GeoConnect and American Corner Gweru Empower Community Through KoboToolbox Capacity Building Workshop

Gweru, Zimbabwe — 29 July 2026

GeoConnect, in partnership with the American Corner Gweru, successfully hosted the inaugural KoboToolbox for Impact: Data Collection to Decision-Making training on 29 July 2026, bringing together a diverse group of aspiring and experienced professionals to strengthen digital data collection skills for social impact.

The one-day, hands-on training welcomed 15 participants representing academia, humanitarian organizations, entrepreneurs, technology innovators, researchers, and university students across undergraduate, Master's and PhD programmes. Despite their diverse backgrounds, participants shared a common interest in harnessing digital tools to improve data-driven decision-making within their respective fields.

One of the workshop's most significant outcomes was that approximately 95% of participants were using KoboToolbox for the very first time. This highlighted both the growing demand for practical digital data skills and the opportunity to expand access to modern, open-source technologies across Zimbabwe.

The training introduced participants to KoboToolbox, a globally recognized open-source platform used by thousands of humanitarian, development, research, and government organizations worldwide to collect, manage, and analyse data. The introductory session explored Kobo's history, global impact, and role in supporting evidence-based decision-making across multiple sectors before transitioning into practical exercises.

Participants then progressed through a series of guided practical activities where they:

Created their first KoboToolbox projects;
Designed digital questionnaires using the online form builder;
Built and configured survey questions;
Deployed their first live digital forms; and
Explored best practices for digital data collection and project management.

The workshop emphasized not only the technical aspects of using KoboToolbox, but also the broader importance of collecting reliable, high-quality data that informs policy, research, humanitarian programming, monitoring and evaluation, and community development initiatives.

Speaking after the workshop, Kumbirai Nicholas Matingo, KoboToolbox Ambassador for Zimbabwe, facilitator of the training and who is also the founder of GeoConnect, reflected on the significance of introducing participants to the platform:

One of the most rewarding moments was seeing participants build and deploy their very first digital forms. For many, this was their first experience using KoboToolbox, and by the end of the session they had gained practical skills they can immediately apply within their organizations, research projects, and communities. Building digital data capacity is ultimately about empowering people to make informed decisions that create lasting impact.
— Kumbirai Matingo

The workshop also demonstrated the value of bringing together professionals from different disciplines to learn collaboratively. Conversations throughout the day highlighted how digital data collection can support a wide range of applications—from humanitarian response and public health to academic research, entrepreneurship, environmental management, and innovation.

This event marks the beginning of a broader collaboration between GeoConnect and the American Corner Gweru, aimed at expanding access to digital skills, geospatial technologies, open data, and emerging technologies within local communities.

Following the strong interest expressed during the workshop, GeoConnect will continue engaging participants through a series of online learning sessions to reinforce the skills introduced during the training. These virtual sessions will enable participants to continue developing their practical knowledge before reconvening for the next in-person workshop.

GeoConnect extends its sincere appreciation to the American Corner Gweru for its partnership and commitment to creating inclusive learning opportunities. The organization also thanks every participant whose curiosity, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn contributed to the success of the inaugural training.

As GeoConnect continues to build communities of practice around data, mapping, and digital innovation, initiatives such as the KoboToolbox for Impact programme reaffirm the organization's commitment to empowering individuals with the skills needed to transform information into meaningful action.

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