Madagascar’s Global Risk Modelling Alliance (GRMA) phase 1 concludes with major advances in disaster risk analytics

The Global Risk Modelling Alliance (GRMA) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the first phase of support to strengthen the Government of Madagascar’s risk analytics tools and capabilities. This initiative was launched at the request of government to deepen understanding of disaster risk and to inform evidence-based decision-making in Madagascar. It was launched in 2024 and implemented by a consortium led by AXA Climate alongside Artelia and BRGM.

This first phase of support enabled the transfer of skills and tools to national institutions. Over the course of the project, AXA Climate delivered a series of technical workshops and hands-on training sessions for Malagasy public officials, demonstrating how to analyse and better understand risk across a range of disaster types – including droughts, floods, tropical cyclones and locust invasions. Officials gained experience in utilising outputs from open-source tools and geospatial data to better plan for and allocate resources for disaster management. In the workshops, participants also gained first-hand experience in collecting local data to complement these tools.

In total, over 100 participants took part in the workshops and training sessions organised throughout the project, reflecting Madagascar’s strong commitment to strengthening national capabilities in risk modelling and geospatial analytics. All results of the project are freely accessible via the public platform GeoNode. This includes input data, modelling codes, outputs, maps, and training materials. National institutions have been trained to use GeoNode and to upload new documents independently, making the platform a fully operational open-source resource for risk information management.

“We hope that national institutions, NGOs, businesses, and international organizations will make the most of the data available on GeoNode and gradually supplement it with local data sources”, said Eliot Pernet, AXA Climate.

“The GRMA initiative represents a major step forward for Madagascar. Thanks to the project’s technical depth and the extensive capability strengthening, government institutions and their partners now have access to high-quality risk data, practical tools, and a national platform that national stakeholders can continue to enrich over time. We are deeply grateful for the collaboration with AXA Climate and consortium partners, whose support has empowered experts in Madagascar to use and apply climate risk information as a basis for resilient public policies”, added Dr. Annette Detken, Head of Public Sector GRMA.

With this phase of GRMA support now completed, Madagascar is better equipped to develop robust disaster risk financing strategies, inform public investment planning, and enhance long-term resilience for vulnerable communities across the country. A second phase of GRMA support, planned for launch in 2026, will build on these results.