The Activities report for the Knowledge Network 2022-2023, published today, sets out achievements, results and lessons learnt by the EU and its partners under the three goals of the Network – community, shared knowledge for action, and research that matters.
The launch of the Knowledge Network took place in 2021, at a time of unprecedented international challenges, with natural disasters and conflict leading to a historically large number of activations of the UCPM. In this challenging global context, knowledge sharing and developing a strong community of civil protection practitioners became more important than ever.
In just two years, the Network has demonstrated its value in this area. Its role as Partnership Facilitator has been vital, with many activities under the first goal (Stronger Community) focused specifically on facilitating communication and partnership at different levels and across sectors. Highlights included the Knowledge Network’s participation in the European Civil Protection Forum (as well as the organisation of the next edition in June), a study visit for young professionals in civil protection, a significant expansion in the distribution of the Knowledge Network newsletter, and sharp increase in the publication of news and stories on its online platform.
Under the second goal – Shared Knowledge for Action – the Network has endeavoured to act as ‘knowledge broker’ by facilitating knowledge sharing among experts, offering them a space to learn and work together. In 2022–2023, the UCPM Training Programme underwent substantial changes in terms of its content, format, modalities of delivery, and links with other capacity development activities (civil protection exercises and exchanges of experts). After a long period of reflection with the cooperation of stakeholders, the programme was relaunched with a new look in September 2023. The report looks back at the training and exercises run over the two years and sets out the new pathways available under the revised offer. It also considers other activities with knowledge exchange and peer to peer support at the centre: exchanges of civil protection experts, peer reviews and lessons learnt programme.
The third goal looks closely at Research that Matters. The Knowledge Network's Science Pillar was set up to provide the civil protection community with access to high-quality data and analytical tools, and to support innovation and fill in any gaps that may exist in the area of civil protection and disaster risk management. It cooperates closely with the work of the European Commission’s Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre (DRMKC), which serves as a hub for the science pillar and reinforces science-policy links between the Commission, EU Member States and DRM community. Highlights of this pillar include improvements and a new interface for the Risk Data Hub, the enhancement of crisis[1]analytical tools for the community, and support to the Science-policy-practice interface (for example, through DRMKC annual seminars or the summer schools).
The forthcoming Knowledge Network mid-term review will provide another opportunity to consider progress and lessons learnt from the Knowledge Network so far.
The Civil Protection Forum, which takes place on 4–5 June 2024 in Brussels, will be chance to look back together at what the UCPM has achieved and consider where it needs to go next. The UCPKN will be there, facilitating knowledge exchange and engagement with stakeholders ready to support the civil protection community as it looks to the future. We will also be launching the new Knowledge Library – a ‘one stop shop’ for civil protection resources.
‘While the achievements of the Knowledge Network over the past two years should certainly be acknowledged, we know that none of this could have been achieved without our partners. The Network was always intended to be a tool that was ‘by the community, for the community’, and we are extremely grateful to our Network for their support throughout this process’.
