The improvement of theoretical and practical preparedness of volunteer emergency response units and the enhancement of the coordination and efficient reaction in case of disaster in the cross-border area.

892,443.58 euro, out of which 758,577.02 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB):Municipality of Tutrakan

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Directorate General Fire Safety and Civil Protection – Ministry of the Interior (BG)

Beneficiary 3 (B3): General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations - Ministry of Internal Affairs (RO)

Beneficiary 4 (B4): National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria

Start date: 12.09.2018

End date: 11.11.2022 - finalized

Duration: 50 months

Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo and Silistra in Bulgaria

Dolj and Constanta in Romania

• Risk analysis of the cross border area;
• Procurement of complete protective suits for firefighting and training tower;
• Development of a volunteer emergency response plan for common actions;
• Development of a joint training program for volunteer emergency response units;
• Conduct theoretical and practical trainings in Bulgaria and Romania.

Programme outputs:4,779,754 people benefiting from actions of risk management, 4,591,666 people benefiting from flood protection measures, 4,779,754 people benefiting from forest fire protection measures, 5 joint partnerships in the field of joint early warning and emergency response

Programme results: increased quality of the joint risk management in the CBC area from inappropriate (2.00) to satisfactory (3.00)

The project was finalized on 11.11.2022.

During the entire project implementation period, the following results were achieved:

B2 finalized the elaboration of the risk analysis of the cross-border area as follows:

1) Analysis of the scale, frequency, geographical concentration, seasonality and prerequisites for disastrous events in the cross-border area;

2) Analysis of regional and municipal plans for disaster preparedness and emergency response for a pilot region (Silistra District and Calarasi County);

3) Joint report on the emergency response preparedness in the cross-border area.

The analysis is uploaded on the project web page, available on the following link: https://volunteering-robg.com.

Within the frame of Activity T.3 “Development of a Joint Training Program for Volunteers”, a voluntary emergency response plan for common actions was prepared by the experts of B2 and B4. Eventually, it was sent for approval to B3.

Further on, a contract for the development of the joint training program for volunteer emergency response units was signed and, subsequently, five three days workshops were performed in an online format because of the COVID-19 restrictions.

B3 - IGSU finalized the procurement and construction of the mobile training tower in the beginning of September 2021, in Constanta.

LB succeed to finalize the construction works for the establishment of a Training center for volunteers in Belitsa. The constructed Training Centre in Belitsa is represented by the following main spaces:

1.       Ground floor –Entrance, Lobby (Bar) , Multifunctional dining hall (Restaurant), Corridors, Storage room, Staircase, Toilets for visitors, Kitchen

2.       First floor – 2 Conference Rooms, Hall, Dressing Room, Bathrooms, Medical Cabinet, Sport Hall, Fitness Room, Office space and 8 Bedrooms;

3.       Second floor – 11 Bedrooms;

Following the finalization of the entire process for developing of the of a Joint Training Program for Volunteers, the project beneficiaries reported also the concluding of 5 joint partnerships at project level in the field of joint early warning and emergency response.

Within the frame of the WP 4 “Conduct theoretical and practical trainings”, there were organized the 6 the practical trainings in Belitsa and 2 practical trainings in Constanta with more than 216 volunteers from Romania and Bulgaria. More information is available on the project web site, accessible in all three languages on the following link: https://volunteering-robg.com .