Mission:
To create a free open-source platform that any person or organization can use to collect and visualize data.

Background:
Ushahidi, which means "testimony" in Swahili, was developed in early 2008 as a Google Map "mashup" offering citizen-generated information about post-election violence in Kenya. Since then, the project has grown into an independent organization with an international software development team that is working to create a downloadable platform for individuals and organizations to tailor for their specific data collection and visualization needs.

Outstanding Web Features:
The beta version of the Ushahidi platform is available for individuals to download and customize around the needs of other crisis situations and events. Some of the projects that have so far utilized the Ushahidi platform include Wildlife Trackers, a crowdsourced project to track wildlife in Kenya; Atlanta Crime Maps; and Vote Report India, a collaborative, citizen-driven monitoring platform for the 2009 general elections in that country. The platform also has been adapted to track disaster relief efforts in response to the earthquake that devastated parts of Haiti on January 12, 2010.

The Ushahidi Web site also features developer wiki, support forums and a frequently updated blog featuring updates related to the platform's developments.