Esri Eastern Africa is thrilled to celebrate a major recognition for the region in the 2024 global ArcGIS StoryMaps competition. African People & Wildlife’s compelling entry, Charting a Path to Human-Elephant Coexistence in Tanzania, was selected as the winner in the Professional category, recognized for its storytelling excellence, effective use of geospatial technology, and strong community impact.

This winning entry puts a spotlight on the innovative efforts taking place in the Greater Serengeti Landscape, where science, technology, and community-driven solutions are coming together to address one of the region’s most pressing conservation challenges: human-elephant conflict.

Community-Led Innovation on the Frontlines

At the heart of this story are individuals who work every day to promote coexistence between people and wildlife. Among them is Sadikieli Joseph, who serves as the Human-Wildlife Conflict Prevention Program Assistant. In this role, Sadikieli leads a team of eight coexistence officers working across four villages bordering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Being a native of the region, he plays a crucial role in engaging with farmers affected by elephant crop raids and property damage.

Through tools like chili smoke bricks, noise deterrents, and beehive fences, Sadikieli and his team are not only responding to conflict but also building awareness around the beauty and ecological importance of elephants—turning conflict into opportunity for education and coexistence.

Data, Evaluation, and Impact

Supporting the technical and strategic components of this work is Elizabeth Naro, the Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adaptation for Tanzania People & Wildlife (TPW). With a strong background in international relations and environmental management, Elizabeth oversees the organization’s data systems, ensuring programs are driven by accurate insights and continuous learning.

Her work includes the deployment of monitoring tools and evaluation frameworks that measure not only ecological outcomes but also community engagement and impact, helping to refine and improve conservation interventions across the landscape.

Storytelling for Change

This powerful story was brought to life through the coordination and creativity of Katy Teson, Communications and Outreach Manager at African People & Wildlife. Katy plays a central role in highlighting the narratives of people and places involved in conservation efforts. With experience in communications, geosciences, and nonprofit advocacy, she bridges the gap between local stories and global audiences.

The award-winning story features interactive elements, maps, audio, video, and infographics, each carefully designed to draw readers from a broad view of the issue down to personal, on-the-ground experiences. This multi-layered narrative structure, paired with high-quality visuals, helped set the submission apart as one of the most engaging and effective in the competition.

A Regional Win, A Global Message

This win is more than just recognition, it’s a validation of the power of community-led conservation supported by geospatial technology. It also underscores the importance of building capacity and resilience at the local level to address environmental challenges in a way that honors both people and wildlife.

For Esri Eastern Africa, this is a proud moment that reflects the incredible talent, innovation, and dedication coming from the East African region. We are excited to see geospatial tools being used not only for analysis but for storytelling, education, and impact.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to African People & Wildlife, and to Sadikieli, Elizabeth, and Katy for their incredible work in advancing conservation in Tanzania, and for showing the world how data and community can come together to create real change.

This blog features content adapted from the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps competition. The original story, “Charting a Path to Human-Elephant Coexistence in Tanzania,” was developed by Katy Teson, Elizabeth Naro, and Sadikieli Joseph of African People & Wildlife, Tanzania.