Reflections on the first state of the map conference in Malawi

Patrick Ken Kalonde; Blessings Chiepa; Joshua Kacheyo; Edith Kalagho; Wonderful Kunje; Tarcizio Tobias Kalaundi; Clinton Nkolokosa; Priscilla Kapolo; Zola Manyungwa; Mphatso Ben; Faith Chimphondah; Prince Time Matope Aaron; Marvin Wandale; Precious Chisuse; Susan Chibophe; Upile Chilewani; Lemekezani Davie Mtachi; Glory Jemimah Mwamughunda; Christine Mhone; Godfrey Kandikana; Nellie Ziyenda; Gumbi Gumbi; Rachel Kumwenda Kaunda; Charles Kapachika; Geoffrey Kateregga; Fanuel Meckson Bickton

doi:10.1080/19376812.2025.2498388

Reflections on the first state of the map conference in Malawi

Patrick Ken Kalonde, Blessings Chiepa, Joshua Kacheyo, Edith Kalagho, Wonderful Kunje, Tarcizio Tobias Kalaundi, Clinton Nkolokosa, Priscilla Kapolo, Zola Manyungwa, Mphatso Ben, Faith Chimphondah, Prince Time Matope Aaron, Marvin Wandale, Precious Chisuse, Susan Chibophe, Upile Chilewani, Lemekezani Davie Mtachi, Glory Jemimah Mwamughunda, Christine Mhone, Godfrey KandikanaNellie Ziyenda, Gumbi Gumbi, Rachel Kumwenda Kaunda, Charles Kapachika, Geoffrey Kateregga, Fanuel Meckson Bickton

Faculty of Education

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

State of the Map (SotM) conferences are important events that enable OpenStreetMap (OSM) contributors and users to present and discuss their work. However, when international SotM conferences are held in the Global North countries, participation by African geospatial scientists is not guaranteed due to various barriers, including travel costs and visa restrictions. Conversely, locally held SotM conferences within Africa mitigate these barriers. Such conferences have been held in different African countries. Malawi hosted its first SotM conference in 2024 at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), bringing together its local geospatial science community to discuss the landscape of the field in the country. In this paper, we reflect on the conference’s proceedings, positive developments, opportunities, and challenges facing Malawi’s geoscience community. The paper contributes to the broader understanding of how African countries are leveraging geoscience and identifies areas for further growth and collaboration.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	426-436
Number of pages	11
Journal	African Geographical Review
Volume	44
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2025.2498388
Publication status	Published - 12 May 2025

Keywords

African geospatial sciences
knowledge exchange
Malawi GIS
SotM

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Kalonde, P. K., Chiepa, B., Kacheyo, J., Kalagho, E., Kunje, W., Kalaundi, T. T., Nkolokosa, C., Kapolo, P., Manyungwa, Z., Ben, M., Chimphondah, F., Matope Aaron, P. T., Wandale, M., Chisuse, P., Chibophe, S., Chilewani, U., Mtachi, L. D., Mwamughunda, G. J., Mhone, C., ... Bickton, F. M. (2025). Reflections on the first state of the map conference in Malawi. African Geographical Review, 44(4), 426-436. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2025.2498388

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title = "Reflections on the first state of the map conference in Malawi",

abstract = "State of the Map (SotM) conferences are important events that enable OpenStreetMap (OSM) contributors and users to present and discuss their work. However, when international SotM conferences are held in the Global North countries, participation by African geospatial scientists is not guaranteed due to various barriers, including travel costs and visa restrictions. Conversely, locally held SotM conferences within Africa mitigate these barriers. Such conferences have been held in different African countries. Malawi hosted its first SotM conference in 2024 at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), bringing together its local geospatial science community to discuss the landscape of the field in the country. In this paper, we reflect on the conference{\textquoteright}s proceedings, positive developments, opportunities, and challenges facing Malawi{\textquoteright}s geoscience community. The paper contributes to the broader understanding of how African countries are leveraging geoscience and identifies areas for further growth and collaboration.",

