Advocacy organisations around the globe often operate amongst great challenges including strategising on how best to disseminate information to citizens, communicate with governments and others around the globe, and keep track of complex and diverse datasets. Maps provide an incredibly efficient and intuitive medium for sharing data and information and therefore using maps and mapping technologies can be one way of meeting those challenges.

Leveraging the power of geographic information display is an often untapped resource that is overlooked by various organisations. A lot of the work that is done by advocacy organisations has some 'spatial' element to it – whether you might realise it or not – and includes data that can be mapped in some way or the other.

In the early days of personal computing and right up until just a few years ago, the task of engaging with computer mapping technologies proved to be incredibly challenging and time consuming - often inappropriate for small and medium-sized organisations. In the past few years, however, access to maps and mapping technologies has progressed to an extent where all those with a computer and an Internet connection can make maps themselves, manipulate data in a mapping context and publish maps for the whole world to see.

We are currently in the midst of an exciting time where the map consumer has become the map producer.

In this guide, the mapping technologies of today will be introduced, hopefully in a light that will both inform and inspire readers to ask - How can I take advantage of visualising places? How can maps be of use in my work?

This guide is a work-in-progress between Tactical Tech and Sean O'Connor, whose work on this guide is supported by the Open Society Institute. It is our first step towards a more comprehensive toolkit that aims to help advocacy organisations with the use of mapping in their work.

The guide will be ready for online release soon.