Joint International Economics - UNU-CRIS Seminar by Kikè Fonton on Enhancing Climate Vulnerability Assessment Using Infrastructure Geospatial Data: Evidence from Guinea

joint work with

Ilse Ruyssen (UGhent & UNU-CRIS) and Aissatou Ouédraogo (World Bank)

Abstract. As climate-related hazards intensify worldwide, the urgency of thorough and equitable risk assessments grows, essential for guiding adaptation strategies and reducing inequalities. This study proposes a dual pillar framework that combines exposure to climate risks with a multidimensional analysis of vulnerability, emphasizing access to infrastructure as a key resilience indicator. Leveraging high-resolution geospatial and demographic data, the research introduces a network-based methodology to evaluate population connectivity to critical services—such as healthcare, water, electricity, transportation, and financial institutions—at a granular spatial scale. A composite climate vulnerability index is constructed using network metrics to reflect both accessibility and infrastructure robustness. The framework is applied to Guinea, a country marked by high climate exposure and regional poverty disparities. Thanks to detailed 2024 census cartography and geolocated infrastructure data, the study offers a fine-grained vulnerability analysis across diverse geographic and socioeconomic contexts.

This is a closed event. For further information, please contact Pascale Vantorre at pvantorre@cris.unu.edu