The World Bank and Google announced an agreement aimed at improving the ability of developing countries to access a web-based community mapping tool and data to help better monitor public services, and improve disaster and humanitarian response efforts. Under this agreement, Google will provide the World Bank and its partner organizations - including governments and UN agencies - with access to Google Map Maker underlying geospatial data that includes detailed maps of more than 150 countries. Through this tool, citizens are able to directly participate in the creation of maps by contributing their local knowledge, and those additions are then reflected on Google Maps and Google Earth.

Read the related op-ed in the International Herald Tribune and The New York Times, by World Bank Managing Director Caroline Anstey.

Read the complete press release.

Check out Google Map Maker.

Learn about the World Bank's Mapping for Results initiative.

Learn more about the Open Aid Partnership.