Looking back, Mwangi sums up his internship in three words: fun, intensive, eye-opening. It was fun because of the incredible people he met fellow interns and seasoned Esri professionals alike. It was intensive, packed with learning and culminating in a project that challenged him to grow. And it was eye-opening, revealing how GIS is the cornerstone of almost everything, shaping industries and transforming communities.

Among the many lessons he took away, Mwangi highlights one in particular: working in a diverse environment of highly qualified professionals. It wasn’t just about technical skills; it was about seeing social and professional dynamics in action, understanding how collaboration and adaptability drive results.

Challenges came, too – like when Mwangi tried to render a high-fidelity 3D scene with multiple layers that kept crashing his system. Frustration gave way to triumph, as he learned to troubleshoot effectively, proving that every problem has a solution. This experience, he says, reflects the very essence of GIS: understand the problem, choose the right tool, and craft the solution.

Mwangi’s favorite playground? 3D data in ArcGIS, particularly Scene Viewer. The ability to create near-digital twins of the world, integrating real-time data like weather via Python, captivated him. It made GIS not just a tool, but a way to visualize, simulate, and understand the world in ways that are tangible and impactful.

Collaboration was another cornerstone of his growth. Engaging with mentors, peers, and Esri staff not only enhanced his technical knowledge but also boosted his interpersonal skills. Their welcoming, supportive, and sometimes lighthearted approach allowed him to learn in an environment that balanced guidance with autonomy.

One proud moment stands out: presenting his final project with clarity and confidence. The recognition and feedback he received affirmed how far he had come and reinforced his belief in his capabilities.

Looking ahead, Mwangi is focused on outcomes rather than tasks. He now understands professional expectations: delivering quality work on time, collaborating effectively, and creating solutions that function in real-world operational environments. The internship sharpened his problem-solving mindset, instilled discipline, and broadened his understanding of GIS as a tool for decision-making, policy, and everyday operations.

This experience has clarified his professional direction: to become a well-rounded geo-generalist, capable of applying spatial thinking to practical challenges across industries. His next step? Continuing his traineeship at Esri Eastern Africa to deepen his technical skills, gain further industry exposure, and take on more responsibility.

For future interns, Mwangi offers this advice: stay curious, be proactive, and fully engage. “The environment supports growth, but the impact you gain depends on the effort you put in,” he says. His story is one of curiosity transformed into competence, challenges met with resilience, and a passion for GIS that continues to grow.

From the first spark of curiosity to confident mastery, Mwangi Dennis Githinji’s journey at Esri Eastern Africa is a testament to the power of learning, collaboration, and the boundless possibilities of GIS. Interested in interning with us, submit your CV to carrers@esriea.com

As of March 1, 2026, ArcGIS Desktop, including ArcMap, has officially retired.

For more than 20 years, ArcMap has been a trusted tool for generations of GIS professionals worldwide. It helped map communities, analyze environments, support critical decision-making, and bring spatial thinking into countless organizations. For many of us, ArcMap was where we first learned to think spatially, created our first maps, and developed workflows that shaped our careers and the organizations we served, fundamentally transforming how GIS was applied.

Learn more

ArcMap wasn’t just software; it was reliable, familiar, and deeply connected to our daily work and professional identity. It was built at a time when GIS existed solely on the desktop, a model that worked exceptionally well for many years.

As technology advanced, so did GIS. The launch of ArcGIS Server enabled maps to be shared online, expanding GIS beyond a single desktop application. Since then, ArcGIS has continued to evolve to meet changing workflows and broader needs. Today, ArcGIS is a modern geospatial platform that spans desktop, web, and mobile environments. GIS now supports more roles across organizations, with data shared widely, updated frequently, and used to inform real-time decision-making.

With ArcMap’s retirement, it’s important to reflect on what it made possible. The work accomplished with ArcMap laid the foundation for modern GIS, influencing tool design, workflow thinking, and the ways we support the people who rely on GIS every day.

This is not about forgetting the past, it’s about honoring it, building on it, and moving forward intentionally.

