Union Civil Protection Mechanism training

Who can participate?

The UCPM Training Programme is open to civil protection and disaster management experts from EU Member States and UCPM Participating States. Some courses are also open to eligible third countries (EU candidate/potential candidate countries and Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood countries), as well as to representatives from the United Nations and other international organisations involved in international disaster management operations.

What training is on offer?

Various courses are offered as part of the training programme, ranging from introductory to advanced and refresher training:

• The core training programme consists of courses that prepare different categories of experts – such as European Union Civil Protection Team (EUCPT) experts, Technical Assistance and Support Team (TAST) members, technical experts, and modules and other response capacities key personnel – for deployment on UCPM missions. Specialised European Commission-United Nations (EC-UN) joint training courses are designed as part of the deployable pathway to train participants for specific deployments, like environmental or medical emergency missions.
• Additional core components of the programme train participants in their UCPM role linked to their national emergency management system. These courses target mainly civil protection and disaster management stakeholders who perform a UCPM coordination role at national level and will be involved, in some form, with UCPM assistance.
• The UCPM Training Programme also offers online modules on different disaster management topics, from stand-alone courses, such as cultural sensitivity and gender, to refresher and pre-learning for residential training courses. Some online modules are offered in French, Spanish and Arabic in addition to English.
• Finally, the UCPM provides flexible training to respond to emerging risks and needs in the form of ad-hoc training courses, training of trainers, and thematic workshops and seminars. These learning activities aim to address knowledge and skills gaps as they are identified.

How can I register?

To take part in training courses, participants must be nominated by their National Training Coordinator or National Focal Point (for third countries). 

Self-instructed e-learning modules are open and freely accessible upon registration on the EU Academy Knowledge Network - UCPM Training and Exercises Programme page. Consult this guide for further information on how to register to EU Academy.

A private discussion group was created for National Training Coordinators (NTCs) to discuss, collaborate, share and exchange information and updates with other NTCs. The online group contains relevant documents and background information on UCPM training, exercises and exchange of experts programmes. Membership to this discussion group is only possible upon invitation by a Knowledge Network staff member. After joining, NTCs can access the group here.

Why take part?

Thanks to the UCPM Training Programme, civil protection experts and emergency management personnel can acquire competencies they need to collaborate effectively in response to disasters both inside and outside the European Union.

The training programme also provides access to a community of highly-skilled peers ready to support and engage in UCPM operations and activities worldwide.

More information