Earth Observations (EO) Risk Toolkit

This Ignite Stage session presents a new online resource called Earth Observations (EO) Risk Toolkit, as an integral part of the National Risk Information Portal (RiX) under the UNDRR’s flagship initiative called the Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF). EO Risk Toolkit is a new hub site, launched during the GP2022, and it is designed to provide DRR users with access to open-sourced tools and services that leverage Earth Observations. GRAF was premised on the Global Assessment Report 2019 to improve risk analytics around interconnected and systemic risk, including the multiplier effect climate change has on vulnerability and the risk landscape. By engaging with government partners, the UN development and humanitarian system and other global and national partners, GRAF supports countries to strengthen their risk data ecosystems.

To help achieve GRAF’s aim, RiX is being established to aggregate open-source risk datasets and information to help drive harmonization and standardization aligned to the Hazard Definition and Classification Review.  As an integral part of RiX, EO Risk Toolkit provides DRR users direct links to a collection of open and free disaster risk analytical tools and services to be used at country level, accompanied by supporting documents. More specifically, EO Risk toolkit comes with use cases and technical guidance of the tools and services as well as thematically oriented policy briefs to help policy makers and practitioners understand how to better leverage the EO data and products in policy-making and DRR operations. 

The target audience for this presentation are potential users of the EO Risk Toolkits, such as emergency responding agencies of national and local governments and development agencies so that they can find the tools and services suitable for their operations. The presentation highlights the importance of Earth Observations as the critical science-basis for DRR policy-making and operations. It introduces a brand new EO Risk Toolkit that helps policy makers and practitioners in policy-making and DRR operations. This session emphasises that the Toolkit provides direct links to EO-leveraged open tools and services to monitor and analyse disaster risks, such as those related to floods, crops and wildfires.