If you’re ready to look ahead, resources are available to help you explore modern GIS capabilities and plan your next steps.

Thank you for everything you created with ArcMap, and for being a valued part of the ArcGIS community.

Continue the Journey

• Keep Innovating with GIS
• Download the Migration Guide
• Reimagine Your GIS: From ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro and User Types

Esri Eastern Africa is excited to celebrate Grevy’s Zebra Trust’s Healthy Rangelands Program, named a finalist in the 2025 global ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition for its innovative, community-driven approach to conservation and rangeland management. This accolade highlights the program’s innovative use of spatial insights to advance conservation, strengthen community resilience, and support healthy ecosystems across northern Kenya, where wildlife and people share delicate rangelands.

People at the Heart of Conservation

Redempta Njeri, GZT’s Impact and Learning Manager, and Rachel George, key program champions, demonstrate how thoughtful, people-centered rangeland management can restore ecosystems from the ground up. Their work reflects the broader efforts of GZT, alongside community scouts and partners, in promoting sustainable conservation practices across northern Kenya.

Redempta combines expertise in botany, zoology, and spatial ecology to link technical insights with community priorities, supporting monitoring, measuring program effectiveness, and shaping long-term impact. Together with Rachel, she collaborates with local communities and scouts to monitor Grevy’s zebra populations, assess habitat conditions, and guide grazing and restoration decisions. By integrating indigenous knowledge with planned grazing and holistic land management, their work improves rangeland health, reduces human-wildlife conflict, and supports both wildlife and community livelihoods.

Protecting an Endangered Species on Shared Rangelands

Grevy’s zebra is one of Africa’s most endangered equids, with only a few thousand remaining in the wild, primarily in northern Kenya. Their survival relies on healthy grasslands that support both wildlife and pastoralist communities.

Through the Healthy Rangelands Program, GZT works with local communities to maintain this balance. Using maps, imagery, and field data collected by community scouts, the StoryMap illustrates how rangeland conditions influence wildlife movement, grazing patterns, and long-term survival. The program demonstrates that sustainable land management can create shared outcomes for conservation and livelihoods.

Communities Driving Regeneration Through Data

A core strength of the Healthy Rangelands Program is local leadership. Community Scouts track Grevy’s zebra populations, collect wildlife and habitat data, and implement adaptive grazing practices that restore degraded areas and enhance rangeland health.

The ArcGIS StoryMap combines interactive maps, imagery, and field insights to tell a compelling, accessible story of community-led regeneration. It showcases how local knowledge, data, and collective action are transforming conservation across northern Kenya.

Explore the full StoryMap and see how communities are making a tangible difference:

Vote now: https://hubs.li/Q0438Bqm0
View the StoryMap: https://hubs.li/Q0438Blw0

So, how do these ArcGIS Pro versions differ?

This article outlines what each license level provides, highlights practical use cases, and helps you determine which option best suits your workflows.

ArcGIS Pro Basic

The Creator user type includes ArcGIS Pro Basic, which supports editing, analysis, and data management, along with the ability to publish maps to ArcGIS Online.

This license level is well suited for users who need to explore, query, and carry out introductory spatial analysis. It also enables map production, simple data editing, and foundational cartographic work, making it a strong starting point for those new to GIS.

Key capabilities:

• Essential GIS functionality
• Basic editing and data management
• Map creation and visualization
• Access to geoprocessing tools with limited advanced features

ArcGIS Pro Standard

The Professional user type builds on Basic by adding the capabilities included in ArcGIS Pro Standard.

This level is intended for professionals who manage more complex spatial databases and workflows. It is particularly useful for utilities, government agencies, and organizations that require version control, network modeling, and structured data management. It also provides access to additional solutions such as ArcGIS CityEngine.

