Benny Istanto

Climate Geographer

World Bank • Tiempo parcial

Jul 2021 - Present • 5 yrs 2 mos

Behind many development decisions sits a map. My work is making sure it is the right one. Climate Geographer, Geospatial Operations Support Team (GOST), Development Economics Data Group Geospatial and climate analytics for teams across the Bank, delivering solutions for sustainable development, agriculture and hydrometeorological monitoring. Supported 30+ projects, including: - World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies - Sustainable Development Flagship on green, resilient and inclusive cities - Turkiye earthquake impact assessment and Ukraine needs assessment - Lobito Corridor, Pacific Observatory and Space2Stats - Economic monitors for Lebanon, Syria and Morocco - Nutrition hotspots, forest cover in Kenya and Cote d'Ivoire, and climate-informed spatial planning Risk Data Librarian (Data Scientist), Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), since Sep 2025 On the Risk Data Library project, I harmonize hazard, exposure, vulnerability and loss (HEVL) data into one standard, so risk insight can be compared, reused and trusted. FAIR data, for disasters that are anything but fair.

Earth Observation and Climate Analyst

World Food Programme • Tiempo completo

May 2012 - Jul 2021 • 9 yrs 2 mos

Nine years of reading the sky and the soil for the people most exposed to both. Started as GIS Officer for the Indonesia Country Office in Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM). From December 2016, served as Earth Observation and Climate Analyst for the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, providing spatial analysis for 22 countries (17 country offices and 5 oversight countries). What the work involved: - Methods linking climate, natural disasters and food security - Satellite-based meteorological and agricultural drought indicators - Extreme rainfall analysis for flood prediction, and impact-based forecasting - Crop phenology tracking, deforestation and hydrometeorological hazard research - Capacity development for WFP staff and government counterparts - GIS and spatial data infrastructure services for VAM, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Nutrition, and emergency operations Highlights: - Co-created VAMPIRE, winner of the 2017 WFP Innovation Challenge, installed in the President of Indonesia's situation room and now evolving as PRISM - Built the online Food Security and Vulnerability Atlas (FSVA) 2015, also used in the President's situation room - Best GIS Officer, 1st WFP GIS Community Award, 2015 - Maps and food security analysis for the Indonesia Province Infographic book (BNPB and BPS, 2014) - Instructor at WFP-LAPAN remote sensing mapathons on drought, growing seasons and weather monitoring (2016)

GIS and Information Management Officer

United Nations • Tiempo completo

Dec 2008 - May 2012 • 3 yrs 5 mos

Maps for the moments when a crisis cannot wait, and for the long years of rebuilding after. Humanitarian response, early recovery and post-disaster development with UNOCHA, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, UNDP, UNFPA and ILO, across Indonesia and Timor-Leste. - UNFPA, Timor-Leste (2009): Census Mapping Supervisor for the 2010 Population and Housing Census. Mentored field teams and revised enumeration areas, suco locations and landmarks for Dili, Oecusse and Baucau. - UNOCHA, West Sumatra (2009-2010): GIS/IT Officer for the earthquake response. Maps, spatial databases and data standards for the humanitarian community, government agencies and NGOs. - UN Resident Coordinator's Office (2010): Information Management Officer. Led the unit that produced the Cluster ATLAS for the 2009 West Sumatra Earthquake Response, ran the coordination website for 8 cluster working groups in the recovery network, and set up information sharing for the Mentawai tsunami response. Trained responders in information management and GIS. - UNDP/ILO, Aceh (2011-2012): GIS Officer for local resource-based road works. Designed a district GIS, surveyed about 1,600 km of roads in Pidie and Bireuen at 100-meter detail, and delivered 936 trainee-days to Public Works and planning staff.