CityMapper Externship 2026 UNGSC UN MAPPERS in Cameroon (first cohort)
Posted by ENGELBERT MODO on 22 June 2026 in English.Hello OpenStreetMappers!
I am particularly proud to share with you today the complete results and highlights of the very first edition of the CityMapper Externship, held from April 10 to May 10, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Within the framework of the UN MAPPERS chapters initiative pilot project, I had the honor, as Ambassador, to lead this training, empowerment, and open data utilization initiative by young Africans to solve our challenges and improve the global map. This intensive immersion program was designed to train a new generation of urban mappers while producing open, sustainable, and high-quality geospatial data for our cities.
🛠️ One Month of Immersion: From Virtual Sprints to the Field Over four weeks, around thirty young people from French-speaking Africa (15 in-person in Yaoundé and 20 participating online from Togo, Senegal, and France) followed a progressive and intense path:
Initial Training: Mastering core open mapping tools (JOSM, HOT Tasking Manager, Mapillary, EveryDoor).
Remote Sprints: Mapping buildings and road networks across 8 HOT Tasking Manager projects linked to humanitarian missions.
Field Collection: Mapping the University of Yaoundé I campus and the city streets using EveryDoor and Mapillary.