2025-11-29 –, Auditorium Language: English
In many humanitarian contexts, maps can help to save lives and to find the people in need. Yet, a common challenge persists across NGOs and humanitarian networks: while Information Management (IM) staff may have data and reporting skills, many lack the geographic information system (GIS) knowledge needed to fully harness spatial data and to understand which data sets are of best fit. The IFRC GIS Training Platform was developed to bridge this critical gap—making GIS accessible, practical, and relevant to humanitarian practitioners and beyond.
In this lightning talk, we will introduce the IFRC GIS Training Platform, a collaborative and open source platform that was developed in close partnership between the Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology (HeiGIT), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the British Red Cross, the German Red Cross and the Netherlands Red Cross’ data and digital team (510). The platform provides a modular and hands-on GIS training curriculum specifically designed to match and support humanitarian use cases. It enables learners with basic IM or data skills—but little or no prior GIS experience—to start creating, using, and analysing spatial data effectively.
Each training module on the platform has been created and refined in close collaboration with Red Cross and Red Crescent field and technical experts. Their feedback and real-world challenges shaped the content, ensuring it addresses genuine needs, such as mapping flood-prone areas, tracking outbreaks, or planning logistics in disaster response.
The platform includes interactive tutorials, real-world data exercises, a Wiki and practical examples that resonate with humanitarian professionals. From using QGIS for the first time to conducting spatial analysis with open data, like Open Street Map data, learners can walk away with skills they can immediately apply in the field.
Beyond individual learning, the platform is designed to scale. We offer “Training of Trainers” (ToT) sessions for institutions, networks, communities or teams who want to not only build internal capacity but also run their own training events. These ToT sessions, led by members of the platform consortium, equip participants with both the technical content and the pedagogical tools needed to confidently facilitate trainings themselves.
This training model has already been adopted by several National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, resulting in a growing network of GIS-savvy humanitarians who are also empowered to pass on their knowledge to others. The modular structure of the platform allows for localised adaptation and integration with ongoing capacity-building efforts, including integration with OpenStreetMap-based workflows.
And for sure, the training materials are freely available online (Creative Commons Non-Commercial) and have a strong focus on open data, while not being limited to it. The materials are easy to integrate into workshops, university courses, or humanitarian training programs.
What can participants expect from the talk?
In this talk, we will share not only the platform and its content but also stories from those who have used it: from IM officers in Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to humanitarians discovering GIS for the first time. We'll also share partnership opportunities—either by joining our upcoming ToT programs or adopting the platform in own contexts.
Melanie Eckle-Elze is an experienced OpenStreetMap (OSM) contributor, humanitarian mapper, and Research Assistant at the Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology (HeiGIT). In her role focused on Partner Engagement, she connects research, operational partners, and the open data community to support humanitarian and development efforts through geospatial innovation.
Melanie began mapping in 2012 and discovered her passion for humanitarian mapping while working with Kathmandu Living Labs in Nepal in 2013. She co-founded disastermappers heidelberg and has since organized numerous mapathons and workshops to promote open mapping and disaster preparedness.
She is the Product Owner of the Sketch Map Tool, Missing Maps focal point at HeiGIT, and focal point for the IFRC GIS Training Platform, where she supports capacity building and knowledge exchange with Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Her work focuses on the use and creation of open data with a strong focus on OSM data and applied geoinformation systems for disaster management, anticipatory action, and humanitarian response.
Melanie is particularly interested in participatory and locally led mapping approaches, ensuring communities are not just mapped but actively involved in the process. She served on the HOT Board of Directors (2018–2019) and continues to support open, inclusive, and impactful mapping.