Mobile Phone Applications for WASH Issues
Summary
Map Action is an interactive map accessible via a mobile application that relies on citizen participation to identify, monitor, and assess WASH and environmental issues across Bamako, Mali. The app collects, analyzes, and submits data to government actors and development partners to facilitate informed urban and environmental management decision-making and implement concrete, actionable solutions to identified issues. Work is underway to expand the app to other cities in Mali and across West Africa.
Across Bamako, a fast-growing city in West Africa, there is a notable lack of reliable and up-to-date data on the state and impact of WASH and broader environmental issues. Recent trends of population growth and urbanization strain Bamako's water supply and sanitation systems, and climate change threatens to worsen droughts and famines (World Bank, 2021). It is difficult for citizens to report WASH incidents and problems contributing to the spread of waterborne diseases following source water contamination (e.g., flash floods) (ACAPS, 2019; AFD, 2021). As such, coordinated responses to issues from government actors and civil society and development partners are challenging due to a lack of real-time information of problems (VIA Water, 2019).
Intervention
Launched in February 2018, Map Action, a Bamako-based start-up, has developed a real-time interactive cartography and mapping tool accessible via a similarly-named mobile phone app to monitor and assess WASH and environmental issues across the city (Springwise, 2020). The idea for the app emerged in response to Bamako's environmental degradation witnessed by Map Action Director Boubacar Keita (AFD, 2021). Map Action relies on citizens to report incidents in the mobile app to collect, analyze, and transmit data on geolocated WASH issues and propose and provide solutions to mitigate existing and future WASH issues (Malijet, 2018). Beyond reporting and cataloging WASH issues, Map Action also conducts more extensive environmental impact assessments through trained field teams, investigating the source of contaminated water and determining the severity of impact. This is then reflected in color-coded findings on the map (Space in Africa, 2020; Springwise, 2020). Development partners and city authorities then rely on the information in the app to make informed decisions and implement concrete solutions (Space in Africa, 2020).
On the app, there is a map of the city of Bamako, which lists identified problems. The map is accessible to all, and anyone can identify an issue or propose a solution (VIA Water, 2019). Data points, such as a "perforated or broken pipe", "poor rainwater or wastewater evacuation system", "water point without access to water", and "stagnant wastewater in the open", provide valuable public health information and offer actionable insights to relevant actors (Space in Africa, 2020). The app has relied on Airbus' satellite data thanks to a partnership with OneAtlas in 2020, Google Earth imagery, and drone monitoring to augment information supplied by citizens (Space in Africa, 2020).
The Ministry of Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development supports Map Action, and the government is eager to use the tool to "actively contribute to the protection of [Mali's] environment, a guarantee of prosperity and well-being for all" (Malijet, 2018). The start-up has entered contracts with several governmental, semi-governmental, and private companies to pursue data analytics in Bamako's environment sector (VIA Water, 2019). Map Action is currently receiving support from the Agence Française de Développement through mentorship and training opportunities and funding for research and development (AFD, 2021).
Challenges
Presently, two major issues facing Map Action are its scalability and the responsiveness of actors responsible for implementing solutions to identified issues. First, while the Map Action team is currently improving its algorithms and running beta tests with clients, there is a need to further develop the technology before scaling the app to other cities and countries (VIA Water, 2019; Space in Africa, 2020). Second, consideration will need to be given to municipal and national government actors' political will and ability to act, as WASH and environmental issues may not be prioritized on their agendas.
Outcomes
Digital technologies are increasingly important as they facilitate access to information and services (AFD, 2021). Between its inception in February 2018 and July 2019, Map Action reported over 600 WASH and other environmental incidents (VIA Water, 2019). A more recent estimate of total reported incidents is not readily available. Map Action fosters collaborative responses to identified problems to improve urban and environmental management by offering actionable insights and solutions to government authorities and development partners (Springwise, 2020). A strong indicator of Map Action's success has been its range of clientele, from the World Bank to local government actors (Space in Africa, 2020). Building on its success in Bamako, Map Action is looking to expand into other cities in Mali and scale up and develop technology to implement the app in other countries, such as Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso (Space in Africa, 2020).
References
Mobile Phone Applications for WASH Issues
Summary
Map Action is an interactive map accessible via a mobile application that relies on citizen participation to identify, monitor, and assess WASH and environmental issues across Bamako, Mali. The app collects, analyzes, and submits data to government actors and development partners to facilitate informed urban and environmental management decision-making and implement concrete, actionable solutions to identified issues. Work is underway to expand the app to other cities in Mali and across West Africa.
Across Bamako, a fast-growing city in West Africa, there is a notable lack of reliable and up-to-date data on the state and impact of WASH and broader environmental issues. Recent trends of population growth and urbanization strain Bamako's water supply and sanitation systems, and climate change threatens to worsen droughts and famines (World Bank, 2021). It is difficult for citizens to report WASH incidents and problems contributing to the spread of waterborne diseases following source water contamination (e.g., flash floods) (ACAPS, 2019; AFD, 2021). As such, coordinated responses to issues from government actors and civil society and development partners are challenging due to a lack of real-time information of problems (VIA Water, 2019).
