New study on best practices for inclusive emergency guidelines

As part of Action 33 of the Preparedness Union Strategy, aimed at developing inclusive emergency guidelines, a dedicated study on good practices at EU level has been carried out. This included the preparation of a diagnostic report assessing the current state of disability inclusion in civil protection across Member States, complemented by a stakeholder mapping based on surveys conducted with both Civil Protection authorities and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).

The diagnostic report are included for your reference:

Main report 

Annex 1

Annex 2

Annex 3

Annex 4

This preparatory work systematically reviewed existing approaches across UCPM Member and Participating States, identifying structural gaps, operational challenges, and targeted recommendations to strengthen inclusive emergency preparedness and response systems. It provides the analytical foundation for the development of guidelines for persons with disabilities and first responders on how to act in emergencies. These guidelines aim to equip persons with disabilities with practical, accessible tools tailored to different types of disabilities (sensorial, physical, and intellectual), while enabling first responders to better recognise and respond to diverse needs in emergency contexts.

The action is implemented under the EU Technical Assistance Facility Framework (EU TAFF) by the World Bank, with the support of the European Disability Forum.

The guidelines are currently under development, with Civil Protection authorities and organisations representing persons with disabilities invited to contribute feedback on content, level of detail, and overall structure. A structured consultation process is underway, combining written inputs and dedicated consultation meetings. An online consultation meeting to gather feedback is scheduled for Monday 4 May, followed by a second round of consultations (open consultation) later in May.

The overall timeline for the development of the guidelines is as follows:

• First round of consultations (written feedback): 24 April – 4 May
• Online consultation meeting with Civil Protection authorities: 4 May (TBC)
• Online consultation meeting with OPDs: Date TBC
• Revision and consolidation of guidelines: 4 – 8 May
• Review by World Bank and DG ECHO: 11 – 15 May
• Second round of consultations (written): 19 – 29 May
• Further revision: 25 May – 1 June
• World Bank peer review process: 3 – 16 June
• Final revisions and professional editing: 16 – 26 June
• Final endorsement and publication: by mid-July (TBC) 

A second phase of the action will focus on the development of a framework for e-trainings for first responders, aimed at strengthening their capacity to recognise different types of disabilities and adapt their response accordingly.

The Technical Assistance Financing Facility for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness (TAFF) is a partnership between the European Commission, through its Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.