The problem

Lack of adequate data-driven disaster preparedness measures and targeted disaster recovery programmes in vulnerable communities, is a pressing humanitarian challenge, especially in low income countries like Nepal. In these regions, disasters frequently lead to significant loss of lives, displacement, and economic devastation, exacerbated by the existing vulnerability and limited accessibility of households to timely risk communication.

Often risk assessments are conducted at community level, which undermines the disproportionate and unique characteristics of households. Moreover, the planning and execution of disaster risk management activities suffer from siloed operations, hindering effective coordination and collaboration among stakeholders involved in disaster risk management, resulting in fragmented efforts and a failure to reach the most vulnerable households. This fragmentation not only undermines institutional memory and the sharing of best practices but also limits the overall effectiveness of risk management initiatives. Furthermore, the existing risk communication strategies often employ a blanket approach, leaving behind the poorest, most vulnerable, and marginalised communities.

In addition, the current approaches towards disaster risk management are predominantly reactive and response-centric. This reactive approach hinders the ability of stakeholders to provide early interventions, such as evacuation, early interventions, cash voucher assistance (CVA) and disaster risk financing, to vulnerable communities. DASTAA recognises the need for a shift towards proactive measures, emphasising early actions before disasters occur and incorporating socio-economic characteristics profiling to tailor well-coordinated approaches for early action.

The organisation

NAXA is a geospatial technology company that strives for innovation in digital and spatial technologies to provide solutions to contemporary problems of humanity. Founded to change the way organisations, governments, and individuals use geospatial data for informed decision-making, NAXA has been working with people and organisations in the design and implementation of digital and spatial solutions that can innovatively and effectively add value to society.

Project description

The GSMA is supporting NAXA to implement a proactive and coordinated approach in disaster management by:

• Generating Household Level Disaster Risk Management Plan (HDRMP) for 10,000 households by assessing flood hazard, vulnerability and exposure of each households in the region.
• Develop thresholds and triggers for different hazard scenarios and consideration of climate change impacts.
• Integrate risk and weather information to provide customised early warnings and early action information.
• Provide easy and timely access to forecast and near real time observations, targeted CVA programmes.

Team