NAXA

28/08/2026

📢 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱! 🇳🇵

In response to the devastating floods and mudslides that swept through the Lhende Khola river valley in Nepal, resulting in heavy tolls on lives and critical infrastructure, NAXA, MapBuds, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), and the wider tech community in Nepal are coming together to support evidence-based humanitarian action in line with joint national efforts.

The collaborative effort includes processing drone imagery, mapping and validating affected areas, and using the fAIr platform to map and compare building footprints before and after the floods, helping generate timely information for response and recovery efforts.

🗺️ 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀: https://bit.ly/mapnepalflood (currently open to intermediate mappers)
📍 If you are part of an organisation or community involved in the response and have geospatial data needs, please reach out to Bernard Heng ([email protected]) with your priority locations and features for mapping.

Every contribution helps. Thank you for standing in solidarity and supporting local responders and communities affected by the floods. धन्यवाद 💙

📚 Additional details and resources: https://bit.ly/nepalflood-wiki

📢 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱! 🇳🇵

On 26 August 2026, devastating floods and mudslides swept through the Lhende Khola river valley, Nepal, resulting in heavy tolls on lives and critical infrastructure. As of 27 August, early reports indicate an estimated 160 casualties and around 1,500 people missing across Nepal and Tibet, with numbers expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.

In response, professionals from NAXA, MapBuds, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, and the wider tech community in Nepal are coming together to support evidence-based humanitarian action in line with joint national efforts.

The collaborative effort includes processing drone imagery, mapping and validating affected areas, and using the fAIr platform to map and compare building footprints before and after the floods, helping generate timely information for response and recovery efforts.

🗺️ 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀: https://bit.ly/mapnepalflood (currently open to intermediate mappers)

📍 If you are part of an organisation or community involved in the response and have geospatial data needs, please reach out to Bernard Heng ([email protected]) with your priority locations and features for mapping.

Every contribution helps. Thank you for standing in solidarity and supporting local responders and communities affected by the floods. धन्यवाद 💙
_

📚 Additional details and resources: https://bit.ly/nepalflood-wiki

24/08/2026

𝐂𝐨-𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩: 𝐀𝐈-𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Two days of learning, discussion, and co-design, and an important step toward building a more practical, responsible, and locally relevant approach to # AI-enabled & assessment for Nepal.

We were honoured to have Professor Dr Jha, Member of the National Planning Commission, deliver the keynote on Nepal’s emerging AI opportunity, and Dr Dharam R Uprety, Chief Executive of NDRRMA, share special remarks on the importance of technology for disaster risk management and loss and damage. Dr Dr. Basanta Raj Adhikari - President of DPNet Nepal, emphasised the importance of localised AI & encouraged stakeholders to share more relevant datasets to strengthen contextual training & develop models better suited to Nepal.

The workshop combined hands-on learning and co-design. Er. Saroj Dahal led practical sessions on using AI; Nishon Tandukar introduced GeoAI and demonstrated the building-damage assessment approach we are experimenting with; and Drabid Subedi discussed responsible AI, ethics, privacy, and accountability. Shrestha presented the distinction between damage assessment and broader loss and damage assessment. Binod Parajuli then facilitated an engaging co-design session, leading discussions on the workflows, functions, & priorities that a comprehensive loss and damage solution should include.
The workshop was co-organised with Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal - DPNet Nepal & brought together 45+ stakeholders from government, humanitarian, development, academic and private-sector institutions. It was conducted under the project “Localised GeoAI Models for Post-Disaster Damage Assessment Aimed at Enhancing Reconstruction and Development Planning Efforts,” implemented by NAXA, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) and VITA Lab at EPFL.

Special appreciation to the Tech4Dev program under the EssentialTech Centre at EPFL for supporting and funding this initiative. We will now document the workshop sessions, recommendations and co-design findings and share them with all stakeholders, ensuring that these discussions directly inform what we build next.






***
Suraj Gautam Uttam Pudasaini Pratik Shrestha

20/08/2026

Day 1 Highlights | Codesign & Capacity Building Workshop - AI for Loss & Damage Assessment in Nepal 🇳🇵

An inspiring first day with 45+ participants from government, development, academia and humanitarian sectors engaged throughout the day.

Highlights included a keynote by Professor Dr Sudan Jha and special remarks from NDRRMA CEO Dr Dharam Raj Uprety on the importance of frontier technologies such as AI in disaster management.
Saroj Dahal led an engaging hands-on session on AI and foundational concepts, while Drabid Subedi from NAAMII facilitated an important discussion on responsible AI, ethics, bias and accountability. Nishon Tandukar introduced GeoAI and demonstrated the technical solution, while Omran from Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) joined remotely to share the open-mapping approach and the overall project goal & vision.