Issue
Intervention
Launched in February 2018, Map Action, a Bamako-based start-up, has developed a real-time interactive cartography and mapping tool accessible via a similarly-named mobile phone app to monitor and assess WASH and environmental issues across the city (Springwise, 2020). The idea for the app emerged in response to Bamako's environmental degradation witnessed by Map Action Director Boubacar Keita (AFD, 2021). Map Action relies on citizens to report incidents in the mobile app to collect, analyze, and transmit data on geolocated WASH issues and propose and provide solutions to mitigate existing and future WASH issues (Malijet, 2018). Beyond reporting and cataloging WASH issues, Map Action also conducts more extensive environmental impact assessments through trained field teams, investigating the source of contaminated water and determining the severity of impact. This is then reflected in color-coded findings on the map (Space in Africa, 2020; Springwise, 2020). Development partners and city authorities then rely on the information in the app to make informed decisions and implement concrete solutions (Space in Africa, 2020).
On the app, there is a map of the city of Bamako, which lists identified problems. The map is accessible to all, and anyone can identify an issue or propose a solution (VIA Water, 2019). Data points, such as a "perforated or broken pipe", "poor rainwater or wastewater evacuation system", "water point without access to water", and "stagnant wastewater in the open", provide valuable public health information and offer actionable insights to relevant actors (Space in Africa, 2020). The app has relied on Airbus' satellite data thanks to a partnership with OneAtlas in 2020, Google Earth imagery, and drone monitoring to augment information supplied by citizens (Space in Africa, 2020).
The Ministry of Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development supports Map Action, and the government is eager to use the tool to "actively contribute to the protection of [Mali's] environment, a guarantee of prosperity and well-being for all" (Malijet, 2018). The start-up has entered contracts with several governmental, semi-governmental, and private companies to pursue data analytics in Bamako's environment sector (VIA Water, 2019). Map Action is currently receiving support from the Agence Française de Développement through mentorship and training opportunities and funding for research and development (AFD, 2021).
Challenges
Presently, two major issues facing Map Action are its scalability and the responsiveness of actors responsible for implementing solutions to identified issues. First, while the Map Action team is currently improving its algorithms and running beta tests with clients, there is a need to further develop the technology before scaling the app to other cities and countries (VIA Water, 2019; Space in Africa, 2020). Second, consideration will need to be given to municipal and national government actors' political will and ability to act, as WASH and environmental issues may not be prioritized on their agendas.
Outcomes
Digital technologies are increasingly important as they facilitate access to information and services (AFD, 2021). Between its inception in February 2018 and July 2019, Map Action reported over 600 WASH and other environmental incidents (VIA Water, 2019). A more recent estimate of total reported incidents is not readily available. Map Action fosters collaborative responses to identified problems to improve urban and environmental management by offering actionable insights and solutions to government authorities and development partners (Springwise, 2020). A strong indicator of Map Action's success has been its range of clientele, from the World Bank to local government actors (Space in Africa, 2020). Building on its success in Bamako, Map Action is looking to expand into other cities in Mali and scale up and develop technology to implement the app in other countries, such as Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso (Space in Africa, 2020).
Issues |
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Water Governance and Policy |
Solutions |
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Water Data, Monitoring & ICT Solutions |
References
Agence Française de Développement (AFD). (2021). Mali - Map Action, the sustainable city app. YouTube. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5oLTV4FiJ8.
Irigoyen, J. L. (2013, April 15). Toilets: There's an app for that. World Bank Blogs. Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://blogs.worldbank.org/water/toilets-there-s-an-app-for-that.
Lutte contre les Effets des Changements climatiques : Map action apporte des actions innovantes. Malijet. (2018, March 6). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from http://malijet.com/la_societe_malienne_aujourdhui/evenements_agenda_au_mali/205820-lutteeffetschangementsclimatiques.html.
Mali: Bamako Floods. ACAPS. (2019). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.acaps.org/sites/acaps/files/products/files/20190523_acaps_start_briefing_note_bamako_floods_mali.pdf.
Map Action Bamako, Mali. VIA Water. (2019, December 10). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://aquaforall.org/viawater/projects/map-action-bamako-mali.html.
Map action is leveraging Airbus' OneAtlas platform to scale its deep-tech environmental analytics solution. Space in Africa. (2020, February 20). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://africanews.space/map-action-is-leveraging-airbus-oneatlas-platform-to-scale-its-deep-tech-environmental-analytics-solution/.
Mapping app tracks water and sanitation problems. Springwise. (2020, March 13). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.springwise.com/sustainability-innovation/nonprofit-social-cause/real-time-online-urban-mapping.
MWASH: Mobile phone applications for the water, sanitation, and Hygiene Sector. Pacific Institute. (2020, May 18). Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://pacinst.org/publication/mwash-mobile-phone-applications-for-the-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-sector/.
The World Bank in Mali. World Bank. (2021, April 28). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/mali/overview#1.