Additional capabilities beyond Basic:

• Creation and management of ArcGIS Enterprise geodatabases
• Versioned editing and geodatabase replication
• Advanced editing tools (for example, polygon construction and line splitting)
• Mosaic dataset creation and raster catalog management
• Configuration and use of trace networks

ArcGIS Pro Advanced

The Professional Plus user type includes ArcGIS Pro Advanced, which contains all Standard capabilities along with expanded analytical tools and nine widely used ArcGIS Pro extensions. Extensions can also be added separately depending on organizational needs.

This tier is designed for experienced GIS analysts working on advanced spatial modeling, remote sensing, and automated workflows. It is ideal for organizations that rely on sophisticated geoprocessing and rigorous data validation. Professional Plus also unlocks additional products such as ArcGIS Urban and ArcGIS CityEngine.

Additional capabilities beyond Standard:

• Utility network creation and management
• Advanced geodatabase tools (including topology and attribute rules)
• Flood simulation and exploratory spatial analysis

Included extensions:

• ArcGIS 3D Analyst
• ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst
• ArcGIS Image Analyst
• ArcGIS Network Analyst
• ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
• ArcGIS Data Reviewer
• ArcGIS Publisher
• ArcGIS Workflow Manager

Learn more: ArcGIS Pro Extensions

Whether you are just getting started with GIS or conducting complex spatial analysis, ArcGIS Pro’s tiered licensing model ensures you can access the tools that match your project requirements. The Basic license provides a solid foundation for learning and everyday spatial tasks. Standard supports organizations managing detailed datasets and operational workflows. Advanced, on the other hand, is designed for in-depth modelling and high-level analytical work, offering access to ArcGIS Pro’s most powerful capabilities.

This overview should help clarify the distinctions between ArcGIS Pro license levels and guide you in selecting the right option for your needs. Learn more: ArcGIS Pro Extensions

Content Sharing Options in ArcGIS Online

Before you start…

Here are a few key considerations to keep in mind when sharing content in ArcGIS.

Understanding User Types

Content sharing in ArcGIS starts with identity. Named users form the foundation of the ArcGIS security model, while roles and privileges define what each user can do. To share content, you’ll need a Creator user type or higher.

Roles and Privileges

Your ability to create, edit, and share content depends on the role and privileges assigned to your account. Default roles come with predefined privileges, but administrators can create custom roles to better suit organizational needs. Refer to Esri’s documentation for more details.

Know Your Audience

Who should be able to access your content? It could be just you, specific colleagues, external partners, your entire organization, or even the wider ArcGIS community. In many cases, sharing involves a mix of these options. For this guide, let’s assume you’ve been working on exciting content such as web maps, apps, or layers.

Sharing Scenarios

Content Still Under Development

If your work isn’t ready to be seen or edited, no problem. All newly created items in ArcGIS default to Owner only, meaning they are accessible only to you and organization administrators. Access is controlled through secure user authentication.

Content Ready for Review

When your content is ready for feedback, you can share it securely with selected individuals using groups. Groups can include members from your organization and, if enabled by your administrator, members from other ArcGIS organizations as well.

Note: Ensure user profiles are set to public so they can be found and invited.

When creating a group, you control:

• Who can view the group
• How members join
• Who can contribute content
• Who can edit shared items

Important: Enable shared update at the time of group creation if you want members to edit content. This setting cannot be changed later.

Content for Your Organization

Sharing content with your organization allows all named users to access it through the My Organization tab. You can also combine organization sharing with group sharing to highlight content for specific teams.

Public Content

Ready to go public? Sharing with Everyone (public) makes your content accessible to anyone.

• In ArcGIS Online, public users do not need an ArcGIS account.
• In ArcGIS Enterprise, public access may be limited to users within the organization’s network, depending on configuration.

Sharing with the Wider ArcGIS Community

If your content is high-quality and authoritative, consider contributing it to the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World. Publicly shared content that meets Esri’s criteria – accuracy, reliability, and thorough documentation—can be nominated for inclusion in this global data repository.

Reaching Targeted Communities with ArcGIS Hub

ArcGIS Hub is ideal for sharing content with specific communities while supporting public engagement. It allows you to create no-code or low-code sites without web development experience and is available to Creator user types and above.

