Welcome to GeoTE.
Est 2019
Our Story
Founded in 2019 as a youth-led initiative promoting sustainable development in local communities, GeoTE aims at utilizing geospatial technology to support sustainable development goals through geographic citizen science and participatory geographic information system strategies in implementing community projects to enhance inclusiveness in addressing challenges and finding sustainable solutions in local communities.
Being one of many open mapping communities, GeoTE Tanzania has continued to contribute to open data through Openstreetmap and while transforming community knowledge through remote mapping and field data gathering workshops and capacity building sessions.
Our strength lies in our ability to mobilize community participation in developing and implementing projects and activities that strengthen their adaptation to changing environments and technologies. In addition, GeoTE effectively advocates the use of open knowledge and problem-based learning through community training, seminars, and workshops with different stakeholders.
GeoTE intends to create a community that works in a connected ecosystem, contributing to and utilizing the power of open-source tools in solving local, regional, and global challenges that directly support the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
2022 - 2027
Our Strategic Plan
We are pleased to present the first Strategic Plan of GeoTE (Geospatial Technology and Environment). This plan outlines our commitment to bridging data gaps, strengthening local capacity, and empowering communities to address environmental and development challenges with inclusive, evidence-based solutions.
Our Engagements
Capacity Building
Capacity Building is at the core of GeoTE’s mission, with a deliberate focus on empowering youth and early-career professionals within institutions and communities. GeoTE strengthens geospatial knowledge and technical skills through geospatial programs such as Field practical training, GIS mentorship, GIS short courses and workshops. Our programs priorities applied learning that enables young people and emerging professionals to confidently use geospatial technologies in real-world contexts, from community mapping to institutional decision-making.
Community Mapping
Community Mapping focuses on the collection, improvement, and validation of geospatial data through participatory approaches. GeoTE works with youth, academic institutions, the government and local communities, to map critical infrastructure, services, and environmental features, particularly in underserved and data-scarce areas. This approach ensures that local knowledge is captured, communities are made visible on maps, and open geospatial data is available to support development agendas such as planning, service delivery, and disaster risk management.
Community sensitization
Community sensitization aims to advance geospatial advocacy by building awareness, trust, and understanding of geospatial technologies among decision-makers, communities, and stakeholders across multiple sectors. Through dialogue, outreach, and engagement, GeoTE promotes the adoption of open data, participatory mapping, and geospatial innovation in sectors beyond the traditional geospatial domain. These efforts encourage evidence-based, data-driven decision-making while highlighting the cross-cutting value of geospatial technologies. Community sensitization fosters ownership, inclusive participation, and the responsible and ethical use of geospatial information in development processes.
Mentorship
Targeting Youth, this thematic area focuses on mentoring youth in universities and the community on ways they can shape their carriers. This includes finding opportunities and ideating and pitching their ideas that aim to solve community challenges.
Research
GeoTE contributes to community-based research to remove the various social, cultural, and logistical barriers while aiming to achieve greater knowledge around sustainable environment to empower communities worldwide through collaboration and partnerships.
Projects
Trainees
Workshops
Publications
Our Partners
