Geospatial Value Pipeline Delivery – Nigeria

In 2022, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Geospatial Insights Support Team (BMGF-GIST) in partnership with Dev-Afrique conducted an assessment to understand and bolster Nigeria’s health geospatial ecosystem, revealing gaps such as the absence of a centralized data repository and limited geospatial skills.

To address these challenges, BMGF-GIST aimed to raise awareness and source innovative ideas from local stakeholders to enhance the impact of geospatial technology on health interventions in Nigeria. Dev-Afrique supported the BMGF-GIST by developing a strategic dissemination plan, including stakeholder mapping and engagement, and tailored materials for various groups.

This approach facilitated the crowdsourcing of ideas through a call for concept notes, covering six intervention areas such as driving awareness for a national geospatial data policy and strengthening geospatial capacity. The call for concept notes also addressed challenges like cross sectoral collaboration and sustainability of geospatial interventions for health.

As a result, the dissemination increased visibility on the use cases, gaps, and opportunities in Nigeria’s geospatial health ecosystem, fostering collaboration and innovation among stakeholders across different sectors. Dev-Afrique continues to support the BMGF-GIST with stakeholder engagement, government relations, and implementation, marking a significant step toward advancing geospatial technology for health in Nigeria.