A Case Study on Women’s Participation in Geospatial Mapping

Nepal's exposure to climate-related disasters is among the highest in the world. In Madhesh and Lumbini provinces, recurring floods and inadequate geospatial data coverage continue to constrain effective disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, and inclusive local governance.
The Resilience, Adaptation and Inclusion in Nepal (RAIN) Programme, funded by UK International Development and implemented by People in Need (PIN) and DCA, with partners Community Self Reliance Centre (CSRC), Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Prerana, Youth Innovation Lab,  Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and Met Office.  Through the RIAN programme two structured OpenStreetMap (OSM) mapping sprints between 2025 and 2026 were conducted to bridge these data gaps. Together, these sprints produced 185,063 validated edits across 26 priority municipalities - generating openly available data on buildings, road networks, waterways, and land use that now directly supports disaster risk management and climate adaptation planning.
A defining feature of this initiative was the meaningful participation of women at every level of the mapping process as contracted advanced mappers, student volunteers, validators, and peer mentors. More than 55 women engaged across both phases, representing approximately 50% of contracted mappers in the Autumn Mapping Sprint 2025. Their contributions were not incidental; they were central to the programme's success.