FOREWARN Start Network, in partnership with Green Decision Labs and Research (GD Labs) and the Institute of Himalayan Risk Reduction (IHRR), proudly presents Nepal’s first-ever FOREWARN Disaster Hackathon. This initiative aims to inspire and empower young minds to create innovative solutions to pressing humanitarian challenges. The primary objective of the hackathon is to enhance the capacities of young professionals and enthusiasts in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Anticipatory Action (AA), equipping them to implement these critical actions at local levels.
The FOREWARN Disaster Hackathon is a pioneering project that seeks to advance disaster risk management and anticipatory action in Nepal. By engaging university students and researchers, the hackathon encourages the development of cutting-edge prototypes that leverage technology to predict, prepare for, and respond to natural disasters. Participants will tackle key challenges such as hazard forecasting, risk monitoring, and disaster relief management, with the ultimate goal of making a tangible impact on disaster preparedness and response in Nepal.
This initiative not only fosters the development of practical solutions but also seeks to build a vibrant community of young innovators dedicated to improving disaster risk management in their country. The hackathon will culminate in a workshop where the top teams will present their prototypes, with the potential for further development and real-world implementation.
Despite the growing recognition of AA as vital for disaster resilience, gaps in coordination, evidence, resource allocation, and community engagement lead to suboptimal outcomes, leaving vulnerable communities at risk. The FAO estimates that every dollar invested in AA yields seven dollars in benefits, yet communities struggle to access funds, execute plans, and utilize forecasting.
Why FOREWARN Disaster Hackathon Nepal?
Generate Innovative Ideas
Networking Opportunities
Business Incubations
Platform for Idea Initiation
Start Fund Nepal (SFN), hosted by CARE Nepal, is a Start Network program launched in June 2021. It’s a financing mechanism developed by 15 international and 16 local NGOs in Nepal, with support from the global Start Fund and the UK FCDO. SFN follows a 45-day implementation cycle, enabling rapid decision-making within 72 hours of a crisis alert and action within 7 days. Recently, SFN expanded its focus with FOREWARN, a network aimed at enhancing disaster forecasting and early action through collaboration with multidisciplinary experts.
SFN plays a crucial role in delivering rapid, localized humanitarian responses in Nepal. Through its FOREWARN initiative, SFN promotes Anticipatory Action (AA) by helping members raise alerts, disseminating resources, providing forecast information, and conducting capacity-building exercises. However, challenges in deploying timely assistance remain, particularly in logistics, identifying affected households, and procurement, which are often agency-specific and lack creative solutions.
Timeline for the FOREWARN Disaster Hackathon Nepal
GD Labs is a research and innovation lab dedicated to building climate resilience in Nepal through the development of innovative, user-centric climate technologies. GD Labs specializes in fostering partnerships, networking among national and international stakeholders, and applying a design-centric approach to creating sustainable solutions. The organization has a strong track record of turning ideas into successful interventions in areas like urban mobility, waste management, and climate adaptation.
IHRR is a non-profit organization focused on preparing risk-informed societies for disaster resilience and sustainable development. Committed to the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, IHRR bridges academic research with practical applications, promoting science-based decision-making in DRR. The institute has developed several tools for Anticipatory Action, including alerts for landslides, heatwaves, and cold waves, and continues to lead innovative efforts in disaster risk reduction across Nepal.
GD Labs, along with IHRR are working as consultants for this event to embrace the creativities and innovations of students and academia who are at the forefront of technological and research innovations. Some ideas could include the use of Machine Learning and AI in the field of AA to identify at-risk communities ahead of the crisis scenarios or develop models and frameworks to validate and contextualize regional forecasting models in Nepal.
The major objective of this Hackathon is to raise and strengthen capacities of young DRR professionals and enthusiasts in Anticipatory Action, helping them eventually implement these actions and their compounding pillars at their local levels.
Possible Themes for FOREWARN Disaster Hackathon Nepal
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
- Landslide and Earthquake Prediction: Analysis of geological data and satellite imagery to predict and monitor landslides and earthquakes, which are prevalent in Nepal.
- Flood Monitoring and Early Warning Systems: Early warning systems to use real-time data from river basins, rainfall patterns, and weather forecasts to issue timely alerts
- Real-Time Alerts (esp. for transportation and tourists): Real-time disaster alert systems for toursists and transport sector preparing them or alerting them beforehand.
Climate Change Adaptation
- Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Monitoring: AI and remote sensing technologies to monitor glacial lakes in the Himalayas, predicting potential outburst floods and enabling early interventions.
- Agricultural Resilience: Analyzing climate data, soil health, and pest patterns, supporting farmers in adapting to changing climate conditions.
Public Health Surveillance
- Disease Outbreak Prediction: Predicting outbreaks of diseases like dengue, cholera, or COVID-19 by analyzing health records, environmental factors, and social data.
Remote Diagnostics and - Medical Service: Critical healthcare access to patients residing in remote/ mountainous parts of Nepal via AI-driven telemedicine technology.
Geospatial Analysis and Remote Sensing
- Forest Fire Monitoring: Analysis of satellite imagery to detect and predict forest fires, which are a growing concern in Nepal, particularly during the dry season.
