Hello! And welcome to Ushahidi's 2023 Annual Report—a journey through digital transformation, collaboration, and growth! 🎉

This report is a reflection of last year’s experiences and includes the achievements and milestones from our vibrant community.

Join us as we explore the core of our projects, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of citizen-generated data in action…But wait, there's more! Highlighting new partnerships and alliances, we'll show how these new collaborations that span continents and bridge cultures, will empower communities to thrive as a result of access to data and technology.

Furthermore, we will highlight how our repositioning into a data company is guiding our activities and initiatives in 2024, ensuring that we equip ourselves with the necessary tools to raise marginalized communities' voices effectively.

Last but certainly not least, we'll take a moment to celebrate our growth and evolution as an organization. Through introspection and forward-thinking, we've charted a course that ensures Ushahidi remains at the forefront of positive change for years to come.

Jump in! Adventure awaits! 🌍✨

 

GROWING OUR IMPACT

The real impact of Ushahidi can be captured through captivating stories of empowerment, resilience, and positive change. These narratives showcase firsthand the profound effect Ushahidi has had on communities worldwide, highlighting the transformative power of purposeful and passionate technology use.

Nigeria Elections

On February 25, 2023, Nigerians took to the polls to elect the next president. 18 people fielded their candidacy for the position. Throughout the pre-election period, people shared their views and sentiments on what they expected the outcome to be. Citizens took to social platforms like Twitter to express their thoughts using the hashtag #NigeriaDecides2023, among others. Ushahidi partnered withConnected Development [CODE] to deploy the Ushahidi Platform, dubbed Uzabe Platform, that enabled citizen election monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative efforts among stakeholders to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections. [CODE] deployed 20,000 observers who covered polling units across 774 local government areas in 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These observers shared unbiased reports from the grassroots on what was happening. Read more about the initiative here.

Iraqi Network for Social Media

Amid corruption allegations during the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary elections, the Iraqi Network for Social Media (INSM) emerged as a beacon of hope. In subsequent elections, they utilized the Ushahidi Platform to champion human rights reporting and advocate for change. This involved shedding light on critical electoral issues such as security incidents, electoral irregularities, and voter registration. Their dedication has played a crucial role in fostering a more transparent, accountable, and democratic Iraq. Learn more about this initiative here.

Slum Dwellers International Kenya (SDI)

Collaborating with Ushahidi, SDI Kenya focused on collecting insights about climate change in Mathare, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. The goal was to identify areas of heightened vulnerability, and devise precise strategies to tackle these vulnerabilities while fostering resilience in the face of climate change. The study further aimed to delve into the understanding, opinions, and actions of Mathare residents concerning climate change and the associated risks it brings.

Mathare, the oldest and second-largest slum in Nairobi, spans 157 hectares and has a high population density, with over 1,000 residents per hectare. To provide context, Manhattan, known for its population density, accommodates around 70,000 residents per square mile. However, Mathare's single-story structures distinguish it from Manhattan's multi-story buildings.

Explore how climate change touches education, sanitation, mental health, and more, and witness the unwavering spirit of Mathare's residents as they shape a resilient path forward here.

These community driven initiatives remind us of the incredible potential that lies within each data point, each community voice, and each act of solidarity. They show us that with the spirit of empowerment, resilience, and positive change as our guide, we can create a just and equitable world.

 

SHOWCASING OUR IMPACT

Joining NetHope

During its April Member Meeting, NetHope, a global consortium comprising over 60 leading nonprofits and 70 technology partners, proudly announced the election of Ushahidi as its latest member.

Lance Pierce, CEO of NetHope, expressed enthusiasm about Ushahidi's addition, stating, "When we welcome new Members like Ushahidi to NetHope, we expand the circle of our global community of leaders who deliver better humanitarian relief, long-term development, and ecosystem conservation via accelerated digital transformation. Ushahidi's commitment to our shared strength underscores the potential for impactful collaboration within our global network."

