Training Consultant – Open Mapping for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) at Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)

Objective of the project.

The main objective of this assignment is to design and deliver a comprehensive capacity-building program on open data mapping for sustainable urban mobility planning in Nakuru. The consultant will develop and facilitate a five-day, hands-on training workshop (approximately 70% focus on training delivery and 30% on developing training material and repository) that equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills to:

• Utilize an open mapping tool stack in an end-to-end urban mobility planning workflow. Participants will learn to use open-source geospatial tools such as OpenStreetMap, QGIS, and field data collection apps covering the process from data collection and data quality assurance to spatial analysis, map creation, and data sharing. The open mapping platform will serve as the core for integrating various data relevant to mobility (roads, public transport routes, walking/cycling infrastructure, points of interest, administrative boundaries, etc.) into a common framework
• Apply open mapping techniques/tools to Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan use cases. The training will demonstrate how open data and GIS tools can inform key components of Nakuru’s SUMP. This includes mapping and analyzing scenarios such as public transit accessibility, pedestrian safety and walkability, cycling network development, traffic congestion patterns, and climate resilience in transport (e.g. identifying flood-prone transport infrastructure). Through tailored exercises, participants will practice using geoprocessing and analysis to address real-world questions – for example, locating areas underserved by public transport, planning safer routes to schools, or prioritizing locations for new crosswalks or drainage improvements.
• Facilitate stakeholder collaboration through the workshop and produce a tangible planning output. The workshop will be highly participatory, encouraging discussion among city officials, technical experts, and community mappers on how open data can be leveraged for Nakuru’s mobility challenges. A capstone group exercise will “trigger conversation” and collaboration: participants will work together on a mini-project (scenario) using the learned skills to produce a tangible output, such as a map-based mobility briefing, story map, or short advisory memo highlighting findings. For instance, the groups might create a mobility map illustrating key gaps and propose priority interventions, which can serve as an advocacy tool for decision-makers. This exercise will help reinforce the training content and ensure the knowledge is applied in a meaningful context for Nakuru. If feasible, the outputs from this capstone can be presented to city leadership or integrated into the ongoing SUMP development process, so the workshop directly contributes to Nakuru’s urban mobility planning efforts.
• Ultimately, by the end of the assignment, participants should feel confident and empowered to use open mapping tools and data in their day-to-day work on urban mobility. The local government technical staff should be able to maintain and update datasets (like the city’s base maps of roads and transit) and perform basic analyses for planning, while community mappers and civil society partners will be better equipped to support data collection and advocate for data-driven interventions.
• The assignment thus supports institutionalizing an open-data approach within Nakuru’s SUMP, aligning with both the city’s development goals and international best practices in sustainable transport planning Scope of work

Scope of Work

Training Material Design and Alignment

• Review of Existing Workflows and Needs: Conduct a rapid assessment of current workflows, data sources, and skill gaps related to urban mobility mapping in Nakuru. This includes reviewing any existing reports or needs assessments on the city’s transport data (for example, outputs from Nakuru’s urban profiling or climate resilience initiatives) and understanding the status of the SUMP development and data already collected through the project.
• Training Material Development: Design a detailed five-day in-person training workshop centered on an end-to-end open mapping workflow for urban mobility planning. The training should be structured in modules that build sequentially, balancing theory with hands-on exercises. It should cover:
• Data Foundation: Establishing a baseline for geospatial data relevant to mobility. This involves using OpenStreetMap data as a base and supplementing it with other open datasets or local administrative data (e.g. official road network, administrative boundaries, points of interest, demographic data).
• Field & Community Data Collection: Incorporate strategies for collecting new data or updating OSM through field surveys and community mapping. The training will introduce tools like ODK/Kobo Toolbox for designing survey forms (e.g. to inventory sidewalk conditions, bus stop amenities, or accident locations), as well as mobile mapping apps (such as StreetComplete or OsmAnd).
• Core Geoprocessing & Analysis: Teach participants to perform key geospatial analyses for mobility planning using QGIS (and related tools). Potential analytical tasks include: cleaning and preparing data (e.g. merging road segments, ensuring routable networks, checking topology), conducting network analyses (such as computing service areas or catchment zones around transit stops to see coverage gaps), performing accessibility analysis (e.g. travel time to key services, identifying neighborhoods beyond a 30-minute commute threshold), analyzing non-motorized transport needs (mapping areas lacking sidewalks or safe crossings), and basic scenario modeling (e.g. how a new bus route or road closure might affect accessibility).
• Cartography and Decision Products: Guide participants in turning data and analysis into communicative outputs. This includes creating effective map visualizations (using QGIS styling, legends, and layouts) and designing map products like city-wide mobility atlases or specific thematic map sheets (e.g. a map of pedestrian network with identified gaps)

Essential functions/Qualifications

Required Qualifications.

• Training Experience: Minimum 5 years designing and delivering open mapping training programs with plain-language, hands-on methods.
• Urban Mobility Knowledge: Strong understanding of sustainable transport issues, with experience linking GIS to SUMP or urban mobility use cases.
• Local Context: Experience working in Kenya or East Africa with knowledge of Nakuru’s urban challenges; fluency in English (Kiswahili an advantage).
• Sustainability & Impact: Proven record of leaving behind lasting capacity, resources, and processes through training or ToT approaches.