- Deforestation and Environmental Degradation: Monitor deforestation and land degradation, providing actionable insights for conservation and reforestation efforts.
Infrastructure Management and Urban Planning
- Building Structure Categorization: Analysis of building materials for specific regions of Nepal in terms of sustainability, longevity and hazard reduction.
- Traffic Management and Disaster Evacuation: Optimize traffic flow and manage evacuation routes during emergencies, addressing the challenges of densely populated urban areas.
Water Resource Management
- Irrigation System Optimization: Optimize irrigation practices by analyzing weather patterns, soil moisture levels, and crop water needs, critical for Nepal’s agrarian communities.
- Water Quality Monitoring: IOT sensors to monitor the quality of drinking water, especially in rural and remote areas, helping to prevent waterborne diseases.
Community-Based Early Warning Systems
- Local Language AI Chatbots for Information Dissemination: Deploy AI chatbots in local languages to disseminate early warnings and emergency information, ensuring accessibility for all communities, including those in remote areas.
- Mobile-Based Early Alerts: SMS-based or app-based alert systems that notify people of impending disasters in real time
Cultural Heritage Preservation
- Monitoring of Heritage Sites: Prevention of damage to heritage sites due to natural disasters like earthquakes, flooding via. monitoring using AI predictors and usage of drones.
Governance
- E-Risk Governance for Accountable Disaster Management:
- Development of a blockchain-based system for tracking the distribution of aids.
- Designing a platform that facilitates communication and collaboration between different stakeholders involved in disaster management.
- E-Risk Governance for Accountable Disaster Management:
- Smart DRR Governance:
- Information dissemination platform for DRR issues within the governmental and non-governmental bodies.
- DBMS portal for Anticipatory Action.
Create Your Own Statement
Identify a challenge unique to what you believe demands attention in a disaster situation and present your own idea on how the challenge can be solved through an innovative approach.
FAQs about FOREWARN Disaster Hackathon Nepal
General Information
The FOREWARN Disaster Hackathon Nepal is an initiative by Start Network aimed at advancing citizen science in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and anticipatory action (AA) through a collaborative problem-solving event. It is designed to engage youth and young professionals in developing innovative solutions to disaster challenges in Nepal.
The hackathon is open to students, young professionals, researchers, practitioners and enthusiasts in disaster risk reduction, climate action, environmental sciences, and related fields. Participants should have a strong interest in anticipatory action and disaster preparedness. Participants from any background can challenge this Hackathon, however should be able develop a solution towards the existing problem. The participating team can be composed of a Single individual, or a group of individuals or a group of organizations as well. This should be clearly stated in the submission window.
The main objective is to raise capacities of youth and young professionals in Disaster Risk Management and Anticipatory action by fostering innovation, collaboration, and practical solution development.
This event is an initiative of Start Network, a network of aid agencies across the world, working together to revolutionize the global humanitarian system. It is planned, coordinated and organized in Nepal by Green Decision Labs & Research Pvt. Ltd. (GD Labs) in a joint venture with Institute of Himalayan Risk Reduction (IHRR).
Application and Selection Process
Interested participants can apply through an online registration form, which will be made available on the official website and social media channels. Each Submission will be considered as one “Participating Team”. Participants can apply individually or as a team. Similarly, the participating team can submit only one solution. The registration will tentatively be open from 24th August, 2024.
Participants will be selected based on their academic background, experience in DRR or related fields, feasibility/scale of the solution, User experience and design of the solution, and their motivation for participating in the Hackathon. A diverse group of participants will be chosen to encourage varied perspectives and solutions.
Selected participants will be notified within one week after the application deadline. Notifications will be sent via email.
Event Details
A 3-day incubation lab will be conducted over a weekend, following a 3-week cohort program. The activities include training sessions, problem definition workshops, ideation sessions, and prototyping.
Participants will receive technical guidance, mentorship from experts, and access to resources related to anticipatory action. They will also have the opportunity to interact with stakeholders and peers.
No, there won’t be any registration fee involved for participating in this event.
Project Development and Resources
Participants are expected to develop innovative solutions, prototypes or a proof of concept and framework addressing specific anticipatory action and disaster challenges. These solutions should be practical, scalable, and aligned with disaster risk reduction goals.
Participants can apply individually or as a team. Individuals, if interested, will later be provided the opportunity to collaborate with relevant teams, allowing for collaborative problem-solving and diverse perspectives in developing solutions.
Participants will have access to training materials, case studies, tools for AA, and continuous mentorship from experienced professionals.
Post-Hackathon
After the Hackathon, the top 3 teams will receive support to further develop and implement their solutions. Additionally, there will be opportunities for ongoing mentorship and engagement with the Associate FOREWARN group.
Yes, initial seed funds and entrepreneurship/networking opportunities will be awarded to the winning teams, and their solutions will be recognized by the organizing partners and stakeholders.
Participants are encouraged to continue refining their projects, and there may be opportunities for further development, implementation, or collaboration with relevant organizations.
Additional Questions
Regular updates will be shared via email, the official website, and social media channels. Participants are encouraged to stay connected for the latest information.
All the updates are also posted through our social media channels:
Important dates, including application deadlines, cohort program start, and Hackathon event dates, will be communicated clearly on our official social media page.