About HOT:
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) sits at the nexus of participatory mapping, community-led development, humanitarian response, open data and tech. With a talented and diverse team spread around the globe, HOT is an NGO which supports a dynamic global community of thousands of dedicated volunteers using maps and open data for humanitarian response and the Sustainable Development Goals. Working with humanitarian and development partners like the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, UN agencies, governments and others, the HOT community maps in solidarity with those affected by or at risk of disaster, contributing the maps and data aid workers need to do their lifesaving work.
In 2020 the work of the HOT community was recognized by TED’s Audacious Project, a collaborative philanthropic initiative that serves as a springboard for social impact on a grand scale, leading to an exciting new phase of growth. HOT is expanding its activities: opening four regional hubs and scaling up its support to local mapping communities with the audacious goal of mapping an area home to one billion people in 94 countries at high risk of disasters or experiencing poverty - mapping with communities before they are in crisis.
Assignment Overview:
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team – Eastern & Southern Africa (HOT-ESA), working with SDI Kenya, will collect high‑resolution drone imagery to support settlement profiling and community-led open mapping under the #KnowYourCity (KYC) programme.
The Consultant will:
- Plan and carry out safe, legal drone flights in Nairobi County;
- Capture high‑quality imagery for mapping and analysis;
- Support light‑touch, hands‑on capacity development for SDI Kenya staff; and
- Use Drone Tasking Manager (DroneTM) to manage tasks and imagery.
Target Area:
Drone imagery will be collected over approximately 33 villages in Nairobi, covering about 2.7 km² total (final areas to be confirmed with HOT‑ESA and SDI Kenya).
Deliverables:
The consultant will deliver the following within the contract period:
- Work plan & compliance pack
- Brief work plan and schedule;
- Flight plan(s) and risk assessment;
- Evidence of compliance (KCAA licensing as required, drone registration, and insurance).
- DroneTM setup and use
- DroneTM project(s) created/configured for the agreed areas;
- Tasks/flight planning prepared in DroneTM (or compatible workflow agreed with HOT‑ESA);
- All collected imagery organized and uploaded/shared through the agreed DroneTM workflow.
- Imagery acquisition
- Complete set of raw images covering the agreed areas;
- Flight logs (and any other relevant mission metadata).
- Quality checks and mapping-ready outputs
- Basic QA/QC notes (coverage, overlap, blur, gaps, any re-flight needs);
- Mapping-ready outputs in agreed format(s) (e.g., orthomosaic and metadata), if required and feasible within time.
- Capacity development & handover
- Supervised field-based demonstration(s) and practical coaching for SDI Kenya staff on:
- safe drone operations and data capture;
- imagery quality checks; and
- DroneTM basics (project setup, tasking, imagery upload/management).
- Coaching may include staff who are in the process of obtaining pilot certification; however, all flight operations must remain compliant with KCAA rules.
- Short completion report
- 2–4 page report summarizing what was flown, what was delivered, challenges, and recommendations.
Key Tasks:
4.1. Before fieldwork — planning + set-up
- Confirm the areas of interest (approx. 33 villages / ~2.7 km² total) and technical specifications with HOT‑ESA and SDI Kenya (e.g., target ground sample distance, overlap, altitude limits, output formats);
- Prepare a concise flight plan and risk assessment, including:
- KCAA compliance steps and required permissions/authorizations;
- community engagement approach (who is informed, when, and how);
- safety procedures, contingency plans, and no‑fly constraints;
- Configure Drone Tasking Manager (DroneTM) for delivery:
- create/configure the project(s) for the agreed AOIs;
- set up user access/roles for HOT‑ESA and SDI Kenya;
- agree naming conventions and data packaging structure (imagery, logs, metadata);
- Prepare a light capacity development plan (what will be demonstrated/coached, to whom, and when), aligned to the “learning‑by‑doing” approach.
4.2. During fieldwork — imagery acquisition + coaching
- Lead safe, compliant drone operations and manage site safety (pre‑flight checks, briefings, and incident readiness) in agreed AOI;
- Coordinate with community leaders and relevant authorities as needed to ensure acceptance and safe operations;
- Capture imagery (and GCPs where applicable/feasible) to meet the agreed accuracy and quality requirements;
- Deliver practical, hands‑on coaching to SDI Kenya staff during real operations, including:
- basic mission planning and flight workflows;
- safe operations and standard field checklists;
- field‑level imagery quality checks (coverage, blur, overlap, gaps);
- how the field workflow connects to DroneTM (tasking/organisation and metadata needs).
4.3. After fieldwork — QA/QC + handover
- Run QA/QC checks, identify any gaps and (if feasible) advise on re‑flight needs within the contract period;
- Organise, back up, and transfer data (raw imagery, logs, metadata) using the agreed structure;
- Upload/transfer imagery and logs via DroneTM (or agreed repository/workflow) and ensure materials are usable by HOT‑ESA/SDI Kenya;
- Deliver the agreed mapping‑ready outputs (if in scope and feasible within time);
- Complete a structured handover, including:
- Confirming DroneTM access and project settings are usable by the team going forward;
- Explaining the data package structure, QA/QC notes, and any known limitations;
- Providing a short “how‑to” checklist/SOP for repeat use;
- Submit the short completion report.
Standards and Compliance:
- KCAA compliance is mandatory; including any approvals/permissions required for the flights.
- Follow HOT and SDI Kenya safeguarding, community engagement, and ethical data practices.
- Ensure secure handling of data and timely backups.
Consultant Profile:
A minimum requirement for this role includes:
- Demonstrated experience in drone mapping / UAV imagery capture and processing;
- Valid Remote Pilot License (RPL) or equivalent recognized by KCAA;
- Access to a KCAA-compliant, registered, and insured drone suitable for mapping;
- Ability to work collaboratively with community and multi-stakeholder teams;
- Fluency in English (Swahili strongly preferred).
Desired:
- Experience in informal settlement / urban mapping projects;
- Familiarity with OpenStreetMap workflows and DroneTM.
Location + Duration:
This will be an on-site position and for a period of two (2) weeks.
Application Deadline:
The deadline for application is Wednesday, 5th March, 2026.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
This position may close before the stated deadline if we receive large volume of qualified applications (approximately 250 applications). Early submission is recommended.