GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

In order to contribute to achieving the above general objective, applicants are invited to select one or several of the following topic priorities.

Priority 1: Institutional preparedness Institutional preparedness plays a crucial part in efficiently meeting the demands placed on civil protection and DRM authorities. Increasing complexities during disasters, changing parameters as a result of climate change and the ever-growing risk of concurrent disasters or prolonged emergencies, require institutions with a role in DRM to adapt and prepare themselves accordingly. Proposals focussing on the institutional preparedness priority of the call will be able to place their focus on activities aimed at advancing preparedness, both within and between organisations, sectors and borders, especially in the context of applying lessons learnt to existing structures and processes. Activities can aim to encourage or even institutionalise cooperation between different stakeholders including the general public, improve communication, information management and facilitate the transfer of knowledge or integrate new approaches and innovative research in the interest of increasing preparedness at an institutional level.

Priority 2: Individual capacity strengthening This priority aims to increase preparedness through activities that develop skills, expand relevant knowledge, and improve capacity and performance of individual experts or functional groups12. While the primary responsibility for this process lies within each organisation, this call intends to complement efforts within individual stakeholders, by funding initiatives that gather resources beyond those typically available to the individual organisation. Bringing together different stakeholders, sharing knowledge, and developing formats to effectively make knowledge and skills available to relevant audiences throughout the UCPM community is the central objective of Priority 2.

While any identified gaps on relevant topics can be addressed, areas of focus that have already been identified include floods, wildfires, earthquakes, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) and medical emergencies.

All activities included in proposals aimed at capacity strengthening should be structured in a manner that is complementary to UCPM and national training programmes and not duplicate ongoing efforts.