With ArcGIS Hub Premium, you can also build user communities. Community accounts allow users to sign in, provide feedback, join groups, and collaborate on content and site design based on assigned privileges.

Sharing Across Organizations

Content for Specific External Users

To share content with selected users from another organization, groups are the simplest solution.

For large-scale or ongoing collaboration, organizational collaborations offer a more powerful option.

A Closer Look at Collaborations

Collaborations extend content sharing beyond standard methods through trusted relationships between ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise organizations. They are designed for organizations with shared goals and structured agreements.

There are two main collaboration types:

• Partnered collaborations
• Distributed collaborations

You can use one or both to maximize the reach of your GIS content.

Partnered Collaborations

Partnered collaborations establish a formal relationship between ArcGIS Online organizations. They allow secure sharing, editing, and updating of content through shared groups, while each organization retains ownership of its data.

• Storage credits are charged to the content owner
• Analysis credits are charged to the organization running the analysis
• Editing must be enabled on feature layers for collaborators

Designated collaboration coordinators manage group membership, allowing users to be added directly without invitations.

Note: An organization can have up to 20 partnered collaborations. When a collaboration ends, access to shared content is revoked.

Distributed Collaborations

Distributed collaborations support sharing between:

• ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise
• Multiple ArcGIS Enterprise organizations

The organization that creates the collaboration acts as the host, while others join as guests. The host defines how content is shared through collaboration workspaces and groups.

Important notes:

• ArcGIS Online must host collaborations involving ArcGIS Enterprise
• An ArcGIS Enterprise organization can collaborate with only one ArcGIS Online organization

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, well done. Hopefully, this guide helps you avoid last-minute sharing stress and gives you confidence in choosing the right sharing approach. With the right setup, sharing your GIS content can be just as rewarding as creating it.

Check out our Website or Esri Eastern Africa Online store for more details on our products.

From the outset, the internship proved to be exactly what he had hoped for and more. In three words, Jackson describes the experience as educational, practical, and impactful. Each day presented opportunities to tackle real-world challenges, reinforcing the idea that GIS is not just about maps, but about solving problems that matter.

One of the most transformative lessons Jackson gained was learning to think from a client and end-user perspective. This shift reshaped how he approached GIS solutions, encouraging him to design workflows that aligned with business needs, improved efficiency, and delivered value to those using the systems on the ground. It was a critical step in understanding GIS as a service-driven discipline.

Among the most challenging and rewarding tasks was implementing an API within ArcGIS Survey123. The assignment pushed Jackson to understand how external systems integrate with GIS platforms and how data flows can be automated. What initially felt complex soon became an empowering experience, equipping him with skills in system integration, data management, and workflow automation that are essential in modern geospatial environments.

Working hands-on with a range of ArcGIS products further deepened his understanding of real-world problem solving. Jackson saw firsthand how GIS workflows could be streamlined, from assigning tasks to field officers, to collecting and submitting data, and finally visualizing results in real time through dashboards. This end-to-end process highlighted the power of GIS as a centralized system for timely and informed decision-making.

The internship also broadened Jackson’s view of GIS and its role in society and industry. He came to see it not merely as a mapping tool, but as a powerful engine for decision-making, capable of improving field visibility, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering real-time insights that drive meaningful impact in both communities and organizations.

One tool stood out as a favorite: ArcGIS Workforce. Jackson appreciated its ability to enable efficient task assignment, real-time field tracking, and seamless coordination of field operations. Seeing how effortlessly workflows could be managed reinforced his appreciation for GIS as a practical and operational technology.

Equally influential was the collaborative environment at Esri Eastern Africa. Working alongside fellow interns, mentors, and Esri professionals exposed Jackson to diverse perspectives, best practices, and hands-on problem-solving approaches. Their guidance played a vital role in sharpening his technical skills, boosting his confidence, and encouraging critical thinking.

A defining moment came when Jackson successfully completed the Survey123 API integration. It was a point of pride, proof of how far he had come and a realization that challenges he once considered daunting were, with the right support and persistence, entirely achievable.

