[OSGeo-Announce] The Open Source Geospatial Foundation signs MoU with HOT the HUMANITARIAN OPENSTREETMAP TEAM UNITED STATES INC.

[Astrid Emde (OSGeo)]

2021-09-13
see OSGeo Foundation News: 
https://www.osgeo.org/foundation-news/the-open-source-geospatial-foundation-signs-mou-with-hot-the-humanitarian-openstreetmap-team-united-states-inc/

OSGeo and HOT [1] signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the goal of 
fostering the use of open source geospatial software, to enable 
participatory community-driven development.

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team United States, Inc. (HOT), applies 
the principles of open source and open data sharing for humanitarian 
response
and economic development. Founded in the wake of the Haiti earthquake of 
2010, responders and organizations recognized the need for accurate,
accessible maps to aid in humanitarian response and the potential for 
international development interventions.
Since then, HOT has utilized its network of tens of thousands of 
volunteers to contribute to OpenStreetMap, the free and editable map of 
the world. HOT’s network and tools enable everyone, local or 
international, to have an impact by putting places and areas home to 
people on the map.

The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) is a not-for-profit 
organization whose mission is to support and promote the collaborative 
development of open source geospatial software, data and education. The 
foundation provides financial, organizational and legal support to the 
broader open source geospatial community. It also serves as an 
independent legal entity to which community members can contribute code, 
funding and other resources, secure in the knowledge that their 
contributions will be maintained for public benefit. OSGeo also serves 
as an outreach and advocacy organization for the open source geospatial 
community, and provides a common forum and shared infrastructure for 
improving cross-project collaboration. The foundation's projects are all 
freely available at https://osgeo.org and usable under an OSI-certified 
open source license.

Together the organizations have agreed to find synergistic ways to 
promote common goals.

Starting in 2021, HOT and OSGeo will work together to contribute to the 
following shared objectives:

A. OSGeo to communicate about HOT's tools on OSGeoLive 
(https://live.osgeo.org)
B. HOT and OSGeo to promote development of open geospatial communities 
(e.g. OSGeo chapters and OSM community groups) in HOT priority countries 
(list of 94 countries). This should include connecting OSGeo local 
chapters with Open Mapping Hubs supported by HOT in Asia Pacific, 
Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA), West Africa, and Latin America & the 
Caribbean, with the goal of facilitating delivery of training and 
funding (Microgrants) where relevant to OSGeo local chapters.
C. HOT to promote use of open source geospatial tools (such as GeoNode 
and QGIS) in HOT projects and with the humanitarian mapping community
D. HOT and OSGeo to show visibility of partners on both sides during 
events
E. HOT and OSGeo to work together over conferences including HOT Summit 
& FOSS4G

Angelos Tzotsos (President of OSGeo) and Tyler Radford (Executive 
Director of HOT) signed the MOU in August/September 2021.

For more information about OSGeo contact board at osgeo.org

For more information about HOT contact  board at hotosm.org

MoU details at https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/MOU_HOT

About the Open Source Geospatial Foundation
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The Open Source Geospatial Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(4) 
organization to empower everyone with open source geospatial. The 
software foundation directly supports projects serving as an outreach 
and advocacy organization providing financial, organizational and legal 
support for the open source geospatial community.

OSGeo works with GeoCat, OPENGIS.ch and other sponsors, along with our 
partners to foster an open approach to software, standards, data and 
education.

[1] https://www.hotosm.org/