from the journal:
"The eight articles in this special issue of the Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC) were selected from papers initially presented at the International Conference on Participatory Spatial Information Management and Communication: "Mapping for Change", held in the Kenya College of Communication and Technology in Nairobi, September 7-10 2005. These eight articles comprise one overview, one critical appraisal and six case studies. Two of the case studies are set within an urban environment and four within a rural environment.

The conference focused on Participatory Mapping (PM) and on how Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) is used to add value to PM. PGIS is thus the result of a spontaneous merger of Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) methods with Geographic Information Technologies & Systems (GITS), and builds on using combinations of geo-spatial information management tools ranging from sketch maps, Participatory 3D Models (P3DM), aerial photographs, satellite imagery, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to compose peoples’ spatial knowledge in the forms of virtual or physical, 2 or 3 dimensional maps used as interactive vehicles for spatial learning, discussion, information exchange, analysis, advocacy and decision making.

The focus of the event was sharing experiences and defining good practices for making GITS available to less-favoured groups in rural and urban settings in order to enhance their capacity in generating, managing and communicating spatial information in the contexts of: habitations; natural resources management; rights and entitlements; equity; social justice, hazard mitigation, conflict management and communicating within local community groups, and with higher-level authorities or economic forces.

The main outcomes of the conference included developing and sharing a knowledge base on PGIS practice, as well as laying down the foundation for the development of regional networks and resource centres. Tangible lessons learned include: Enabling conditions for PGIS practice to function effectively in developing countries; suitable strategies for establishing such conditions in places where none exists; guidelines for sound PGIS practice under different socio-political contexts in developing countries; the need for better communication channels and facilities (e.g. regional networks) for supporting dissemination and wider adoption of sound PGIS practice..."

Papers include:

1. Participatory Spatial Information Management and Communication in Developing Countries
2. Participatory Mapping and Geographic Information Systems: Whose Map? Who is Empowered and Who Disempowered? Who Gains and Who Loses?
3. Monitoring and Evaluating Land Use/ Land Cover Change Using Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) Tools: A Case Study of Begasheka Watershed, Tigray, Ethiopia
4. Community Resource Mapping in Sustainable Natural Resource Management: A Case Study of SW Uganda
5. Using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Participatory Mapping of Community Forest in Nepal
6. Participatory Mapping for Local Management of Natural Resources in Villages of the Rufiji District (Tanzania)
7. Using PGIS to Conduct Community Safety Audits
8. (Re) Defining Peri-Urban Residential Space Using Participatory GIS in Kenya