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Marching Off the Map: Space to Village
In this newsletter, we share how World Vision is using mobile data collection and global information systems (GIS) visualization to increase our impact and meet the goals of World Vision's new five-year water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) business plan. The four goals of the business plan can be summarized as: 1) provide everyone, everywhere we work with clean water and dignified sanitation and hygiene, 2) deepen our focus on the most vulnerable, 3) demonstrate sustainable impact and 4) leverage our $1 billion business plan to mobilize additional financing. Each of these four goals are addressed by the way that World Vision is starting to use new innovations of technology for planning, programming, monitoring and reporting.
One area of innovation to be rolled out is the use of high-resolution satellite imagery combined with machine learning and GIS for rigorous data analysis and visualization. This technology is being used to create new high resolution population density maps of areas where World Vision is working. These maps are then populated with information about the status of water sources created by our field teams using GPS devices. We are literally going from space to village by going from the satellite imagery to the field monitoring. The on-the-ground staff are identifying, photographing, and categorizing the water points in communities, schools, and hospitals. This field intensive effort is helping us determine not only which water points are functional, improved, or unimproved but also when combined with the population density maps and data visualization, allow us to identify where an improved clean water source is needed.
For example, the map below from Kasenga Ward in Zambia shows that most of the water points are along the only paved road in the ward. It’s easy to see that many of the areas where people are living (as shown by the black dots of structures) do not have nearby improved water source. In fact, this work has identified that there are over 20,000 people in Kasenga Ward that do not have nearby access to an improved water source (blue dots). In order to “Finish the Job” in the 125 wards in Zambia where we’re working, we’ve identified 800,000 people, 350 schools and 125 health care facilities that are in need of clean water.
Utilizing emerging technologies, we are better equipped to fulfill each of the goals of our business plan. It will help to accelerate progress, ensure inclusivity of the most vulnerable, demonstrate impact and support the attraction of more funding from various sources.
Allen Hollenbach, World Vision Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Senior Technical Advisor, is leading this effort and has created a “StoryMap” to show the approach that World Vision is using. Here’s where you can view Allen’s StoryMap. (If requested to “Sign In”, just click “Cancel” to continue viewing the story. There is no need to create an account.)
Thank you for your support of World Vision’s water work. We hope you can see how we’re continuing to learn and improve and have the greatest possible impact through your investment with us.
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Crowd Sourcing Innovation
World Vision is partnering with InnoCentive to crowd source innovation. This work is possible due to the support of Harry Sangree, World Vision donor and SeaFreight Labs, CEO. We currently are working together on four projects: 1) affordable rural family sanitation, 2) low cost chlorine disinfection for piped water systems, 3) efficient and reliable counting of latrines in the developing world, and 4) leveraging funds for investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene.
The work on latrines will be open until September 7, offers a $20,000 award, and currently has 49 active solvers. Learn more here.
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You're Invited to our Live Fundraising Event!
Finish the Job in Zambia | Thursday, July 29, 2021 | 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET
Every child deserves clean water. Be a part of an effort to empower everyone, everywhere we work with clean water in Zambia.
During the hour-long event you will:
- Learn about the water situation in Zambia and how World Vision is partnering to address those challenges
- Learn how drillers find water in places like Zambia
- Learn how we're helping communities, schools, and healthcare facilities get lasting access to clean water
Join other like-minded people across the country to raise money together and partner with World Vision in making our goal a reality.
Learn more about the event and register at worldvision.org/zambiawater
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