Working title: Baltic civil defense cooperation for complex emergencies
Alignment with components of EU disaster resilience goals, UCPM general objectives and topic and priorities of the call:
Union disaster resilience goal No. 5: ‘Secure – Ensuring a robust civil protection system
Among general objectives of UCPM:
• achieve a higher level of protection against disasters with cross-border impacts
• building new and developing further existing competencies in civil protection and DRM, learning, training
• strengthening knowledge partnerships between civil protection and DRM actors
Call for proposal topic: Preparedness:
• increasing the overall preparedness of the UCPM and its stakeholders through activities that address ongoing and emerging issues of systemic relevance.
• going beyond traditional civil protection authorities
Priority 1: Institutional preparedness
• advancing preparedness, both within and between organisations, sectors and borders
• encouraging and institutionalizing transfer of knowledge, improved communication and cooperation,
• integrating new approaches (in coordination and in cross-country cooperation mechanisms)
• meeting demands placed on civil protection and DRM authorities especially amidst the increased complexity of cris preparedness (due to the changing security context in the Baltics)
Priority 2: Individual capacity strengthening
• Bringing together different stakeholders sharing knowledge
• With knowledge and experience applied nationally and internationally
Needs basis:
• Changing security and risk environment in the Baltics, new and increased risk of border crisis situations including risk of armed conflict
• Need for upscaling preparedness efforts, in all Baltics states. While it is a priority for all 3 states, it is a new area for government agencies and the civil sector, with room for improvement of coordination, building channels and processes of cooperation for an increased collective preparedness level
• Absence of organized support connections and collaborative planning concerning humanitarian needs and the cross-country repercussions
Precedents and complementarity to ongoing efforts:
• Each of the three Baltic National Societies is dedicating resources to enhance the readiness of their disaster management, advanced first aid, and psychological first aid volunteer teams. This investment contributes to strengthening their ability to augment national capacities effectively
• All three National Societies have gained new sectoral operational capabilities, such as in evacuation management and registration (via BALTPREP and EVRE), cash an voucher programming, Mental health and MHPSS, Information managment, community engagement
• The Lithuanian Red Cross, as the consortium leader, spearheads initiatives among non-governmental organizations in Lithuania aimed at enhancing emergency preparedness and fostering coordination among stakeholders. This is achieved through conducting over 10 exercises annually and leveraging extensive experience in facilitating exercises that involve all pertinent ministries, other NGOs, and key government agencies.
Proposed activities:
Proposal standard outcome
Work packages (2 years)
Tasks
Activities (details)
Outcome:
Strengthened relationships between DRM stakeholders and strenghtened preparedness through coordination exercises at national and international level.
WP1. STRENGTHENING MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION: simulation and coordination exercises facilitated by the Red Cross on national and Baltic level
T1. Desktop review of available capacities among key stakeholders per country
1. Creation of report template aligned with the project objectives to identify capacities and gaps in country and crossborder emergency response
2. Production of an up-do-date risk matrix with emphasis on cross-border emergencies
T2. Country level multiagency simulation / coordination exercise on jointly established border crisis scenario (including armed conflict). Risk and capacity mapping, scenario planning, gap analysis and coordination exercises (first year)
1. Establishing /sharing methodology through consultations and training, preparatory meetings with CP and other relevant civil protection/total defense stakeholders to establish scenarios. (Minimum participation planned: Red Cross, 1 civil protection agency, 1 additional NGO or government stakeholder).
