Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Za'atari refugee camp, Jordan for refugee community information management and mobilization: The RefuGIS project

Abstract

The inherent geographic nature of displacement in refugee camps is requiring further use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology for community-based information and asset management. Additionally, refugees have a fundamental need for livelihood development in host countries due to the protracted nature of displacement. This paper presents our work on the Refugee GIS or ‘RefuGIS’ project that addresses these two topics via a training and capacity building education program and community mobilization efforts. RefuGIS is currently at the prototype level of development in the Za'atari Syrian Refugee Camp in northern Jordan. RefuGIS is the one of world's first efforts at enabling GIS capacity among refugees themselves and was funded by a grant from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Innovation fund. Specifically, this paper will discuss (a) design of the RefuGIS educational program via utilization of a non-profit GIS software donation, hardware procurement and customized GIS educational curriculum, (b) selection of refugee participants through spatial thinking aptitude testing, (c) practical experiences and lessons learned from education, training, and capacity building of refugees on the topics of GIS and related information technology skills, (d) insights into use of GIS as a community information and asset management tool by refugees themselves as demonstrated by evaluation of project outputs such as reference mapping products and field surveys conducted by refugees. Lessons learned from the RefuGIS project, even at the prototype stage, have potential to inform other refugee community information and asset management projects. Since creation of the project, refugees in Za'atari camp have been able to obtain cash-for-work GIS jobs in Za'atari using the skills learned via the RefuGIS project. The RefuGIS project demonstrates the refugee livelihood potential that training and capacity building around GIS can build as well as the empowerment effect that technology education and livelihood development can bring to refugees.