Thank you for an engaging Day 1.
Looking forward to co-designing the solution together tomorrow!





Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal - DPNet Nepal 🤝 NAXA 🤝EPFL 🤝 Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)

19/08/2026

𝐎𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 TECHNOLOGIES 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬.

Since 2014, we have worked at the intersection of and . From developing digital platforms using drones, GIS, AI, and VR following the , to supporting the Government of Nepal with the national COVID-19 portal, and designing technology-driven responses during emergencies, our work has always been grounded in one principle: 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭.

Today,
We also want to share 1 story that represents this approach.
With support from the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2020, we trained 20 local people from remote villages of Humla to use technologies. Over almost an entire month, our team worked together with them to map the entire district, creating valuable local data (open spatial data) while building skills and capacity within the community itself.

This video is a reminder that humanitarian technology is not only about tools. It is about people, local capacity, collaboration, and action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZVKsub6jHA

This video contains details on the local and infrastructure ...

31/07/2026

**Opportunity: Pricing Strategy and Business Model for a ClimateTech Solution**

We are seeking an experienced consultant to support the commercialisation of an AI-assisted disaster damage and loss assessment solution being developed in collaboration with the VITA Lab at EPFL and Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), with support from the EssentialTech Centre at EPFL.

The assignment includes market assessment, stakeholder and customer mapping, willingness-to-pay analysis, competitor review, service-package development, pricing strategy, and preparation of a 12–24-month market-entry roadmap.

Interested applicants should submit their technical and financial proposals by 7th August, 2026 to [email protected].

Terms of Reference: https://www.jobsnepal.com/consultancy-services-for-market-assessment-willingness-to-pay-analysis-and-pricing-strategy-for-an-ai-assisted-loss-and-damage-assessment-solution-143484

NAXA is pleased to announce a new consultancy services to support the commercialization of an innovative AI-assisted disaster damage assessment solution being d..

29/05/2026

🌐 **Data, Technology and Disaster Response in Nepal: Building a Shared Future Action Agenda**

A sincere thank you to the 30+ participants from NGOs, INGOs, academia, government, and the technology community who joined our multi-stakeholder workshop on **“Data, Technology and Disaster Response in Nepal.”**

The workshop was co-led by Richard Heeks
from the The University of Manchester, our team at Digital and Spatial Technologies for Anticipatory Action, and Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal - DPNet Nepal. It created an important space to reflect on how Nepal can make better use of data and digital technologies for more effective, timely, and inclusive disaster response. As part of the research, we have identified five priority research tracks for further exploration:

RT1: Data standards and integration; RT2: How data translates into real-time disaster response decisions; RT3: Local government capacity, ownership, and the federal governance gap; RT4: Frontier technologies in hazard-specific operational contexts and RT5: Inclusive and ethical data practices

These topics were shared with participants, and valuable feedback was collected to help shape the next phase of the research. The goal is to generate practical, data-driven evidence for national stakeholders such as NDRRMA, DHM and other relevant agencies, so that future disaster response strategies, preparedness plans, and management systems can be more informed, coordinated, and responsive to local needs.

We also welcome collaboration to develop a **national inventory of data and technologies used in disaster response in Nepal**. Such an inventory can help improve coordination, reduce duplication, identify gaps, and support better use of existing tools and datasets across the disaster management ecosystem.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Reports and Research Outputs.






Research Team : Uttam Pudasaini Suraj Gautam Bhattrai

16/05/2026

Implementation being led by Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal - DPNet Nepal, we are pleased to announce that a workshop is being organized under the broader MoU between DPNet Nepal and NAXA to strengthen technology-based disaster response and damage assessment systems in Nepal.

The workshop aims to bring together diverse stakeholders to:

✅ Share early research findings on the use of data and technology in Nepal’s disaster response ecosystem;

✅ Gather insights and feedback from practitioners and key stakeholders;

✅ Co-create a shared future action agenda with clear priorities, roles, and collaborative commitments;

✅ Foster partnerships for future action research and digital innovation in disaster response

We look forward to engaging discussions, critical conversations, and collaborative efforts toward building more resilient and technology-enabled disaster response systems in Nepal.