2. Implementation of 1 day exercise in all 3 countries, facilitated by RC or jointly by Red Cross and relevant partner civil protection/total defense stakeholder (government or NGO)
3. per country follow-up with CP and other agencies on results of exercise: a) updating coordination agreements/MoUs, b) contingency planning, c) scheduling joint trainings to fill identified capacity gaps d) compiling report and lessons learnt
T3. Multi-country (Baltic-wide), multiagency tabletop coordination exercise on cross-border humanitarian implications of an armed conflict scenario
1. Preparation of multicounty scenario and methodology of joint exercise, with focus on:
a. Results of risk mapping from T1, with specific focus on humanitarian implications of cross-country population movement on country civil protection/total defense frameworks, coordination structures and scenarios
b. implications for cross-country modalities of mutual help between stakeholders
c. revealing gaps in preparedness plans and capacities, and expanding horizons of per country scenarios, contingency plans and cooperation opportunities
2. Two-day tabletop simulation and knowledge sharing exercise along an armed conlfict scenario. In addition to tabletop, limited field-based exercise is considered.
3. Conclusions and recommended follow-up
T4. Country level multiagency simulation / coordination exercise on jointly established border crisis scenario (including armed conflict). (second year)
1. Following adjustments based on year 1 exercise
T5. Updating coordination agreements and MoUs/ framework agreements between Red Cross and relevant civil protection, government or other stakeholder
1. Examples: updated MoU with Ministry of Health, Border Guards, Ministry of Interior, Civil protection
Outcome: Development of knowledge sharing and expertise at individual level to address critical and emerging risks, prolonged emergencies, and concurrent disasters.
WP2. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL JOINT TRAINING EXERCISES including field simulation
T1. Pre-identified trainings and field exercises open to all total defense stakeholders facilitated by RC or jointly (year 1)
- international training on warehousing and logistics of relief assistance
- international training on Red Cross Movement international emergency response tools and activation, and humanitarian action in armed conflict
- advanced FA and PFA trainings for civil protection and other total defence stakeholders per country (as relevant)
- joint RC and CP (and other stakeholders) field exercise on managing evacuations or use of emergency equipment
- international humanitarian information management and data analysis training
T2. Trainings and field exercises to cover identified gaps based on desktop review and simulation / coordination exercises (year 1 and 2)
• 1 additional type of training that has been identified as gap, based on year 1 exercises, consultations and trainings
Outcome: Sharing of capabilities at organisational and systemic levels against common and emerging risks
WP3. X-STOCK: NEW TOOLS FOR ENHANCED CROSSBORDER EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, focusing on relief support, based on new methodologies between Baltic Red Cross National Societies and key partners
T1. Strengthening support capacities of Red Cross National Societies in relief and for cross-border assistance
1. Assessment of logistics, procurement and warehousing capacities of National Societies
2. Identification of relevant crisis risks and scenarios in dialogue with civil protection and total defence stakeholders to scope preparedness stock goals and institutional development goals
3. implementation of individual institutional development measures based on the assessment results (IT system development, individual capacity strengthening, SOPs, mapping of warehouse sites and supplier framework agreements)
4. ensuring that during development, interfaces and processes (especially in data sharing) that enable smooth cross-border cooperation are established
5. establishing warehousing optimizatino recommendations and pre-emergency framework agreements with logs and warehousign suppliers
T2. X-stock and structured crossborder emergency support: establishing agreements, SOPs, mechanisms, tools and IT solutions for cross-border support modalities between Red Cross National Societies, especially in relief
6. assessment of cross-border relief and other sectoral response relations, bilateral agreements, and support options to be provided between RC organizations. Stakeholder mapping of international support options and inclusion of other DRM actors
7. defining scenarios for relevant minimum joint stock level
8. based on the assessment, development of requirements for the xstock platform and the parameters of other emergency cooperation /activation mechanisms (such as crossborder EOC/ data sharing)
9. setting up cross-country coordination mechanisms
10. signing of pre-disaster agreement, related to xstock, and other relevant sectors and areas
WP4: PROJECT COORDINATION
11. kickoff and midterm project meetings
12. regular financial and narrative reporting
13. final evaluation and audit
WP 5: DISSEMINATION
14. consolidated reports sharing learnings and outcomes within the sector
15. closing conference/ final event (inviting also UCPM rep)