Questions & Answers - What to do when local citizens do not consent? A discussion on how to navigate difficult field scenarios that involve local communities.

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Presenters: Shamilah Nassozi, Iddy Chazua, Marcel Shabani Session Chair: Kathlen Lu

    https://sdgs.hotosm.org/   link to resource!!

Questions:

  1. [DONE] How did you identify the community leaders (who they are)?
  2. [DONE] Were there particular features that the community felt were more sensitive than others?
  3. [DONE] Do you think working with city authorities helped or hurt your attempts to gain trust from communities? +1
  4. [DONE] Are there situations where it’s actually better to not map the area, because the (published) data could be used by bad actors (official or others) against the local populace?
  5. [DONE] Would a mapper’s papers/documentation help or hinder you?
  6. [DONE] Is it possible to go back to the community with members of nearby parishes to help alleviate their fears?
  7. [DONE] In the DRC are artisnal/illegal lithium mines a factor in people not wanting the area mapped?

Comments:

  1.  ”entry in a specific jurisdiction felt impossible “ Ha Ha Ha, sounds like a polite way to say they were chased out of town.
  2. Not using real collar clip etc. microphone.
    1. So? The recording audio quality seems OK to me. – das-g
      1. Yes, now better.
  3. Yes the buildings don’t have permits. So cannot legally exist, surely. So “please don’t make them show up on the map.”
  4. OK, fine. Can’t map. Come back with a drone.
  5. Disguise as grandpa and grandma or some little kids.
  6. OK, don’t let us map. Fine. No paving your roads or telephone line installation this year.
  7. You are creating open data, so tomorrow the city will be using it, just like the residents feared. So never mind saying you are a different group.
  8. I think doing participatory mapping, but with local people (not necessearily local leaders) may help. Additionally, I’ve found including local residents in decision-making (e.g. where can vs. can’t map, what data points are collected) helpful.
  9. Yes showing up surveying means their land was sold, usually. So folks will fear.
  10. Need town meeting and posters: XXX surveying project. July XX, 20YY.
  11. Need big dinner party for the whole town. Prize draw.
  12. Sounds like a one-day survey turned into a week-long PR effort, seven times more work.