HARISSA - Citizen Science for Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Africa - presentation slides

HARISSA: Citizen Science for Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Africa.Natural disasters such as storms, floods, and landslides frequently affect Central Africa, but the lack of reliable data limits efforts to mitigate risks effectively. The HARISSA project, led by the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Belgium) in collaboration with the Research Center in Natural Sciences of Lwiro (CRSN-Lwiro) and Civil Protection in North and South Kivu (DRC), aims to reduce disaster risks in the Kivu region. Citizen observers, selected based on local engagement and technical skills, are trained to document natural hazards using the Kobocollect app. They record event details, capture photos, and submit reports to an online platform, where researchers validate the data. By improving data collection and community awareness, HARISSA contributes to better disaster preparedness and risk reduction in the region. The presentation was prepared as part of a training day of the ASDOST-CitSci project.