We share NetHope's dedication to amplifying the impact of digital innovation in addressing the world's most pressing challenges. We hit the ground running by presenting at the NetHope Africa Chapter Meeting and the NetHope Global Summit.

During COP28, Ushahidi and NetHope finalized a collaboration to launch a groundbreaking pilot initiative in Uganda: the Climate Equity Project. By amplifying community voices and integrating their experiences into digital models, the Climate Equity initiative aims to facilitate evidence-based decision-making, policy formulation, and targeted actions at local, national, and global levels.

Pictured from left to right: Rhoda Omenya, Implementation and Development Manager at Ushahidi; Jean-Louis Ecochard, Global Head of Innovation, Senior Director for NetHope's Center for the Digital Nonprofit at NetHope; Angela Oduor Lungati, CEO of Ushahidi; Lance Pierce, CEO of NetHope and Gidraf Wachira, Climate Intersection Lead, NetHope.

New Partnerships

We also announced fantastic partnerships that will significantly impact our work in 2024, which include:-

• Support from Dataminr's AI for Social Good Program to integrate automation and machine learning into our data processing workflows, reducing manual workload on our users.
• Ushahidi's addition to a joint learning network hosted by the Digital Impact Alliance to unlock data for climate action to support centering disenfranchised communities in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

 

ENABLING OUR IMPACT

Code Beyond Barriers Hackathon

Growing our impact can only be achieved if the engine driving the impact is also maturing. By constantly pushing the boundaries of what the Ushahidi Platform can achieve, we ensure that Ushahidi remains relevant and indispensable in addressing the world's most pressing challenges.

In a rapidly changing technological landscape, staying ahead is crucial to keeping the Ushahidi Platform relevant and compatible with emerging trends. To future-proof our solutions, we partnered with Celo Foundation and iHub, supported by the Filecoin Foundation, to organize the "Ushahidi Code Beyond Barriers Hackathon." This event aimed to generate innovative Web3 solutions that can be leveraged to give marginalized communities a voice across Ushahidi’s core thematic areas.

The outputs of this hackathon have resulted in a scaling project for 2024, “The Election Data Resilience Initiative”, with the support of the Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web. This initiative aims to leverage Filecoin's decentralized storage to create a solid repository of historical Kenyan election data through Ushahidi. The goal is to make sure this data is reliable and can't be tampered with. But it's not just about saving data; it's about making it easier for everyone to access, including researchers, policymakers, and the public at large. This project demonstrates how decentralized web tech can help share data from marginalized communities for better insights, thus protect important information and promote openness.

Improved Ushahidi Platform and Mobile App

We've made significant strides in updating the Ushahidi Platform, transforming it into a strong, efficient, and visually engaging space. Exciting changes include an improved submission process, where users can now add images and embed YouTube and Vimeo videos to reports, making them more impactful and informative. This enhances the overall user experience, providing a more intuitive and user-friendly way to submit reports. This means people can share their experiences more efficiently, and organizations can respond to critical events in real time.

Alongside the platform upgrade, we also launched an enhanced Ushahidi app, both on Apple App Store and Google Play Store—a crucial step in our mission to amplify 20 million voices. This app goes beyond being just a tool; it embodies our Theory of Change, where technology aligns with strategic support for meaningful change. With this launch, we affirm our unwavering commitment to shaping the future of data and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. The app serves as a gateway to this reality, allowing individuals to effortlessly share their stories, challenges, and triumphs, promoting inclusivity and driving systemic change. Noteworthy features include streamlined tools for efficient data collection, global accessibility in over 160 countries and 40+ languages, and dedicated support for users worldwide, ensuring a positive impact on a global scale.

 

DIRECTING OUR IMPACT

New Board Members

All the above mentioned was only possible with the strategic guidance of a board. We recruited three stellar additions to the Ushahidi board: Mark Surman, Priscilla Chomba Kinywa, and Ginger Zielenskie (with two more joining this year).

