Project code: | BGRS0100003 – RESPONSE |
Project call: | |
Priority axis / Specific objective: | Priority 3 - A more resilient border region RSO2.4 - Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches |
Type of project: | investment |
Project duration in months: | 30 |
Project final contract amount: | 7.289.816,15 |
Project EU co-financing rate: | 85% |
Project start date: | 01.09.2023 |
Project end date: | 01.03.2026 |
Partners: | LP - Directorate General Fire Safety and Civil Protection, Ministry of Interior PP2- Sector for Emergency Management At Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia; PP3- Faculty "Fire Safety and Civil Protection" At Academy of Ministry of Interior; PP4-National Association of Volunteers in Republic of Bulgaria |
Project summary: Disasters know no border. Bulgaria and Serbia are disaster-prone countries, subject to a wide variety of natural disasters, including floods, forest fires, landslides and earthquakes. These disasters, especially weather-related events, are likely to increase in terms of numbers and severity due to climate change. Reducing the risk of natural disasters involves several directions and aims to limit the damage caused by extreme natural phenomena; to protect the population, living in high-risk areas; to raise awareness and knowledge and thus improve the culture of behavior; to improve and maintain the capacity of the professional units to protect the population from accidents and natural disasters. The project is aiming at ensuring the necessary education and preparation of the population and volunteers for actions in case of disasters in the cross-border region, as well as ensuring proper and timely response of the professional teams in case of disasters using different methods for improvement of the capacity. Well-coordinated profesionals teams and volunteers in cross border region and properly educated local population will increase local response capacity and disaster resilience. Within the project the following outputs will be produced: - brochures for awareness campaign for the population in the cross-border region will be produced and distributed; - a mobile application and an educational movie will be produced and used for the education of students in Serbia; - promotional items for the children in the cross border region in BG will be produced and distributed during their education in class; - smoke detectors and brochures for the elderly people in the cross border region will be distributed with educational aim; - disaster backpacks will be delivered and distributed among the cross border population; - conducted: 12 joint training sessions with 20 participants on different topics related to the response in case of disasters, 2 sessions for managing operational activities for 20 participants each one, 1 joint training session for professional firefighters for rescue interventions in tunnels - 30 participants and 1 Joint training for staff, who are in charge of the training of professionals and volunteers - 20 participants; - conducted 6 training sessions with 20 participants each one for volunteers; - conducted 2 seminars with the participation of 10 participants from both sides of the border on the problems of professional training for actions in case of earthquakes and other disasters. - renovated dormitory of the Center for professional training at RDFSCP-Montana; - renovated educational facilities in Faculty FSCP at AMoI; - equipped centre for emergency management unit in Zaječar, Republic of Serbia; - prepared and adopted Joint operational procedures, Joint intervention plans and updated Strategy for management of forest fires in the cross-border region; - delivered specialized equipment: 26 special-purpose vehicles; additional equipment for rescue activities; personal protective equipment and ICT equipment. The equipment is envisaged for the professional staff in the cross border area and the students of AMoI; - one field exercise accomplished with the participation of all project partners' representatives. Natural disasters fighting and climate change adaptation involve all local, regional and national authorities, business, civil society organizations and citizens to achieve: 1) integrating climate change adaptation in all sectors: strengthening the legal environment framework and policies; 2) development of institutional capacity through building of expertise, knowledge, monitoring and reporting; 3) raising awareness: improving education, acceptance and participation of the community in adaptation actions; and 4) ensuring sustainability by: improving infrastructure, protecting natural and human capital, protecting ecosystems, and more. This is the reason for the project to envisage a broad partnership between different types of organizations: DGFSCP, MoI, Sector for Emergency Management, MoI, Serbia – public bodies, Academy of MoI – science organization and National Association of Volunteers in Republic of Bulgaria - NGO to identify ways and methods by which the aims of the project will be achieved. The partnership with university and civil society represented by NGO will lead to the proper diversification of the project activities, identification of the needs of all target groups and correct and result-oriented presentation of information in the education methodologies and during the trainings. | |