Vanuatu Data Science Driving Innovation in Climate Change and Natural Disasters
Empowering Rapid, Evidence-Based Response to Disasters.
The Vanuatu Data Science Driving Innovation in Climate Change and Natural Disasters project is a pioneering initiative led by the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics (VBoS). Launched in 2024 and set for full rollout in December 2025, it integrates statistical data, satellite imagery, and machine learning to deliver real-time disaster impact assessments, resource needs, and recovery estimates - down to the Area Council level.
What You Can Find in the Project
Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAPs)
Automated R-based workflows that estimate cyclone damage, immediate response needs, and financial recovery costs using baseline indicators and expert-defined damage multipliers. Example: After a cyclone, RAPs calculate lost taro/kava production, households affected, and relief cuttings required (e.g., 7,616 taro cuttings for South-East Santo).
Machine Learning & GIS Tools
Satellite imagery processed via Digital Earth Pacific to generate annual maps on:
- Land Use / Land Cover
- Soil Health
- Coastal Erosion
- Coral Reef Health
- Flood Risk
- Long-term Climate Trends Models are trained, validated with field data, and iteratively improved.
Interactive Dashboards & Vanuatu Climate & Disaster Management Information System (VCDMIS)
A unified national platform visualizing:
- 65,000+ baseline indicators (2018–2025) across 10 clusters (Education, Health, Shelter, Food Security, etc.)
- Real-time disaster impact (damage, resources, costs)
- ML-derived environmental trends
- Trade, fisheries, and agriculture data for resilience planning All outputs stored in Excel and dashboards for decision-making.
Fully built on free tools (R, GIS, Digital Earth Pacific). Includes manuals, workflows, and training for replication across Pacific nations.
Indicators and predictions disaggregated to local levels for targeted response and planning.
Full transparency: sources, calculation methods, damage assumptions, validation steps, and responsible agencies.
How the Project Supports Vanuatu
Used by VBoS, Ministry of Climate Change & Adaptation (MoCCA), provincial officers, NDMO, and development partners. It supports:
- Rapid post-disaster damage and needs assessment (hours, not days)
- Evidence-based resource allocation and aid delivery
- Provincial and Area Council-level risk planning
- Long-term climate adaptation strategies (e.g., reef health + fisheries)
- Regional knowledge sharing via open data and replicable models
- Capacity building through internal VBoS training and provincial workshops
Access the VCDMIS
Full system launch: 12 December 2025
