UCPM Peer Reviews - Call for Expressions of Interest for 4 slots

Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EUROPEAN CIVIL PROTECTION AND HUMANITARIAN AID

OPERATIONS (ECHO) Strategy and Policy

The Director

Brussels ECHO.B.3/JS

CORRESPONDENCE SLIP

ADDRESSEES: Directors-General for Civil Protection of the Member States and Participating

States to the Union Civil Protection Mechanism

CC: Members of the Civil Protection Committee; Member States’ Permanent

Representations and Participating States Permanent Missions to the EU

Subject: UCPM Peer Review programme 2025-2027 cycle

Call for Expressions of Interest – Deadline 29 May 2026

Dear Directors-General,

I am pleased to launch a new call for expressions of interest for national or sub-national

authorities interested in undergoing a peer review of their disaster risk management and

civil protection systems. This call concerns our availability for four peer reviews, which can

be carried out during 2026-2027.

A peer review provides a country or a region with the opportunity to reflect on its readiness

to cope with disasters from natural hazards and human-induced disasters and to identify ways

of strengthening its prevention and preparedness policy and practices. In addition, peer

reviews also facilitate the sharing of good practices at European level.

The Peer Review programme is carried out in close partnership between the Commission,

the team of peers (civil protection experts and practitioners selected for the specific review),

and the relevant authorities of the country/region under review. The Euro-Mediterranean

Centre for Climate Change (CMCC), based in Italy, is supporting the programme as technical

consultant. Since 2013, 20 countries and one region have undergone a peer review – most

recently the German Land of Brandenburg, Czechia and Kosovo*.

As responsibilities for disaster risk management and preparedness are decentralised in

many countries, we encourage applications from subnational authorities, for instance

regional authorities from federal states. The recent precedent of Land Brandenburg

validated that a peer review organised at regional/subnational level with the necessary

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo

declaration of independence

2

support of central authorities can be strongly beneficial. We therefore kindly ask national

level authorities to share the call with subnational authorities where relevant.

Countries and regions interested in a peer review are invited to send an expression of

interest to [email protected] by 29 May 2026. Requests for a

peer review will only be considered if submitted by the central/national civil protection

authority or in the case of requests submitted by subnational authorities they must be

accompanied by a letter of support signed by the national authority. Please indicate the details

of your interest by using the enclosed Template for Expression of Interest.

For more information on the methodology used for UCPM peer reviews, please refer to the

enclosed Factsheet and the peer review webpage. Key documents include: the Disaster Risk

Management Peer Review Assessment Framework (DRM PRAF), updated in 2025, and the

wildfire version of the PRAF (Wildfire PRAF), should you wish to undergo a review

focusing specifically on wildfire risk management.

In close collaboration with DG ECHO, the authority requesting the review is expected to

support the peer review process throughout its duration, for planning the review,

identification of the review focus areas, sharing relevant documents for the desk research,

participation in preparatory meetings, identifying and engaging with stakeholders for the on-

site review mission, and assist with certain logistical arrangements, e.g. for local meeting

venues and local transport. The Peer Review Guidelines provide more details on the

responsibilities of the main actors in the process.

We look forward to hearing from you. Do not hesitate to contact my team should you have

any need for clarifications. Also to mention, we hope to count on your continued support in

proposing potential peers with relevant expertise for the future peer reviews.

Yours sincerely,

Hanna JAHNS

Contact: Cristina BRAILESCU

Cristina COLACO

E-mail: [email protected]

Enclosure: Template for Expression of Interest

Fact Sheet - UCPM Peer Review Programme 2025-2027

Electronically signed on 09/04/2026 15:03 (UTC+02) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121

Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EUROPEAN CIVIL PROTECTION AND HUMANITARIAN AID

OPERATIONS (ECHO) Strategy and Policy

The Director

Brussels ECHO.B.3/JS

CORRESPONDENCE SLIP

ADDRESSEES: Directors-General for Civil Protection of the Member States and Participating

States to the Union Civil Protection Mechanism

CC: Members of the Civil Protection Committee; Member States’ Permanent

Representations and Participating States Permanent Missions to the EU

Subject: UCPM Peer Review programme 2025-2027 cycle

Call for Expressions of Interest – Deadline 29 May 2026

Dear Directors-General,

I am pleased to launch a new call for expressions of interest for national or sub-national

authorities interested in undergoing a peer review of their disaster risk management and

civil protection systems. This call concerns our availability for four peer reviews, which can

be carried out during 2026-2027.

