The BEAVER project officially launched in Florence with its first Steering Committee meeting and a public kick-off event during the First Civil Protection Day. Funded by the European Union under the UCPM programme, the initiative brings together partners from Italy, Spain, and Portugal to improve disaster preparedness, resilience, and climate adaptation through local pilot actions.
The BEAVER project (Bridging prEvention And preparedness in ciVil protEction with adaptation through inclusive proximity Resilience actions) officially began on 1 April 2026 under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) programme line “Knowledge for Action in Prevention and Preparedness”.
The consortium gathered in Florence on 22–23 May 2026 for the official launch of the project activities. The first day focused on the Steering Committee meeting, where project partners and Work Package leaders aligned priorities for the next phases of implementation. Discussions covered pilot activities in the Resilience Proximity Laboratories (RPLs), stakeholder engagement, volunteer training, dissemination strategies, and the collection of best practices.
On the second day, the project was presented to the public during the First Civil Protection Day, organised in cooperation with the Metropolitan City of Florence and the Municipality of Vaglia. The event included demonstrations, educational activities, and an institutional conference dedicated to civil protection and territorial resilience.
A dedicated session titled “Voices from the Territories” brought together representatives from the four pilot municipalities involved in the project: Vaglia and Montespertoli in Tuscany, Vilanova i la Geltrú in Catalonia, and Oeiras in Portugal. The panel highlighted local challenges, expectations, and opportunities connected to the implementation of the project.
BEAVER aims to strengthen community preparedness and resilience in the face of disasters, with particular attention to vulnerable groups and climate change adaptation. Over the next two years, the project will develop and test innovative local approaches through the Resilience Proximity Laboratories established in the participating regions.
The project is coordinated by ANCI Toscana and involves eight partner organisations from Italy, Spain, and Portugal, combining expertise in civil protection, governance, community engagement, and climate resilience.
For more information about the BEAVER project and upcoming activities, please visit the official project channels.