From 12 to 17 January 2026, APOPO brought together Information Management Officers from across its global programs for a week of Information Management (IM) training at the APOPO Cambodia headquarters in Siem Reap. Led by Morgan Kline, APOPO’s Global Information Systems Manager, the training focused on strengthening how data is collected, shared, and used across the organization as APOPO’s operations continue to expand.
For participants, the value of the week went beyond technical skills. Airton Gonçalves, Information Management Officer in the Angola program, said the workshop was about building “a stronger, more connected IM community across APOPO.”
“This workshop was about building a stronger, more connected IM community across APOPO,” Airton said. “I like this week because we get to come together from all the programs and learn together. By sharing practical experience and aligning on IM workflows we’re making sure our systems are scalable, maintainable, and able to support operations in our programs as the organization continues to grow.”
Participants represented APOPO programs in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Angola, Argentina, Cambodia, Tanzania, and Turkey, as well as the Global program, bringing together a wide range of field experience and technical perspectives.
What Information Management Means at APOPO
Information management is central to how APOPO plans operations, delivers programs, and measures impact. It covers how information is gathered in the field, organized and checked, and then shared so teams can clearly see what is happening and make better decisions.
At APOPO, this includes mapping landmine contamination, tracking clearance progress, monitoring animal health and training, supporting medical and laboratory work, and coordinating activities across countries. Increasingly, information collected in the field, the analysis of that data, and reporting all happen within the same shared system, allowing teams to access reliable information without relying on separate or disconnected tools.
Aligning Systems and Ways of Working
The training combined country presentations, hands-on technical sessions, and group discussions, with a strong focus on strengthening APOPO’s Location Intelligence and Management Information System (LIMIS). LIMIS brings together maps, field data, analysis, and reporting in a single shared system designed around information collected in the field.
Country presentations allowed teams to share operational challenges, lessons learned, and effective approaches from different contexts. These exchanges helped identify best practices that can be adapted for use across other programs.
A large part of the week focused on helping teams in different countries work together using the same digital systems. Sessions looked at how to build shared platforms that can grow as APOPO expands, allowing teams to securely access and update the same data, maps, and dashboards. Participants also worked on clear rules for editing information, controlling access, and using common data standards so information from different countries can be combined and reported consistently.
From Precision Mapping to Automated Reporting
The training combined classroom learning with hands-on exercises using specific mapping and data-collection tools. Participants worked with precision mapping systems and track-and-trace tools that record where field activities take place and how work progresses over time. They also used DGPS and GNSS equipment, which are advanced GPS technologies that provide much more accurate location data than standard GPS found on mobile phones.
The week also covered remote sensing tools, such as satellite imagery, and drone-based data collection, where drones capture imagery and measurements from the air. Participants learned how this information can be fed into APOPO’s information systems to create detailed maps, compare conditions over time, and provide clear visual evidence of work carried out in the field.
The training also looked at ways to reduce time-consuming manual data work. Participants used ArcGIS Notebooks, a tool built into the ArcGIS mapping platform, together with Python, a widely used programming language, to automate routine tasks. These tasks included combining information from different sources, checking and cleaning data for errors, and generating regular reports.
The automated processes are saved as reusable workflows and shared through GitHub, an online platform for storing and managing code. This allows teams in different countries to use the same proven methods, make improvements over time, and avoid repeating the same work in each program.
Supporting Innovation and Animal Welfare
Dedicated sessions examined how APOPO’s information systems support training, medical and laboratory work, agricultural monitoring, and search and rescue operations. Participants also discussed how external datasets can be integrated with APOPO’s own data to strengthen analysis and support research.
Specific attention was given to animal health, welfare, and training data, with a focus on consistent data design, clear indicators, and dashboards that support the long-term care and well-being of APOPO’s animals. Group exercises on collaboration and governance helped teams consider how shared tools and standards can be reused across programs while remaining flexible to local needs.
Participants also carried out field testing of differential GPS units to assess options for improving geo-accuracy in operational data collection.
Building a Connected Global IM Community
Beyond technical outcomes, the workshop reinforced a shared commitment to standardization while continuing to encourage innovation as APOPO expands into new operational contexts. By aligning systems, workflows, and expectations, participants strengthened a connected global information management community.
Feedback from all participants was very positive. The combination of practical training, open discussion, and real-world problem solving was widely valued, reinforcing the role of strong information management in supporting APOPO’s humanitarian, scientific, and animal welfare work worldwide.