ### Community Contributors **Contributors** are anyone interested in exchanging experiences, knowledge, data, tools, methodologies, or events related to MAPME's domain (open tools, GIS, Earth Observation in development). **Meeting Schedule:** Once a month — remote support session ### Working Groups **Working groups** may be established to address specific themes or challenges (e.g. Geo4Impact events, data standards, capacity building). They are launched and facilitated by Community Organizers, and their activities, rules, and deliverables must align with the community’s Code of Conduct. **Meeting Schedule:** On purpose All MAPME community members are expected to adhere to the **Code of Conduct**, which sets out the principles and standards that ensure a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment for everyone. [Access it here](https://mapme-initiative.github.io/MAPME_Code-of-Conduct/code-of-conduct.html) ![](https://www.mapme-initiative.org/_assets/processed/FxKhqS3FLvJvK585p5C9aOQnpTgB3ZNqXD17eZepJGg/q:85/w:388/h:335/fn:Y3NtX3RldGVfODVjMGZkZTg4Mg:t/cb:6a1d715a17956d2435a44bc24a84cb93ceb1d988/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi91c2VyX3VwbG9hZC90ZXRlLmpwZWc) How to join the community? Interested in joining our contributor meetings or getting involved in a specific working group? Simply fill in the contact form and briefly explain your interest and how you would like to contribute. The MAPME Community Manager will then invite you to the next monthly contributors meeting or to the working group and grant you access to the MAPME Discord channel. In the meantime, we encourage you to follow MAPME on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about community updates, events, and opportunities. [Become part of the initiative](https://www.mapme-initiative.org/contact-1/) MAPME Quarter UpdateQuarter update MAPME Newsletter ================ A summary of news from the MAPME community MAPME GEOSPATIAL UPDATES & NEWS Community Highlights Community Strategy Validated The MAPME Organizers announces the validation of the Community Strategy, setting the direction for collaborative development. BETSAKA Project Launch Assessing environmental and socio-economic impacts of protected areas in Madagascar from 2000 to 2024. Join Our Community! Connect with researchers, practitioners, and developers worldwide [Get Involved](#) © MAPME Initiative KfW, AFD, GIZ & Partners [Website](#) | [LinkedIn](#) | [Subscribe](#) | [Unsubscribe](#) Supporting sustainable development through open geospatial tools ### Subscribe to our newsletter We continuously work on providing new data and resources. Please subscribe to our newsletter to get updates quartely or follow us on linkedIn! ### [Keep me updated](https://mapme-initiative.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c70c419e6b487f4b4f280ec53&id=ecf1a8fcc2) ### Follow us on [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mapme-initiative/?viewAsMember=true) [ ](https://www.youtube.com/@MAPME_initiative)