UCP Knowledge NetworkApplied knowledge for action
A woman laughing together with other participants of the 2024 Summer School in a lecture hall

Call for Participants - Summer School in Evidence for Policy in DRM 2026

A chance for UCPM and Horizon Europe researchers to join the Evidence for Policy in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Summer School 2026 in Tallinn!

This call for expression is only available on the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network (UCPKN) online platform until 6 March. It is intended to fill limited open slots with researchers of on-going UCPM and Horizon Europe projects.

Introduction

The 5th Evidence for Policy in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Summer School will be held in Tallinn, Estonia on 26 - 28 May 2026. Its objective is to build capacity on how to better integrate scientific evidence into policy-making and operations. The event is a reproduction of the 2025 version of the School.

It will be organised by the Civitas Soteria consortium (ICF and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna) and hosted by Tallinn University, funded and on behalf of the European Commission. Due to the highly interactive and participatory nature of the classes, the School will require physical attendance.

The target audience are:

  • scientists (e.g., university, national centre of science/knowledge, institute) producing DRM material for policymaking or technical decision-making; and
  • policymakers and operational staff (e.g., technical decision-making, strategic planning, resource prioritisation) utilising scientific results in DRM.

A total of eight class topics will be delivered during the School. Each participant will have the possibility to attend three classes and a final overarching exercise. The top preferred classes will be requested in the registration form and participants will be distributed proportionally by the consortium. Based on experience from the previous schools, we encourage participants to choose and attend classes outside of their comfort zone.

You will find further information (agenda, summaries of the classes, logistical brief, etc.) on this page: Evidence for Policy in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Summer School 2026 | UCP Knowledge Network

Criteria for choosing project researchers and application process

A selection committee from DG ECHO.B.3 will choose researcher applicants representing EU Member States/UCPM Participating States and from on-going UCPM and Horizon Europe projects based on the following two criteria:

  • Relevance of the UCPM or Horizon Europe project for the Preparedness Union Strategy,
  • Expression of motivation and relevance of the researcher's work in participating to the Summer School.

Each UCPM or Horizon Europe project can nominate only one (1) researcher. Thus, the applicant has to indicate the email of the official project coordinator with whom the nomination has been agreed with.

Those who have attended the School in the previous two editions are not eligible. Previous Schools have included personnel from early (e.g., duty officer, post doc) to senior career (director of analysis, head of planning) – and the cross-cutting mix has proven to be very fruitful in after action reviews.

Preference will be given:

  1. To applicants from EU Member States/UCPM Participating States less or non-represented in the registered participants so far;
  2. To applicants with specialisation in the less thus far preferred classes; and
  3. To keep gender balance and balance between scientist and policymaker profiles.

Applicants should register their application in the following link by the end of 6 March 2026: Open Call | Evidence for Policy in DRM Summer School 2026. The selection process will be completed as soon as possible after that. Before the workshop starts, it is mandatory for each participant to complete the Introduction to the UCPM and Science for Policy - Maximise your Policy Impact e-courses on the EU Academy.

Travel cover

The participants are expected to arrive on the morning of Tuesday 26 May and leave on the evening of Thursday 28 May. The consortium will, on behalf of the European Commission, arrange and cover the travel ticket within Europe, accommodation, and meals at the School. However, the cover does not include local travel from home to the departure airport and vice-versa. Participants should not make travel arrangements by themselves and will be contacted by the consortium after the selection process.