This text, part of the #ODDStories series, tells a story of Open Data Day‘s grassroots impact directly from the community’s voices.
The Open Data Day 2025 event in Dodoma brought together open data advocates, government entities, researchers, NGOs, and YouthMappers under the theme “Open Data for a Resilient Dodoma.” Hosted by OpenGeoCity Tanzania with support from Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) and Datopian, the event highlighted the impact of open data in urban planning and environmental sustainability. Participants engaged in hands-on training, discussions, and interactive activities aimed at fostering data-driven decision-making for urban resilience.
Empowering Communities Through Open Data
Dodoma’s rapid urban growth demands open data solutions for sustainable development. The event equipped participants with skills in GIS, remote sensing, and digital mapping to address challenges like climate resilience, infrastructure planning, and land use management. Through practical exercises, attendees learned how open data can enhance transparency, optimize resources, and improve governance.
Key Highlights
The event featured insightful sessions, training workshops, and networking opportunities:
Workshops & Training
- QGIS for Town & Environmental Planning – Hands-on GIS training for land use and sustainability projects.
- Remote Sensing & Urban Heat Island Mapping – Using satellite imagery to assess climate impacts and monitor environmental changes.
- Introduction to iD Editor & OpenStreetMap (OSM) Mapping – Improving spatial data accessibility through open mapping.
Interactive Knowledge Sharing
- Presentations from UDOM & IRDP YouthMappers on community-driven mapping and how student-led initiatives contribute to national development.
- Discussions on the role of open data in urban governance, focusing on improving infrastructure, transportation planning, and public service delivery.
Activities & Networking
- Live Kahoot! quiz sessions testing knowledge of open data applications, making learning engaging and interactive.
- Networking opportunities connecting professionals and potential collaborators to discuss future projects and partnerships.
- Closing session with certificates, gifts, and group photos to celebrate participation and achievements.
Challenges & Lessons Learned
- More time is needed for advanced hands-on training sessions to ensure in-depth learning and practical application.
- Enhancing outreach by involving more local government officials to strengthen policy discussions and integrate open data into development strategies.
What’s Next?
OpenGeoCity Tanzania aims to: Expand training programs in GIS, remote sensing, and open mapping tools to reach more students and professionals. Strengthen partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and private firms to integrate open data into policy-making processes. Promote community-driven mapping projects for sustainable urban development, ensuring data accessibility for all stakeholders. Organize follow-up workshops and hackathons to keep engagement high and provide continued learning opportunities.
Gratitude to Our Supporters
Special thanks to Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) and Datopian for their invaluable support in making this event a success. Their contribution has empowered local communities to embrace open data and leverage technology for urban resilience.
Join the Open Data Movement!
Open data fosters smarter cities, informed decision-making, and inclusive development. Whether you’re a policymaker, researcher, student, or GIS enthusiast, your contribution matters. By engaging with open data, individuals and organizations can drive transparency, accountability, and better urban planning solutions.💡 Stay connected with OpenGeoCity Tanzania on X and LinkedIn for updates on future events and training opportunities. Let’s continue working together to build a smarter and more sustainable Dodoma through open data initiatives.
About Open Data Day
Open Data Day (ODD) is an annual celebration of open data all over the world. Groups from many countries create local events on the day where they will use open data in their communities. ODD is led by the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) and the Open Knowledge Network.
As a way to increase the representation of different cultures, since 2023 we offer the opportunity for organisations to host an Open Data Day event on the best date over one week. In 2025, a total of 189 events happened all over the world between March 1st and 7th, in 57 countries using 15+ different languages. All outputs are open for everyone to use and re-use.
For more information, you can reach out to the Open Knowledge Foundation team by emailing opendataday@okfn.org. You can also join the Open Data Day Google Group or join the Open Data Day Slack channel to ask for advice, share tips and get connected with others.