By the end of the internship, Jackson felt well prepared for professional work in the geospatial industry. The experience provided hands-on exposure to industry-standard ArcGIS tools, real-world workflows, and client-focused problem solving, strengthening both his technical capabilities and his confidence in delivering practical GIS solutions.

The lessons he carries forward extend beyond technology. Teamwork and discipline emerged as lasting values, reinforced through close collaboration and shared goals. These principles, Jackson believes, will remain essential throughout his career in GIS.

Most importantly, the internship helped clarify his professional direction. It confirmed his desire to pursue a GIS-focused career centered on solving real-world problems, while emphasizing the importance of blending technical expertise with workflow optimization and a client-first mindset.

Looking ahead, Jackson plans to apply his skills through practical GIS projects, explore advanced ArcGIS tools, and continue building expertise in creating efficient, user-focused geospatial solutions. To future applicants considering the Esri Eastern Africa internship, his advice is clear: apply, stay curious, and be proactive. Embracing every learning opportunity, asking questions, and engaging fully with mentors and peers can turn an internship into a truly transformative experience.

Interested in our internship opportunities? Send your CV to:careers@esriea.com

Every ArcGIS Desktop license that’s current on maintenance includes an ArcGIS Online subscription. Once you activate your account, you gain access to a wide range of ready-to-use maps, apps, and authoritative data.

2. ArcGIS Pro Is Activated through ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Pro uses named user licensing, which is managed through ArcGIS Online. With ArcGIS Pro, you can work seamlessly in both 2D and 3D, use multiple layouts and displays, and publish your work directly to ArcGIS Online for sharing in Map Viewer or Scene Viewer. Its 64-bit architecture ensures faster data processing and improved performance.

3. A Rich Collection of Maps and Data

ArcGIS Online hosts an extensive library of basemaps, imagery, elevation, and thematic datasets from Esri and thousands of global organizations. Through the Living Atlas of the World, you can explore demographic, environmental, climate, business, and landscape data. Tools like Enrich Layer allow you to add Esri Demographics—such as population, household, and spending insights—to your analysis.

4. One Subscription, Multiple Apps, Any Device

An ArcGIS Online subscription gives you access to productivity apps across browsers, smartphones, and tablets. Field teams can collect and update data using mobile apps, while office users can map spreadsheet data directly in Microsoft Excel with Esri Maps for Office. These apps are available to ArcGIS Online subscribers and ArcGIS Desktop and Server users.

5. Tell Compelling Stories with Maps

With configurable web app templates and Story Maps, it’s easy to combine maps, text, images, and multimedia into engaging, interactive stories that clearly communicate your message.

6. Build Custom Apps—No Coding Required

Using tools like Web AppBuilder, you can create responsive HTML and JavaScript applications without writing code. Simply choose from prebuilt widgets and themes to design apps with a custom look and feel in minutes.

7. Powerful Tools Built In

ArcGIS Online includes essential tools for geocoding, routing, and directions. World Geocoding supports over 100 countries, enabling address searches, reverse geocoding, and batch processing. Route planning tools help optimize travel, reduce fuel use, and minimize emissions by generating efficient routes and turn-by-turn directions.

8. Advanced Analysis Made Simple

Explore spatial analysis tools in ArcGIS Online to uncover patterns, trends, and relationships in your data. Visualize results directly on maps and gain insights that support smarter, data-driven decisions.

9. Industry-Focused Solutions Ready to Use

ArcGIS Online provides access to ArcGIS Solutions—preconfigured maps and apps designed for specific industries and local government workflows. These solutions can be quickly customized to improve operations and service delivery.

10. Robust Resources for Developers

ArcGIS for Developers offers everything needed to build geo-enabled web, mobile, and desktop applications. By signing in with an ArcGIS Online organizational account, developers can access APIs, ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, basemaps, imagery, and cloud services like geocoding and spatial analytics. Flexible plans make it easy to move from development to deployment.

Learn more about ArcGIS Online here.