State of the Map Africa 2021/Call for venues/Lusaka
Our vision
“Mapping each and every corner of Africa on OpenStreetMap,“ State of the Map Africa 2021-Lusaka will be an event where we celebrate diversity of the OpenStreetMap community in Africa and its status. Zambia is among the developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that has experienced high demand for geospatial technology. This event will bring together all OpenStreetMap Africa Communities and organizations using OpenStreetMap data to scale development in Africa by sharing their experiences. In a bid to increase OSM usage, Zambia as it is the heart of Southern Africa it will bring together all Southern and other African countries so that they share their achievements and promote OSM both in government and private institutions. The conference will give an opportunity for the visitors to visit the mighty Victoria Falls.
Why Lusaka?
Zambia’s beautiful landscapes and wealth of wildlife has it climbing the list of top safari destinations. Lusaka is fast evolving into a gateway to Central and Southern Africa as well as the African continent. The event in Lusaka will be an opportunity for participants to learn how Central and Southern Africa is embracing and using OpenStreetMap to put many people on the map as well as using it to implement many development programs as we emerge from the Covid 19 pandemic . We believe Lusaka is the best venue for next year’s State of The Map Africa event. Lusaka’s metropolis provides a home to about two and half million (2.8M) inhabitants of many different nationalities, races and creeds. The city has Conference tourism infrastructure ideal for hosting mega international events and conferences. Accommodation options are varied and spread out across the metropolis. Lusaka offers a variety of budget, midrange and top- end options. The level of choice in accommodation in Lusaka is forever increasing as the city rapidly expands. There are five star hotels perfect for the corporate travelers or if you are just seeking luxury for a few days. Mid- range options vary from conveniently located hotels to sophisticated guesthouses. Lusaka has over 15 shopping malls dotted around the City.
Lusaka is 45 minutes flight to Livingstone which is the tourist capital of Zambia, a landmark to the Mighty Victoria Falls one of the 7 wonders of the world. It is located in the Southern part of Zambia. The town was inspired and named after Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone who was the first European to see and name the Victoria Falls after the British queen at the time. About 30 minutes’ drive from Lusaka is Kalimba Reptile Park which is another place to go .You'll experience giant Nile crocodiles, as well as indigenous snakes, tortoises and other reptiles. It's also one of the few places left in the world where you can see the rare and shy African slender-snouted crocodile. There are also plenty of other activities to fill your time, or to entertain the kids if you'd with them. Other places of interest in Lusaka are; The Lilayi Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary is also another place for the visitors who will come at the conference it is in one of the Netflix ``Christmas in the wild" located 30 minutes from the venue and lovers of nice wine this is a go to. Chaminuka has a wide range of game but the most exciting bit is an experience with the cheaters that is also located in Lusaka 40minutes drive from the venue. The caves on Leopards hill host over 300,000 bats for those who would love a dungeon experience. Lusaka has museums and a memorial park for its past but late presidents all 15 minutes from the venue. Zambia boasts of a peaceful environment. It is the Switzerland of Africa, the city is safe where you will walk with your valuables in your hand without a fear of being mugged or stolen. This security isn't in many African cities. According to the global peace index in Africa, Zambia ranks number 4.
Who is the Team?
Our team consists of the core members of the OpenStreetMap Zambia community with a diverse set of backgrounds; two of the members have attended previous State of the Map conferences and can replicate lessons learned to State of the Map Africa 2017 and 2019. One of the members has been organizing before for State of the Map Africa, State of the map world, HOT Summit and been part of many international conferences. Our skillset will be leveraged to organise the best State of the Map Africa ever from conferences activities to leisure activities.
- Chomba Chishala
- Kennedy Jomokela
- Marrein Kalapula
- Jonathan Maipambe
- Kachikoti Banda
- Gertrude Namitala
- Twiza Chongo Kaulule
You can contact us on trudynamitala@osmzambia.org
When?
The best date for SoTM Africa 2021- September 17th – 19th
Where?
The SotM Africa 2021 Lusaka proposed venue is The University of Zambia. The local organizing committee has partnered with The University of Zambia Geography Department to host the conference. The proposed venue at The University of Zambia is New Demography Lecture Theatre which has a capacity that can host 350 people; there are a number of lecture rooms that will be used for breakout sessions at Confucius Institute seating 50 to 60 people. The venue is in a very good environment and it is surrounded by other social amenities such as the Shopping Mall called East Park Mall within the university.
The venue has Goma lakes which we will use to host the social event which will be the first ever street party in the SOTM Africa history with the popular traditional Southern braai. Within the venue, there are basic accommodation facilities and all alternative accommodation spaces are less than 5 minutes from the venue. Within the university, there is a police station and the additional security hired by the university. We will also have backup security for the conference. We have a hallway where the posters shall be showcased and art exhibition in relation to African mapping history. The sponsors will also have a very spacious hall where they will set up tables. We have talked to different local organizations for sponsorship like GIZ, Trudigital Technologies, Trade Kings, Bert Motors, Palm Associates, TESCO, USAID and others for sponsorship when the conference happens in Zambia.
