Funded under the IPA III Multi-country Action Program 2021 EU civil protection support for prevention, preparedness and response to natural disasters in Western Balkans and Turkey, the IPA CARE project aims to strengthen the resilience of affected countries to earthquakes and health emergencies. IPA CARE is led by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and has a planned duration of six years (December 2023 – March 2029).
How does the project work?
The overall objective of the project is to help strengthen resilience for earthquakes and health emergencies in the IPA countries involved in the project, specifically Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey. The desired approach is flexible and interactive, based on collaboration and participation, and able to build on existing and available structures and capacities. There are three general objectives of the project: first, to improve the institutional and legal framework and capacities of the countries involved in risk reduction (earthquakes and health emergencies); then, to increase prevention, preparedness and response capacity at regional, cross-border and local levels. Finally, the project aims to improve the participation and cooperation, including cross-border cooperation, of the countries involved with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, including regional cross-border cooperation.
What are the expected results?
- Improved national legal and institutional frameworks for health hazards and earthquakes
- Functional, legally and operationally capable inter-institutional coordination to enable clear national information flows
- Strengthening of the network of national and regional civil defense volunteers
- Increased medical response capacity for large-scale emergencies
- Strengthening of earthquake emergency response units/modules/teams to achieve average search and rescue capacity
- Improving risk management and risk assessment capabilities in relation to earthquakes and health risks
- Establish cross-border and regional cooperation among project countries
- Establish institutional and operational cooperation between the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and IPA III countries
- Increased knowledge and use of UCPM tools and services
What does CIMA Research Foundation do?
Within the project, CIMA Research Foundation provides its expertise in risk assessment methodologies and development of the institutional framework for risk management. We will be involved in the initial stages of the project. In particular, we are responsible, together with the Karolinka Institute, for improving the legal and institutional frameworks for health and earthquake risks, providing technical and functional assistance, including organizing in-person and hands-on activities. In collaboration with Italian Civil Protection Department and EUCENTRE Foundation, we are also involved in activities dedicated to risk management and assessment, which include meetings, capacity development activities, workshops, trainings, and exchange programs.
