Last week, Roxane Bandini-Maeder, CEO and Co-Founder of Geoneon, was invited to attend the South Asia Dialogue on Climate Resilience and Adaptation, hosted by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), marking the conclusion of the World Bank-funded CARE Program.
The program focuses on building climate resilience in South Asia by improving data availability, developing practical tools and guidelines, supporting informed decision-making, and fostering innovation.
The CARE Program has supported a diverse cohort of innovators across the region and beyond. Geoneon was selected under the 2022 Climate Innovation Challenge and again in the 2024 iCARE Program to pilot and scale its technology in Bhutan. Through this initiative, Geoneon worked closely with the Department of Local Governance and Disaster Management and the Department of Forest and Park Services to develop a national-scale Forest Fire Severity and Exposure Index. The tool assessed the exposure of over 400,000 buildings across Bhutan, supporting risk prioritisation and community engagement. The project also included capacity-building sessions for government agencies and academic institutions.
The three-day event brought together policymakers, technical experts, and innovation teams from across South Asia and beyond, creating space for genuine dialogue and peer learning.
Roxane joined a panel discussion on water resilience, exploring how satellite data and AI can help manage this essential resource. She shared that it is not always about using the most advanced technology—but about selecting the right tools for the context, and making sure they support practical decisions on the ground.
She also participated in a conversation on integrating gender in climate action, alongside fellow women leaders. The discussion emphasised that diversity is not only about representation but also about inclusion—ensuring women from all professional backgrounds, can meaningfully shape how technologies are designed and applied. Cross-disciplinarity and gender diversity should go hand in hand.
The dialogue was a chance to reconnect with many inspiring partners, including colleagues from Bhutan, and to exchange ideas and experiences with fellow innovators working to strengthen resilience in their countries.
Geoneon thanks ADPC and the World Bank for their leadership and continued support of inclusive, data-driven approaches to resilience. We are proud to be part of this growing community of practice and look forward to continuing to learn, share, and collaborate across borders.