Chomba Chishala
Chomba Chishala is an accomplished Senior Mapping Supervisor for the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). With a deep passion for mapping and community engagement, Chomba has dedicated himself to using OpenStreetMap (OSM) as a tool for social impact and humanitarian aid.
Chomba's journey in the world of mapping began over seven years ago when he joined the OSM Zambia community. Through his active participation and contributions, he quickly established himself as a valuable member of the community. His dedication and expertise in mapping soon caught the attention of the HOT team, leading to his appointment as a Senior Mapping Supervisor.
As a Senior Mapping Supervisor, Chomba plays a crucial role in overseeing and coordinating mapping projects for HOT. He brings his extensive knowledge and experience to guide and support a team of mapping professionals, ensuring the accuracy and quality of the mapping data produced. Chomba's meticulous approach and attention to detail have made him an indispensable asset to the HOT organization.
In addition to his role with HOT, Chomba has been actively involved with the YouthMappers initiative. He served as a regional ambassador, promoting the use of mapping technologies and fostering collaboration among young mappers in the region. Chomba's enthusiasm for mentoring and empowering young mappers led to him being selected as a YouthMappers research fellow in 2018, where he had the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in the field of geospatial data.
Chomba's commitment to his work goes beyond borders. In 2018, he had the privilege of being a YouthMappers research fellow in the United States.
Intervention
This mapping project is part of a broader USAID campaign which aims to help Zambia shift more power to its local communities. By empowering local Zambian citizens, this will allow them to prioritize services that will have immediate and positive impacts on their daily lives, such as reduced waiting times in health clinics, better lighting, or improved solid waste management.
By mapping buildings and roads you are supporting the ability for local Zambians to identify where these services are needed, and providing an evidence base for them to seek future public or private sector support.
Existing gender dynamics in Zambia make equitable participation in this shift of power to local communities challenging. To counter this, the campaign aims to increase the capability of women and girls to realize their social, political and economic advancement at the local level. In addition, the campaign aims to reduce gender disparities in access to and control over local opportunities and services.