A peer review provides a country or a region with the opportunity to reflect on its readiness

to cope with disasters from natural hazards and human-induced disasters and to identify ways

of strengthening its prevention and preparedness policy and practices. In addition, peer

reviews also facilitate the sharing of good practices at European level.

The Peer Review programme is carried out in close partnership between the Commission,

the team of peers (civil protection experts and practitioners selected for the specific review),

and the relevant authorities of the country/region under review. The Euro-Mediterranean

Centre for Climate Change (CMCC), based in Italy, is supporting the programme as technical

consultant. Since 2013, 20 countries and one region have undergone a peer review – most

recently the German Land of Brandenburg, Czechia and Kosovo*.

As responsibilities for disaster risk management and preparedness are decentralised in

many countries, we encourage applications from subnational authorities, for instance

regional authorities from federal states. The recent precedent of Land Brandenburg

validated that a peer review organised at regional/subnational level with the necessary

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo

declaration of independence

2

support of central authorities can be strongly beneficial. We therefore kindly ask national

level authorities to share the call with subnational authorities where relevant.

Countries and regions interested in a peer review are invited to send an expression of

interest to [email protected] by 29 May 2026. Requests for a

peer review will only be considered if submitted by the central/national civil protection

authority or in the case of requests submitted by subnational authorities they must be

accompanied by a letter of support signed by the national authority. Please indicate the details

of your interest by using the enclosed Template for Expression of Interest.

For more information on the methodology used for UCPM peer reviews, please refer to the

enclosed Factsheet and the peer review webpage. Key documents include: the Disaster Risk

Management Peer Review Assessment Framework (DRM PRAF), updated in 2025, and the

wildfire version of the PRAF (Wildfire PRAF), should you wish to undergo a review

focusing specifically on wildfire risk management.

In close collaboration with DG ECHO, the authority requesting the review is expected to

support the peer review process throughout its duration, for planning the review,

identification of the review focus areas, sharing relevant documents for the desk research,

participation in preparatory meetings, identifying and engaging with stakeholders for the on-

site review mission, and assist with certain logistical arrangements, e.g. for local meeting

venues and local transport. The Peer Review Guidelines provide more details on the

responsibilities of the main actors in the process.

We look forward to hearing from you. Do not hesitate to contact my team should you have

any need for clarifications. Also to mention, we hope to count on your continued support in

proposing potential peers with relevant expertise for the future peer reviews.

Yours sincerely,

Hanna JAHNS

Contact: Cristina BRAILESCU

Cristina COLACO

E-mail: [email protected]

Enclosure: Template for Expression of Interest

Fact Sheet - UCPM Peer Review Programme 2025-2027

Electronically signed on 09/04/2026 15:03 (UTC+02) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121

UCPM PEER REVIEW OF DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AND CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEMS A Peer Review of disaster risk management provides a country or a region with an opportunity to reflect on its readiness to cope with natural and human induced hazard-related disasters and to identify ways of improving prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The European Commission’s Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), under the framework of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), supports the Member States, the Participating States, eligible Third Countries and the European Neighbourhood Policy countries to review their disaster risk management (DRM) policies and practices by taking stock of strengths and weaknesses and putting forward recommendations to increase effectiveness.

The UCPM Peer Review Programme promotes an integrated approach to disaster risk management by taking a comprehensive look at prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery actions.

Peer reviews also support a wider policy dialogue across Europe and beyond, improving policy coherence and facilitating the exchange of good practices on civil protection and DRM.

To date, 21 UCPM peer reviews have been carried out, most recently Land Brandenburg (Germany), Kosovo* and Czechia. Reports of all reviews can be found on the Peer Review website.

How is a peer review conducted? ► The Peer Review Programme operates on the basis of a strong, transparent partnership between DG ECHO and the civil

protection authorities of the country/region under review. The peer review team includes a group of independent experts (the ‘peers’), the national or regional contact point, representatives of DG ECHO, and a facilitator team.

