[Osmf-talk] OSM Uganda Local Chapter application

Tue Dec 1 13:05:14 UTC 2020

Hey all

Excellent points all around -- both supporting this great group, and asking legitimate questions about its organization and operation. 

I know the people behind MapUganda for some time, and admire what they've been able to build. I myself have been involved for 10 years building an organization next door in Kenya -- Map Kibera -- and know well how impactful and difficult doing OSM in the region can be. I also know that for a host of reasons, OSM ends up looking different in different places, called different things, and that's ok. For individuals, it's much more difficult to balance passions and sustaining your own welfare. Staff on LCs is quite fine and common in OSMF, and having the LC be a part of an organization with a broader mission is fine too (for example, WikiMedia Italia indicates that OSM community building is a specific program of the org, with its own dynamics, and coordinating staff).

What's important is that a critical portion of the organization's activities align with how we conceive the mission and "fulfills the substance" of OSMF local chapters. And that what has been presented so far doesn't meet that conception.

I'd like to hear directly from MapUganda addressing the comments in the thread, in an organized way. I think that would be very helpful for assessing the application. In particular, I think some basics would be helpful.

* How many members are there of OSM Uganda?
* Is there some allowance for people who can't afford the membership fee?
* Are there any public minutes of the Board?
* Are there any public minutes of any meetings of the members? What have they decided on?
* In what ways are the OSM focused activities of OSM Uganda distinct from other activities, and is this written up in some way? 
* In MapUganda's activities and projects, what specifically have been intended to build and involve OSM community in Uganda?

Thank you
-Mikel

ps Reflecting on the general process of LC applications, I agree that gathering the "relevant salient OSM facts about the territory in question together with
the application" and about the organization itself, should be an addition to the process. That along with summary of any deliberation by the Board should be shared. Something to look at in the next Board.

* Mikel Maron * +14152835207 @mikel s:mikelmaron

On Monday, November 30, 2020, 02:34:13 PM EST, Douglas Ssebaggala <erunayo at gmail.com> wrote: 

Hope everyone had a great weekend,

These are probably some of the last comments from me on this thread; wonderful feedback from the list, much appreciated; 
    * It's been a great discussion. As previously mentioned, the MapUganda Board will most definitely look into these comments and suggestions.
    * It can probably help to have an OSM Chapter/group under MapUganda or a separate community working with MapUganda that specifically fulfills and works towards LCCWG requirements.
    * Looking forward to any other suggestion/solution, outcome from the community in Uganda, or decision on the application.
A great week, and all the best to the OSMF Board candidates.

Regards,

Wikimedian in Uganda
Ssebaggala Douglas | Skype: douglo.m | Twitter: @douglaseru | Mob - Uganda: +256 772 422524

On Sat, Nov 28, 2020 at 4:45 PM Christoph Hormann via osmf-talk <osmf-talk at openstreetmap.org> wrote:
> 27 Nov 2020 23:14:54 Tobias Knerr <osm at tobias-knerr.de>:
>> Just describing my personal recollection here, and I was
>> not one of they board members involved in direct
>> communications with MapUganda, so take this with a
>> grain of salt:
>> [...]
> 
> Thanks.  That is what i was looking for and as Simon already indicated it 
> is raising some eyebrows that the board did not consider it pertinent to 
> share this when asking the membership for their opinion.
> 
> Anyway, first a quick side comment on the matter of formal qualification 
> requirements for board members of local chapters.  I do not consider this 
> a big issue.  We have - in particular before board elections - frequently 
> discussed what qualifications are important for someone to be a good 
> board member for the OSMF.  It is difficult to codify consensus on that 
> in formal rules and i personally would never consider formal education 
> criteria a useful criterion.  But different cultures have different views 
> here so i would not feel like passing judgement on that.  The key i think 
> however is that such rules are not set in stone and cannot be used by 
> those who meet the requirement to exclude those who don't.  As long as 
> organization membership is open to everyone and the members can change 
> the rules even against the expressed wishes of the board i don't see a 
> big issue here.
> 
> But now the observations i actually wanted to share:
> 
> First i am not quite sure about the identity of the organization
> applying for local chapter status here.  The application page and the 
> constitution document seem to speak of "OpenStreetMap Uganda" while the 
> website of the organization (http://mapuganda.org) talks about itself as 
> "MapUganda" and only mentions OpenStreetMap in the context of "All 
> activities are set up around the global OpenStreetMap (OSM) project".  
> Yet even that seems doubtful since the only map shown on the starting 
> page:
> 
> http://mapuganda.org/images/kccamap1.jpg
> 
> does not seem to be based on OpenStreetMap data.  I am kind of wondering 
> if we have two different organizations here or MapUganda as a GIS 
> consulting/training company has rebranded itself as OpenStreetMap Uganda 
> for the purpose of applying for local chapter status.
> 
> Second, looking at the constitution in ARTICLE 3: OBJECTIVES the only 
> mentioning of OpenStreetMap and Open Data is in "Provide training in 
> OpenStreetMap and open data".  All of the other objectives could likewise 
> be pursued on the basis of proprietary tools and data.  In other words:  
> While the local chapter agreement requires the local chapters to work 
> towards the goals of OpenStreetMap and to promote OpenStreetMap i do not 
> see this in substance being mandated by the constitution itself.
> 
> Looking over the website the absence of any primarily OpenStreetMap 
> related activity (i.e. activity where OSM is not just a tool for an 
> outside purpose but a goal in itself) is striking.  Typical activities of 
> local OSM communities elsewhere like outreach to citizens to become 
> volunteer mappers sharing their local knowledge, promotion of OSM data 
> use to civil society, companies and government, running communication 
> channels and tools for the local OSM community etc. seem to be missing.
> Considering the organization seems quite a few years of history and seems 
> to be financially in a fairly healthy shape this is remarkable.
> 
> In other words:  I am unable based on the information i looked at to
> find clear indications that the organization applying here practically
> fulfills in substance the functions for the local OSM community a local 
> OSM chapter typically has.  That i am not seeing that obviously does not 
> mean it is not there.  But i'd like to specifically ask for references to 
> such activity.
> 
> Third, the current membership fee is indicated to be UGX 50k per year 
> which translates to EUR 11.30.  For a European country that would be a 
> pretty decent rate (probably below average of the current local chapters 
> we have).  But considering the EUR ~17 the OSMF charges is often 
> considered a significant hurdle in many parts of the world i wonder if 
> some people familiar with the wage and price structure in Uganda could 
> comment on how big of a hurdle the UGX 50k per year are for a volunteer 
> mapper in country, in particular in rural areas.
> 
> -- 
> Christoph Hormann
> http://www.imagico.de/
> 
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