📢 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal - DPNet Nepal in collaboration with NAXA, is pleased to announce the workshop on “𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚, 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 & 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐥: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚”
📅 Date: 25 May 2026
📍 Venue: Vivanta Kathmandu, Lalitpur

🔹This workshop is being organized under the broader MoU between DPNet Nepal and NAXA to strengthen technology-based disaster response and damage assessment systems in Nepal. The workshop aims to bring together diverse stakeholders to:
✅ Share early research findings on data and technology use in Nepal’s disaster response ecosystem
✅ Gather insights and feedback from practitioners and key stakeholders
✅ Co-create a shared future action agenda with priorities, roles, and collaborative commitments
✅ Foster partnerships for future action research and digital innovation in disaster response

We are also honoured to welcome Professor Richard Heeks from the Global Development Institute, a globally recognized expert in digital development, who will contribute to the discussions and knowledge exchange.

We look forward to engaging discussions, critical conversations, and collaborative efforts toward building more resilient and technology-enabled disaster response systems in Nepal.

10/05/2026

On April 30, NAXA, in collaboration with Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal - DPNet Nepal successfully concluded a workshop on "AI-enabled Disaster Damage Assessment in Nepal."

The half-day workshop brought together more than 30 participants from diverse sectors, including practitioners, researchers, and organisations working with drone technology in disaster response. It was structured into three sessions:

1. Session 1 focused on drones in disaster risk management and damage assessment, covering current practices, key challenges, and AI's potential to enhance efficiency.

2. Session 2 featured group discussions on AI-based damage assessment functionalities, ethical considerations, and priority areas for future AI development.

3. Session 3 hosted a panel discussion on collaboration, innovation, and the future of AI-driven disaster response in Nepal.

Insights from this workshop will inform our ongoing AI tool development, and our team will publish a "Drones and AI for Disaster Assessment Landscape Report for Nepal." (The report writing team includes Pawan Bhattarai, PhD, PEng, Dr. Basanta Raj Adhikari , Suraj Gautam , and Dipika Khadka)

A team from Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (led by najjar), NAXA (co-led by Uttam Pudasaini , Nishon Tandukar)
and the VITA lab (led by Zimin Xia) and supported by EssentialTechCenter (Dominika Kaiser Bednarova, Tiphaine Detoudeville & team), is working to answer one critical question:

***How can hyperlocalized AI solutions make post-disaster damage assessments more efficient?**

If you are working on something similar or find this work interesting,
Let us connect.

20/04/2026

🚀𝐍𝐀𝐗𝐀 & 𝐃𝐏𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 !

We are excited to share that we have signed an MOU with Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal - DPNet Nepal to explore the use of data and frontier technologies in strengthening disaster response in Nepal. As part of this initiative, NAXA and DPNet will collaboratively work on the following activities:

🔹 Organize the workshop titled “Drone Technology for Disaster Response in Nepal: Applications, Data Gaps, and Opportunities for Collaboration” : 30 April, 2026

🔹 Conduct a webinar on “Frontier Technologies for Disaster Response in Asia-Pacific: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities”

🔹 Organise the workshop titled “Data, Technology and Disaster Response in Nepal: Building a Shared Future Action Agenda”

🔹 Publish a research titled “Disaster Response Data and Technologies: Landscape Review and Stakeholder Research Priorities in Nepal”

🔹 Publish a research titled “Landscape of Drone Data Use in Disaster Response

If you are interested in engaging with or contributing to these initiatives, we warmly welcome you to connect with us. This partnership is further supported through NAXA’s ongoing engagement with international institutions such as The University of Manchester and EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne).

🚀𝐍𝐀𝐗𝐀 & 𝐃𝐏𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 !

We are excited to share that NAXA and DPNet Nepal signed an MOU to explore the use of data and frontier technologies in strengthening disaster response in Nepal. As part of this initiative, NAXA and DPNet will collaboratively work on the following activities:
🔹 Organize the workshop titled “Drone Technology for Disaster Response in Nepal: Applications, Data Gaps, and Opportunities for Collaboration”
🔹 Conduct a webinar on “Frontier Technologies for Disaster Response in Asia-Pacific: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities”
🔹 Organise the workshop titled “Data, Technology and Disaster Response in Nepal: Building a Shared Future Action Agenda”
🔹 Publish a research titled “Disaster Response Data and Technologies: Landscape Review and Stakeholder Research Priorities in Nepal”
🔹 Publish a research titled “Landscape of Drone Data Use in Disaster Response

If you are interested in engaging with or contributing to these initiatives, we warmly welcome you to connect with us. This partnership is further supported through NAXA’s ongoing engagement with international institutions such as The University of Manchester and EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne).

02/04/2026

Get Ready for NAXA FUTSAL TOURNAMENT 3.0! ⚽
Epic goals… Fierce competition… Unforgettable moments…
3 DAYS TO GO! 💥