Defining the scope Selecting the peers

On site mission

Countries/regions expressing an interest in enrolling in the 2025-2027 Programme discuss objectives and expected outcomes of a peer review with DG ECHO.

DG ECHO selects the peers that will conduct the review. The experts are often proposed by civil protection authorities of other UCPM countries.

The peer review team travels to the country/region under review to gain on-the- ground insights and identify strengths and areas for improvement. Relevant stakeholders are invited to participate in meetings. The mission lasts approximately one week.

Based on the knowledge collected during the mission, the peer review team drafts the report, including strengths and recommendations. The civil protection authorities have the opportunity to review the report during the drafting process.

The peer review team formally hands over the final report to the civil protection authority. From the review kicks off to the final report, it usually takes 8 to 10 months to complete the process.

The facilitator supporting the review process prepares an initial desk report, summarising the DRM system, along with insights from a survey among relevant stakeholders, selected in collaboration with the country under review.

Preparing for the review

Draft review reportHandover of the final report

What are the benefits of a peer review? Based on an independent review, a peer review assists civil protection authorities in improving their DRM capabilities, and

► raises awareness among stakeholders in the reviewed country, ► proposes concrete recommendations.

► identifies better approaches to policy and operations, ► facilitates mutual learning and exchange of good practice,

For further information on the Peer Review Programme: [email protected] The 2025-2027 Peer Review Programme is

implemented in cooperation with* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Participating countries form a network of practitioners sharing experiences and lessons learned.

UCPM PEER REVIEW OF DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AND CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEMS A Peer Review of disaster risk management provides a country or a region with an opportunity to reflect on its readiness to cope with natural and human induced hazard-related disasters and to identify ways of improving prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The European Commission’s Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), under the framework of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), supports the Member States, the Participating States, eligible Third Countries and the European Neighbourhood Policy countries to review their disaster risk management (DRM) policies and practices by taking stock of strengths and weaknesses and putting forward recommendations to increase effectiveness.

The UCPM Peer Review Programme promotes an integrated approach to disaster risk management by taking a comprehensive look at prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery actions.

Peer reviews also support a wider policy dialogue across Europe and beyond, improving policy coherence and facilitating the exchange of good practices on civil protection and DRM.

To date, 21 UCPM peer reviews have been carried out, most recently Land Brandenburg (Germany), Kosovo* and Czechia. Reports of all reviews can be found on the Peer Review website.

How is a peer review conducted? ► The Peer Review Programme operates on the basis of a strong, transparent partnership between DG ECHO and the civil

protection authorities of the country/region under review. The peer review team includes a group of independent experts (the ‘peers’), the national or regional contact point, representatives of DG ECHO, and a facilitator team.

Defining the scope Selecting the peers

On site mission

Countries/regions expressing an interest in enrolling in the 2025-2027 Programme discuss objectives and expected outcomes of a peer review with DG ECHO.

DG ECHO selects the peers that will conduct the review. The experts are often proposed by civil protection authorities of other UCPM countries.

The peer review team travels to the country/region under review to gain on-the- ground insights and identify strengths and areas for improvement. Relevant stakeholders are invited to participate in meetings. The mission lasts approximately one week.

Based on the knowledge collected during the mission, the peer review team drafts the report, including strengths and recommendations. The civil protection authorities have the opportunity to review the report during the drafting process.

The peer review team formally hands over the final report to the civil protection authority. From the review kicks off to the final report, it usually takes 8 to 10 months to complete the process.

The facilitator supporting the review process prepares an initial desk report, summarising the DRM system, along with insights from a survey among relevant stakeholders, selected in collaboration with the country under review.

Preparing for the review

Draft review reportHandover of the final report

What are the benefits of a peer review? Based on an independent review, a peer review assists civil protection authorities in improving their DRM capabilities, and

► raises awareness among stakeholders in the reviewed country, ► proposes concrete recommendations.

► identifies better approaches to policy and operations, ► facilitates mutual learning and exchange of good practice,

For further information on the Peer Review Programme: [email protected] The 2025-2027 Peer Review Programme is

implemented in cooperation with* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Participating countries form a network of practitioners sharing experiences and lessons learned.