keywords = "African geospatial sciences, knowledge exchange, Malawi GIS, SotM",

author = "Kalonde, \{Patrick Ken\} and Blessings Chiepa and Joshua Kacheyo and Edith Kalagho and Wonderful Kunje and Kalaundi, \{Tarcizio Tobias\} and Clinton Nkolokosa and Priscilla Kapolo and Zola Manyungwa and Mphatso Ben and Faith Chimphondah and \{Matope Aaron\}, \{Prince Time\} and Marvin Wandale and Precious Chisuse and Susan Chibophe and Upile Chilewani and Mtachi, \{Lemekezani Davie\} and Mwamughunda, \{Glory Jemimah\} and Christine Mhone and Godfrey Kandikana and Nellie Ziyenda and Gumbi Gumbi and Kaunda, \{Rachel Kumwenda\} and Charles Kapachika and Geoffrey Kateregga and Bickton, \{Fanuel Meckson\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The African Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers.",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1080/19376812.2025.2498388",

language = "English",

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Kalonde, PK , Chiepa, B, Kacheyo, J, Kalagho, E, Kunje, W, Kalaundi, TT, Nkolokosa, C, Kapolo, P, Manyungwa, Z, Ben, M, Chimphondah, F, Matope Aaron, PT, Wandale, M, Chisuse, P, Chibophe, S, Chilewani, U, Mtachi, LD, Mwamughunda, GJ, Mhone, C, Kandikana, G, Ziyenda, N, Gumbi, G, Kaunda, RK, Kapachika, C, Kateregga, G & Bickton, FM 2025, 'Reflections on the first state of the map conference in Malawi', African Geographical Review, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 426-436. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2025.2498388

TY - JOUR

T1 - Reflections on the first state of the map conference in Malawi

AU - Kalonde, Patrick Ken

AU - Chiepa, Blessings

AU - Kacheyo, Joshua

AU - Kalagho, Edith

AU - Kunje, Wonderful

AU - Kalaundi, Tarcizio Tobias

AU - Nkolokosa, Clinton

AU - Kapolo, Priscilla

AU - Manyungwa, Zola

AU - Ben, Mphatso

AU - Chimphondah, Faith

AU - Matope Aaron, Prince Time

AU - Wandale, Marvin

AU - Chisuse, Precious

AU - Chibophe, Susan

AU - Chilewani, Upile

AU - Mtachi, Lemekezani Davie

AU - Mwamughunda, Glory Jemimah

AU - Mhone, Christine

AU - Kandikana, Godfrey

AU - Ziyenda, Nellie

AU - Gumbi, Gumbi

AU - Kaunda, Rachel Kumwenda

AU - Kapachika, Charles

AU - Kateregga, Geoffrey

AU - Bickton, Fanuel Meckson

PY - 2025/5/12

Y1 - 2025/5/12

N2 - State of the Map (SotM) conferences are important events that enable OpenStreetMap (OSM) contributors and users to present and discuss their work. However, when international SotM conferences are held in the Global North countries, participation by African geospatial scientists is not guaranteed due to various barriers, including travel costs and visa restrictions. Conversely, locally held SotM conferences within Africa mitigate these barriers. Such conferences have been held in different African countries. Malawi hosted its first SotM conference in 2024 at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), bringing together its local geospatial science community to discuss the landscape of the field in the country. In this paper, we reflect on the conference’s proceedings, positive developments, opportunities, and challenges facing Malawi’s geoscience community. The paper contributes to the broader understanding of how African countries are leveraging geoscience and identifies areas for further growth and collaboration.

AB - State of the Map (SotM) conferences are important events that enable OpenStreetMap (OSM) contributors and users to present and discuss their work. However, when international SotM conferences are held in the Global North countries, participation by African geospatial scientists is not guaranteed due to various barriers, including travel costs and visa restrictions. Conversely, locally held SotM conferences within Africa mitigate these barriers. Such conferences have been held in different African countries. Malawi hosted its first SotM conference in 2024 at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), bringing together its local geospatial science community to discuss the landscape of the field in the country. In this paper, we reflect on the conference’s proceedings, positive developments, opportunities, and challenges facing Malawi’s geoscience community. The paper contributes to the broader understanding of how African countries are leveraging geoscience and identifies areas for further growth and collaboration.

KW - African geospatial sciences

KW - knowledge exchange

KW - Malawi GIS

KW - SotM

U2 - 10.1080/19376812.2025.2498388

DO - 10.1080/19376812.2025.2498388

M3 - Comment/debate

AN - SCOPUS:105008506378

SN - 1937-6812

VL - 44

SP - 426

EP - 436

JO - African Geographical Review

JF - African Geographical Review

IS - 4

ER -

Reflections on the first state of the map conference in Malawi

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