Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders in English, is an independent humanitarian organisation that provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare.
Usage of OpenStreetMap data
MSF is using OpenStreetMap data in almost all of its maps. Several of their maps can be found on Reliefweb. MSF staffers are also large users of mobile apps using OpenStreetMap, such as OsmAnd and Organic Maps. You can read some of their user stories on the Missing Maps blog.
Contributions to OpenStreetMap
MSF contributes to OpenStreetMap under the flag of the Missing Maps Project. The organisation relies mostly on volunteer mappers and does not have an internal mapping team that systematically updates OpenStreetMap as part of their job. The coordination of all MSF its mapping is done by 2 FTE positions based at MSF UK & MSF Czech Republic.
Editing the map
Most remote mapping happens through the HOT Tasking Manager. Find all MSF projects here.
Field data is collected with help of different tools: Osmand, Organic Maps, Kobotoolbox, Field Papers, etc.
We use the hashtag #MSF or tag source=MSFsurvey for all our projects.
Software
In 2016 MSF launched MapSwipe. Currently MSF is part of the MapSwipe governance team, but the app is managed as a collaboration between multiple Missing Maps stakeholders.
Financial contribution
MSF was sponsor for 2 State of the Map conferences.
- State of the Map 2016 in Brussels, Belgium
- State of the Map Asia 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh
MSF contributes every year as well financially to the HOT Tasking Manager and the MapSwipe Open Collective.
Community building
MSF tries to bring mappers together everywhere they work. From the organisation and support to mapathons and training in Moscow, Singapore and Prague - to mapping sessions and events with mapping communities in Freetown, Dhaka and Rio de Janeiro.