The appointment of Mark Surman, Priscilla Chomba Kinywa, and Ginger Zielenskie to the Ushahidi board marks a pivotal moment in our journey. Their diverse expertise and strategic vision bring invaluable perspectives that align seamlessly with our mission to harness technology for positive social impact.

Mark Surman's leadership in open-source technology, digital advocacy and non-profit leadership, combined with Priscilla Chomba Kinywa's deep understanding of technology and product leadership, enriches our strategic direction, ensuring our solutions remain relevant and impactful. Ginger Zielenskie's extensive experience in data strategy and governance equips us with the guidance needed to navigate the complexities of scaling our impact globally.

Together, they strengthen our commitment to empowering communities, amplifying voices, and driving positive change. We welcome them wholeheartedly and look forward to their contributions as we continue to chart a path towards a more just and connected world.

 

Internal Restructuring

In a bold move towards efficiency and innovation, Ushahidi has made significant changes internally, transitioning from a single, unified tech team to distinct product and engineering teams. This strategic shift reflects our commitment to enhancing product development and engineering excellence while making our processes more agile and focused on specific aspects of our technology.

The product team now focuses on creating user-centric solutions, driving innovation, and translating market insights into impactful features and functionalities. On the other hand, the engineering team is empowered to dive into the intricacies of software development, ensuring our offerings are robust, scalable, and technically excellent.

This clear distinction allows each team to specialize in what they do best, encouraging innovation and speeding up development. It also fosters greater collaboration and alignment across departments as teams work together towards common goals. Lastly, it enhances accountability and ownership, with each team taking responsibility for their specific domain, ultimately leading to higher quality products and improved user experiences.

With this new organizational structure, Ushahidi is moving forward with renewed vigour and purpose, delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower communities and drive positive change worldwide.

Executive Director's Outlook for 2024

As we close the pages of Ushahidi's 2023 Annual Report, I am grateful for the incredible journey we've embarked on together in advancing the frontiers of technology for social impact. Throughout the year, we've witnessed remarkable achievements, profound collaborations, and transformative impacts that speak volumes about the collective strength of our community.

However, it has become increasingly clear that Ushahidi's value proposition needs to expand beyond providing data collection platforms. We must play a more prominent facilitative role in extracting insights that will lead to better decision-making to influence positive, long-term, sustainable change.

And so, this ship is now setting sail into an exciting future as a data company. This year, our work will be primarily focused on building a data product that: -

• Champions data equity efforts by enabling disaggregated data collection by degrees of marginalization. I'm particularly excited about how this intersects with my work with WEF's Global Futures Council on Data Equity (If curious, read this briefing paper I co-authored with other council members).
• Automates data management and reduces manual effort to extract insights from data.
• Supports insight generation at scale by providing access to and interoperability of citizen-generated data with other datasets.
• Contributes to building a responsible AI Ecosystem using citizen-generated data from Ushahidi products.

Developing replicable models and templates of how the data product described above can be used in various social impact sectors, i.e., elections, climate change, crisis, human rights, etc. At the heart of our endeavours lies a steadfast commitment to good governance - a thematic area that has assumed even greater significance as we look ahead to 2024—a super year of elections globally. With democracy facing unprecedented challenges worldwide, the need to amplify citizen voices and ensure transparent, accountable electoral processes has never been more urgent.

By providing organizations with the tools and resources they need to navigate the complexities of electoral processes, we are fostering transparency and accountability and strengthening the very fabric of democracy. I am proud to announce that Ushahidi is at the forefront of this critical mission, providing essential support to global organisations through an innovative election toolkit. Designed to empower citizens and civil society actors, this toolkit will leverage the power of the Ushahidi Platform to amplify citizen voices, monitor electoral integrity, and foster transparency throughout the electoral cycle.

Looking ahead, let's stay resolute in our commitment to empowering communities through access to data and technology. Together, we hold the potential to sculpt a brighter, more equitable tomorrow for generations ahead.

With gratitude and optimism,

Angela Oduor-Lungati.

Note: Refresh yourself on our 2023 Mid-Year report here.