Budget
| Items | Quantity | Unit price (US $) | Amount (US $) | Comments (US $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | 3 days | 400 | 1,200 | This amount will cater for the main auditorium and breakout room for the 3 days period. |
| Catering | 350 people | 42 | 14,700 | This will provide food for the participants during the 3days conference. |
| Scholarships | Southern Africa | The Southern African scholarship will enable more Southern participants to attend the conference by road. | ||
| 35 | 350 | 12,250 | ||
| Rest of Africa | The scholarship will enable participants from the rest of Africa to attend the conference by air. | |||
| 20 | 1500 | 30,000 | ||
| Sound System | 3 days | 400 | 1200 | For edibility of sound during the conference |
| Pre-conference Marketing | 1 | 1000 | 1000 | This will ensure the conference is well advertised across Africa and the rest of the world. |
| Pull up banners | 4 | 300 | 1200 | To increase the awareness of the conference |
| Backdrop banners | 2 | 500 | 1000 | To accentuate the theme of the conference and different stakeholders during presentations and speeches and to encourage photo ops. |
| Teardrop banners | 2 | 200 | 400 | To easily grab the audience attention to the conference venue. |
| T shirts | 350 | 17 | 5950 | For identification during the conference |
| Conference package | 350 | 10 | 3500 | Bag, Program Book, Pen, Name tag |
| Sticker | 350 | 1 | 350 | This will be given to the participants and attendees during the conference. |
| Photography & Video coverage | 3 days | 5000 | For live streaming, photographing and video coverage of the 3 days conference. | |
| Security | 3 | 120 | 360 | To keep law and order to ensure smooth proceedings of programs during the 3 days conference. |
| Internet data | 3 | 500 | 500 | For internet connection for the participants and attendees during the 3 days conference. |
| Cocktail (street party) | 350 | 17 | 6000 | This is for the social outing during the conference. |
| Volunteers | 15 | 25 | 375 | Help welcome, guide and register participants and attendees during the 3 days conference. |
| Logistics (Transport & Communication) | 1000 | Communication and movement for the local organizers during the 3 days conference. | ||
| Miscellaneous | 1 | 500 | 500 | For unforeseen costs during the pre-and-post of the 3 days conference. |
| Total | 86485 | |||
Accommodation
| Hotel | Rates for a double room per day | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CommonWealth Guest house Unza | Single rooms $15 Double room $20 |
UNZA Graduate School of Business | 260-211294108 | |
| Troy Lodge | Single room $30 Double room $40 |
Nanshila Road, Lusaka | 260962332643 | |
| Grand Palace Hotel | Single room $50 Double room $63 |
Plot 35376,Thobo Mbeki Road Post Box: 37077,Lusaka,Zambia |
260-211251014 260-971257676 |
http://www.grandpalacez.com |
| Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka | $132 | 19029 Great East Road Lusaka | 260 960 280900 | https://www.radissoonhotlel.com |
| Protea Hotel by Marriott Lusaka | $80 | Arcades Shopping Complex, Cnr Great East Road,10101 Thabo Mbeki Rd, Lusaka | 260 211254664 | https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lunls-protea-hotel-lusaka/ |
| Mika Lodge | Single rooms $36 Standard Double rooms $43 Twin rooms $46 |
Plot No. 106, Central Street, Jesmondine, Lusaka Zambia. | 021 1291557 | http://www.mikahotels.com |
Transportation
Air Transport
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport is situated in the capital city Lusaka, 27 kilometers from the main business district. From the airport to the venue for the conference which is The University of Zambia it is about 30minutes drive with no traffic congestion as we don't experience traffic congestion in Lusaka. A number of international airlines fly to and from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport namely: Turkish Airlines, Emirates, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Proflight, Mahogany, Ethiopian Airways, RwandAir, Air Namibia, Air Tanzania, TAAG Angola Airlines, and Malawian Airlines. We will partner with local charter flights to take visitors to South Luangwa National Park (home of lions and leopards), Lower Zambezi and Livingstone (national park, reptile farm and Victoria Falls) for those who will book with us in advance.
Road Transport.
Airport Taxi: Taxis from the airport are the main models of transport that take people from the airport to destination in and around Lusaka. International Buses services: Zambia is a landlocked country meaning it is surrounded by other country in Southern Africa, therefore there are international buses that travel within Southern Africa such as South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana, this shows that Zambia is the center and it very easy to enter Zambia using road transport which is cheaper than air transport.
Ulendo Taxi and My taxi is like Uber here in Zambia which can take people around Lusaka and the surrounding areas. The Ulendo and My taxi apps can be downloaded into the phone and just on the click of the button the car will be there at an affordable cost of $6.
Taxi: are available in most of all the locations within Lusaka city, Hiring vehicles within Lusaka is very much possible and easy.
Minibusses: There are many public modes of transport within the city and they take people to and fro the city center and township and they are very cheap to use at an affordable fare of $0.5. The minibusses have an Orange ribbon on them as a way to show that they are public buses.