At the Geo4Impact 2025 Conference, held at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) headquarters, a dynamic panel titled "Geospatial Tools and Initiatives for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating Development Projects" showcased groundbreaking initiatives at the intersection of geoinformation, artificial intelligence, and participatory development. Moderated by Nicolas Lambert, Head of the Partnerships and Institutional Relations Unit at France's National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN), the session brought together expert insights from across the development spectrum.
Nicolas Lambert opened the session by underlining the importance of geospatial data as foundational infrastructure for many public policies such as agriculture, forestry, land management, risk prevention, etc. He highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) is enhancing change detection and mapping, with 10 AI systems already operational at IGN on land cover and forestry. Lambert emphasized that, in France, open data has been a boon to both public service and business innovation, but stressed that data collection and storage entail real costs. He made a compelling case for the role of digital commons, which are shared digital resources like open-source software, knowledge, and data that are collaboratively produced and governed by a community for public use in fostering data cooperation across public bodies, NGOs, and local governments. Looking ahead, France is investing in a national digital twin initiative to simulate and plan future scenarios across sectors.
Johannes Schielein, Product Owner for Data Analytics & Intelligence at KfW Development Bank, introduced NaLaMap, a prototype open-source platform that leverages natural language processing to make geospatial analysis accessible to non-experts. Demonstrating the tool's potential through a simulated case in Mali, Schielein showed how users can describe their needs in natural language—such as locating hospitals or analyzing flood risk—and receive meaningful maps and data visualizations in return. "There is no Excel for geo data," he quipped, highlighting the steep learning curve of GIS tools compared to ubiquitous office software. NaLaMap aims to lower these barriers, enabling broader access to and use of spatial data. Schielein emphasized the importance of open data and collaboration in addressing high costs and limited technical capacity. NaLaMap will be a system focusing on high interoperability that will allow other institutions to use it within their existing Geospatial Data Infrastructure. Being fully open-sourced will furthermore guarantee that others can install the application without licensing fees and customize it to their own needs. He concluded by noting that they are seeking partners to scale development of the tool.
Damit Serge Didier Amany, Manager of the Impact Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at the West African Development Bank (BOAD), presented a pioneering geospatial initiative to assess the sustainability of infrastructure investments post-project completion. Amany outlined how geospatial tools, satellite imagery, and digital questionnaires are helping BOAD evaluate the durability of roads, irrigation systems, and other critical infrastructure in member countries. In settings where physical access is restricted due to budgetary or security constraints, these tools provide a practical alternative for continued oversight. "The main question is: after a project ends, are people still using the infrastructure, and is it still functional?" he asked. By integrating mapping and statistical dashboards, BOAD is enabling constructive dialogues with governments and identifying areas for targeted follow-up investment. Amany noted that partnerships are essential to sustaining these efforts, and called for expanded capacity building and access to high-quality satellite data.
Charl-Thom Bayer, Acting Team Leader and Senior Land Information Specialist at the Land Portal Foundation, shifted the focus to the importance of data transparency in land governance. His presentation, "Funding Equitable Digital Development: A Call to Action for Development Partners," underscored the role of open data in combating corruption, improving trust, while fostering accountable and inclusive development. Bayer introduced the work of the Land Portal in fostering an open knowledge ecosystem for land governance through improving documentation, democratising data and enriching debate. "Access to information should not be considered as ‘nice to have’ or a luxury" Bayer stressed. "It's a fundamental right as well as being an enabling right for the achievement of other human rights" as enshrined in global instruments. He argued that digital public goods like the Land Portal are critical for ensuring that the risks and benefits from the rapid digitalization of society are equitably distributed.
He also presented two data tools, the State of Land Information (SOLI) Index and the Land Projects Database which can provide valuable intelligence for development interventions. The SOLIndex benchmarks how complete and open land-related data is in 42 countries across Africa and Latin America. He highlighted that data on land investments, land valuation and land markets are the least accessible—an area where corruption exists. By comparing SOLI scores with the Corruption Perception Index from Transparency International, it illustrated that many countries occupy a challenging high risk land governance zone with high levels of perceived corruption and low levels of data transparency. He also presented the Land Projects Database, which aggregates data from IATI to show how $21 billion has been spent on land governance initiatives over the previous decade. This tool, he argued, helps development partners to gain intelligence that may contribute to their information base for targeted initiatives. Bayer concluded with a call to action: development actors should prioritize the use of existing data, adopt and support frameworks for data sharing and data publication. He noted that efforts should be made to ensure that data initiatives are equitable and geared towards improving service delivery.
Maeve de France, Head of Programs at CartONG, brought a vital perspective on participatory mapping and community resilience. She argued that even the most advanced data systems risk overlooking a crucial layer: the lived experiences and knowledge of local communities, that should be at the heart of most international development projects. CartONG, a French NGO specializing in humanitarian mapping and information management, has developed a participatory mapping approach that empowers communities to define their own priorities, needs, and risks.
Maeve shared practical examples from participatory projects in Tajikistan, Tanzania, and in Mayotte, where community members participated in the data creation processes using a variety of methods from high-tech tools to workshops from hand-drawn sketches. These maps facilitated tangible improvements in shanty-town water access, flood preparedness, and climate-resilient development. "Maps are powerful not only because of the data they contain, but because of the conversations they spark," she said. Maeve emphasized that such participatory processes not only fill data gaps but also promote accountability and ownership by local actors. Their involvement, she stressed, is key for the sustainability and lasting impact of the mapping initiative.
The session closed with a robust Q&A. Questions ranged from the security concerns about data in conflict-affected regions to the feasibility of scaling participatory mapping efforts. Panelists reiterated that context matters: open data frameworks must be reflected in national legal systems, and community-based approaches must be adapted to local capacities and needs. Lambert, summing up, highlighted how each presentation illustrated the transformative potential of geospatial tools when grounded in collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity.
Taken together, the panel offered a compelling vision for how geospatial innovation—from AI-powered platforms to grassroots mapping—can reshape development planning and evaluation. The message was clear: for geospatial tools to truly drive equitable development, they must be open, participatory, and responsive to the realities on the ground.
This blog post was produced with the assistance of AI. The content has been reviewed by panelists as well as members of the Land Portal team who attended the session.
