Last Updated: September 10, 2025
This Privacy Policy outlines how AfriScout, a division of Global Communities, collects, uses, and shares information from or about you when you use the AfriScout mobile application and related services. Our commitment is to empower pastoralists across East Africa with digital insights for regenerative grazing and landscape-scale grassland restoration. By utilizing the AfriScout app, you acknowledge and consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this policy. We assure you that the collection of personal information will be conducted with your permission and in compliance with applicable laws. Please be aware, this Privacy Policy is exclusively for the AfriScout app and does not extend to any third-party websites and/or applications that may be accessible through our services
For purposes of this Privacy Policy, “personal Information” shall be defined as any information about an identified or identifiable natural person.
In the context of this Privacy Policy for the AfriScout app, “Sensitive Information” refers to specific categories of personal data that require higher levels of protection. This includes details that may reveal racial or ethnic origins, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs. Additionally, given the nature of our services, sensitive information in our context may also encompass data related to geographic location of herds or grazing patterns, which could be considered critical for the livelihood and cultural practices of pastoralists. While we may not routinely collect genetic data, biometric data, health concerns, or information about sexual orientation, it's important to understand that any such information, if ever collected in relation with our services, would be treated with the utmost care and protection. Our commitment is to ensure the privacy and security of all sensitive information collected through the AfriScout app, used solely for the purpose of enhancing our services and supporting the pastoralist community.
AfriScout collects personal and sensitive information primarily to facilitate regenerative grazing and grassland restoration activities, support the pastoralist community, and for the continued development and improvement of our application and services. Your decision to provide this information is voluntary. However, please be aware that if you choose not to provide certain types of personal information, it may affect your ability to fully utilize some of the functionalities of the AfriScout app. Below, we outline the categories of information we collect and the specific purposes for which they are used. Note that all collected information may be used to comply with applicable laws, prevent fraud, and protect our legal rights.
For example: name, email, address, telephone number, business contact information, and any information you may provide to us through the app or at community events.
For example: nationality, ethnicity, geographic location, grazing area details, and other relevant information for pastoralist activities.
For example: Real-time and historical location data related to herding and grazing patterns.
For example: Responses to surveys, interviews, or other forms of user engagement activities.
For example: feedback, comments, suggestions, and participation in community forums within the app
Purpose Limitation
We will only use personal and sensitive information for the purposes for which we collected it as listed above, unless we reasonably consider that we need to use it for another reason and that reason is compatible with the original purpose. If we need to use any information for an unrelated purpose, we will update this Privacy Policy.
AfriScout shares your information, with your consent or as necessitated by law, for the following purposes:
To Provide Services or Information Requested: We may share your information to fulfill your specific requests, such as providing real-time grazing data or responding to inquiries related to the AfriScout app's functionalities.
Policy Updates and Notifications: We will use your contact information to notify you about significant changes to our policies, terms, or any other essential updates affecting your use of the AfriScout app.
With Third-Party Service Providers: We may collaborate with third-party service providers for research, analytics, and enhancing our app's functionalities. These parties will have access to the personal information needed to perform their functions but cannot use it for other purposes. They are also obligated to handle your personal information in accordance with our privacy standards.
For Legal Compliance: We may disclose information to law enforcement or regulatory authorities to enforce our rights, protect the privacy and safety of the AfriScout community, prevent fraud or illegal activities, and comply with legal processes.
Consent-Based Sharing: If there are other reasons for sharing your information, we will do so with your explicit consent, ensuring you are fully informed of our practices beforehand.
AfriScout is committed to not selling or renting your personal information in the regular course of business. However, third parties involved in operational services, such as server hosting or data analytics, may have access to your personal information as necessary for performing their tasks. In all instances, we ensure that these third parties adhere to stringent data protection and privacy standards in line with our policies.
In compliance with various jurisdictions where AfriScout operates, we ensure the legal and fair processing of your information, always considering the rights and freedoms of our users. Our legal bases for processing personal and sensitive information include:
Performance of a ContractWe use your information to fulfill our contractual obligations to you, enabling you to fully utilize the AfriScout app, including providing real-time data and services essential for effective grazing management.
Legitimate Interest We process your information where it's necessary for our legitimate interests or those of third parties, while ensuring that your rights are not overridden. This includes:
Legal Obligation We may use your information as necessary to comply with legal obligations, including but not limited to, regulations related to environmental conservation, land use, and data protection laws, as well as responding to legal processes and government requests.
Consent In cases where none of the above bases apply, we will seek your explicit consent to process your personal information. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time, as further described in the “Your Rights” and “Your Choices” sections of this policy.
This section of our Privacy Policy explains our approach to the personal information collected from children. For AfriScout, a child is defined as anyone under the age of 16. However, we may apply a more stringent age limit based on the sensitivity of the information involved and the services offered. AfriScout is primarily designed for use by pastoralists and their communities, which can include users of all ages. While our app is not specifically targeted at children, we recognize that they may engage with the app as part of a broader community or family unit involved in pastoral activities. If we knowingly collect personal information from a user identified as a child, we will do so only with the explicit consent from a parent or guardian. This information will be retained only as long as is necessary to:
In obtaining consent, AfriScout commits to making reasonable efforts to verify that it is given or authorized by the holder of parental responsibility over the child, utilizing available technology. Additionally, we will make suitable accommodations for users who may have limited literacy skills, ensuring that our policies and practices are accessible and understandable to all our users.
As a user of the AfriScout app, you have certain rights concerning your personal information. These rights are respected and upheld by AfriScout in accordance with applicable data protection laws. While processing requests related to your rights, AfriScout may impose a reasonable administrative fee, in line with legal limits, for processing these requests, particularly if they are complex or numerous. The timeframe for responding to your requests will vary depending on the request's nature and the legal framework in your jurisdiction. In regions where specific data privacy laws are not established, AfriScout will adhere to the longest duration allowed under any applicable laws.
To exercise your rights regarding your personal information, you may contact us as outlined in the contact section of this policy. You have the right to request:
AfriScout retains your information only for the duration necessary to accomplish the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is mandated or allowed by law. Our internal Data Retention Policy is structured to reflect the various types of data we handle, specifying appropriate retention periods for each. This policy covers both manually and digitally processed data. The factors influencing these retention periods include:
Once the specific retention period for a category of data has lapsed, AfriScout commits to responsibly and securely disposing of or anonymizing the data. Methods for this include deletion, erasure, or taking steps to ensure the data can no longer be associated with an individual. This approach ensures that your data is not kept longer than needed and is handled securely throughout its lifecycle.
AfriScout reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to accommodate changes in our operational practices, user feedback, or legal and regulatory developments. Any significant changes to the way we handle your personal information will be communicated to you through appropriate channels, such as email notifications or prominent notices within the app, in accordance with legal requirements. The most current version of our Privacy Policy will always be accessible within the AfriScout app and on our website, with the date of the latest update indicated at the top. We encourage you to review our Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting the personal information we collect. Your continued use of the AfriScout app after any changes or revisions to this Privacy Policy signifies your agreement with the terms of the updated policy.
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to exercise your rights regarding your personal information, please contact us at: https://globalcommunities.org/contact-us