Applicants are invited to select one of the following call priorities (specific objectives):

Priority 1: Risk assessments

Without an assessment that takes into account cross-border risks, disaster risk management strategies will only partially address the risks a country faces. An analysis of national risk assessments while cross-sectoral interdependencies are tackled to some extent, a multilateral cross-border (i.e. regional/international) risk dimension needs to be reinforced. A few good practices exist: the joint cross-border Benelux risk assessment, the Baltic Sea Region risk assessment or the Nordic Forum for Risk Analysis and Strategic Foresight.

Projects may include a broad range of activities, for example, to develop methods and tools to measure and/or enhance the understanding of the impact of disasters; to promote harmonised cross-border approaches for assessing and communicating risks, etc.

Priority 2: Early warning systems

Early warning systems are key elements for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.  Globalisation and climate change, as well as socio-demographic factors and health system capacity are, among others, significant drivers of risk. Therefore, monitoring changes in these parameters can help anticipate or even forecast adverse weather conditions or an upsurge of infectious diseases.

Projects may include a range of activities, for example, to promote harmonised cross–border approaches for forecasting, anticipating and preventing disasters; to enhance international standards and protocols for warnings; to embed early warning systems in decision making, etc.

Priority 3: Risk awareness

The population plays an important role in disaster prevention and preparedness and citizens are usually the first responders to natural or man-made disasters. While national and local authorities have the mandate to inform citizens on the risks in their region and on procedures to follow in case of a disaster, this might be more complex at cross-border level, as it may require additional coordination among national dedicated services. Evidence-based risk information and communication, education activities targeted to the public and volunteers become thus effective tools to raise awareness on disaster prevention, preparedness and response measures.

Projects may include a range of activities, for example: risk information products, including for social media; citizen engagement in disaster prevention and preparedness; educational modules and materials for the general public or specific end-users; strategies and approaches to increase the capacity and number of volunteers, including youth and vulnerable groups, etc.

Priority 4: Marine pollution

Recent strategies and action plans of the European regional sea conventions emphasise current and emerging challenges in detecting and responding to operational, illegal and accidental marine pollution due to a number of factors such as changes in maritime transport, fuels and hazardous cargos. Such challenges should be approached by understanding and preparing for risks, capitalizing on the experience and knowledge available in other sectors and developing an integrated management of marine pollution incidents at sea and on shore.

Projects may include:

• Activities to improve effectiveness of surveillance, detection, drift modelling and response techniques of various pollutants, including floating objects like lost containers and cargo released from containers
• Activities aimed at prevention and preparedness related to battery caused fires on board
• Activities enabling the use of drones in hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) incidents
• Activities to develop and implement multi-sectoral training and contingency planning for decision makers, citizens and volunteers, on-shore responders and port authorities
• Activities to develop a framework for holistic/integrated management of marine pollution incidents to enable coordinated response operations at sea and on shore