Overview
Visualizing Development and
For more information,
please contact:
Julie Montgomery
Project Manager
InterAction
jmontgom@interaction.org
Laia Grino
Data Manager
InterAction
lgrino@interaction.org
Danielle Heiberg
Member Relations
InterAction
dheiberg@interaction.org
Sivaram Ramachandran
Data Coordinator
InterAction
sramachandran@interaction.org
www.InterAction.org
1400 16th Street, NW
Suite 210
Washington, DC 20036
202.667.8227
Humanitarian Partnerships
What is the InterAction Mapping Initiative?
In 2006, InterAction's Board of Directors, after a strategic planning process
involving members and staff, adopted new long-range goals for the organization.
One of the priorities the Board endorsed is enhancing non-governmental
organization (NGO) accountability and demonstrating the scope of InterAction
members' work and its impact worldwide.
As part of its efforts to demonstrate and enhance NGO accountability and impact,
InterAction is developing a web-based mapping platform and database that will
ultimately map all of our members’ work worldwide. The mapping platform will be
an effective, flexible and sustainable means of capturing program data across all
countries and sectors. Through this platform, InterAction strives to increase
transparency, facilitate partnerships, improve coordination and help NGOs and
other actors make more informed decisions about where to direct their resources.
The platform will also be a powerful way of demonstrating to donors, the media
and public the global reach of NGOs.
To develop the mapping platform, we have partnered with FortiusOne, the
developers of robust geo-spatial software called GeoIQ. GeoIQ will allow field
project and humanitarian response data to be gathered, accessed and shared more
easily. Organizations participating will also be able to use the tool for their own
research, analysis and reporting. Built into the tool are over 20,000 data sets from
other organizations, such as the United Nations or World Bank, enabling us to
overlay our community’s project information with related statistical data and
facilitating analysis of our work. To make the data gathering process less time-
consuming and more sustainable, InterAction is also exploring the possibility of
directly linking to member databases so that the map reflects the most up-to-date
information.
In 2010, InterAction will pilot the mapping platform in two focus areas: food
security/agriculture and Haiti. These pilots will provide us an opportunity to begin
standardizing the information our community collects in a way that is transparent,
comparable and comprehensive. Although these pilot initiatives will last from six
months to one year, we envision the mapping platform as a permanent member
benefit that will be continuously updated with our members’ project data in these
and other countries and sectors.
 What will the pilot initiatives focus on?
Food Security and Agriculture. With funding
from the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD), InterAction will map our
members’ work in the areas of food security and
agriculture. In the following year, InterAction will
work with its members to develop a platform that
can serve as a prototype for other sectors. An
advisory committee has been formed to help
guide the development of the platform and the
type of data collected.

Haiti. With funding from FedEx and in partnership

with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business
Civic Leadership Center, InterAction will map its
members’ response in Haiti. In 2010, InterAction
will work closely with its members working in Haiti
to develop a data collection system that is flexible
and can be used in future emergencies.

What are the benefits of participating?

We believe that this mapping tool will enhance country level coordination among the
international NGO community, partners and donors. It will also raise the profile of the
NGO community as a whole and allow donors, policy makers and the general public to
see the value and breadth of our sector. It will vastly increase the visibility of the work
and contributions of the international NGO community and will enable us to spotlight
best practices and practical learning from the field.

What are the features of the mapping tool?

Mapping: A dynamic mapping tool that allows users to display a wide variety of
information including field programs.
Best Practices & Innovations: Identification of successful programs (starting with
agriculture and rural livelihoods) based on evidence provided by rigorous
monitoring and evaluation.
Research &Information: Access to more than 20,000 public datasets from sources
such as UN agencies, universities and the U.S. government. This additional
statistical information can be overlaid with field program information.
Networking: Opportunities for exchange between and among practitioners and
other experts.
www.InterAction.org
Who will use this platform?
With user rights, InterAction members in headquarters and field offices will be able to
1400 16th Street, NW
Suite 210 upload data, create maps, easily access thousands of databases, identify potential
Washington, DC 20036 partners and identify underserved areas or areas with greatest needs. Donors will use
202.667.8227 it to decide who, what and/or which areas to fund. The general public will learn more
about the organizations and projects to which they can contribute.