My name is Saïd Abou Kharroub, and I’m truly honored to be nominated as a candidate for a 2025 HOT voting member. I’m excited to share a bit about my journey with HOT, my current work in Lebanon, and my aspirations as a voting member.

To me, HOT shows the incredible power of people working together with open data in humanitarian crises. It’s amazing how a global community can use mapping to make a real, life-saving difference. What I really appreciate is HOT’s dedication to empowering local communities and building a space where knowledge and skills are freely shared.

My involvement with HOT became very personal and hands-on through the “Lebanon: Conflict - October 2024” project. I got involved when I arrived in Lebanon in January 2025, taking on the role of Lebanon Local Consultant for HOT’s H2H funded project, “Collaborative Approaches to Mapping Damage in Lebanon.” I’ve also been a strategic advisor for CivAPI.com, a data API provider that includes OpenStreetMap layers like buildings, roads, and infrastructure. This advisory role has given me an even deeper understanding of how crucial data provision is in humanitarian and development work.

In my role in Lebanon, I’ve focused on coordinating local data efforts, engaging with important partners, and advising on data protection, especially given the local context. This work includes:

Organizing and hosting local mapathons to grow the OpenStreetMap community and fill important data gaps for humanitarian response. We’ve already held our first mapathons with the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, Beirut Arab University and are planning the second with the Beirut Urban Lab.

Working closely with HOT staff and humanitarian partners to address specific infrastructure gaps, often responding to requests from groups like UNOSAT.

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