From student to geospatial consultant: “I support food security and emergency response.”

Inspiring, challenging, and collaborative.

At ITC, the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation at the University of Twente, I met students from countries across the globe, such as Tanzania, China, and Colombia. Most of them already had work experience, and I was inspired by how they contributed to their countries. I could learn from them and think about how I could use that knowledge to help my home country, Kenya.

One of the many memories I cherish is a week-long trip where we visited different institutions: UN organisations, research centres, and private companies, all working with earth observation and satellite data. The purpose was to understand how we could use the knowledge and skills we were building in practice. The visit to the UN office in Germany stood out because I learned how I could apply my geospatial skills to humanitarian work. That experience inspired me to work at a UN organisation.

When there is an emergency in Africa, such as a natural disaster or food shortage, I support emergency response teams through spatial analysis and mapping. To understand what is happening on the ground and where food aid is most needed, I use all kinds of data: satellite images, population density, and displacement reports from governments and local agencies. I pull everything into geospatial maps for decision-makers to decide where food aid should go and how to get it there.

One of the projects I am working on is related to the Sudan conflict. I am analysing the movement of displaced people. Where are people fleeing from? Where are they going? Are there World Food Programme offices nearby? What roads are usable? All of this comes together in digital maps and reports that help the teams on the ground make well-informed decisions.

Another recent project was concerned with the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We used geospatial data to identify camps that were destroyed and create maps that guided the crisis response: where to deliver food, which routes to take, and how urgently it needed to happen.

It is rewarding to see how our geospatial maps and analysis help deliver food to people in urgent need. These are vulnerable communities, families, and children, and we help them when they need it the most. On a more personal level, I love to share my knowledge with young people back home and mentor them on what is possible with geospatial tools during emergencies, but also before and after.

I studied spatial information science in Kenya and wanted to learn how to use geo-information in policymaking, particularly in food security, climate change, and the energy sector. These are areas I have always been interested in. After completing my Master’s at the University of Twente, I knew what kind of organisation I wanted to join. I landed this job through networking, and the credibility of the ITC faculty played a big role in every job interview I had.

I apply the knowledge and skills I gained in so many different ways every day. For example, I use satellite images and socio-economic data to make food security analyses, tracking changes in food supplies over the years. Moreover, ITC Twente equipped me with the confidence and skills to position myself for international fellowships and speaking engagements, such as the Kenya Space Expo & Conference 2024, where I spoke about leveraging space capabilities for national development.

I saw firsthand how maps are used in practice and came to understand that a map is a form of communication helping decision-makers at the onset of an emergency. Besides, I have learned to conduct impact analysis, going on the ground and seeing how what I do affects people. How many people will be affected? What can we do before it gets worse?

I am starting a new job as a geospatial advisor at the World Bank Group, where I will support food security and energy projects across Africa. I will also be involved in Mission 300, an initiative aimed at expanding access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. So, my goal in the coming years will be to help governments plan sustainable energy systems.

First, be open to all opportunities of where your Master’s can take you. You may think you will work in a certain area, but your skills can take you much further. I thought I would work in food security, but later I realised it is embedded in humanitarian work, and now I will be involved in energy policies. Second, network with ITC alumni. They can be a huge help in finding opportunities and opening doors you didn’t know existed.