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Survey results reveal insights into EU funding tool

By Knowledge Network – Staff memberPublished on

To better understand the impact of the European Commission’s "Knowledge for Action in Prevention and Preparedness" (KAPP) funding tool and identify areas for improvement, the Commission conducted a survey targeting applicants. The survey results offer valuable insights into the programme’s perceived effectiveness and future opportunities for enhancement.

Overview of the Survey

The survey sought feedback from previous KAPP call applicants about their experience with the KAPP calls, covering aspects such as clarity, accessibility, and the perceived impact of funded projects. Responses (30 responses from 22 countries) highlighted the programme’s value in fostering cross-border collaboration, promoting best practices, and addressing emerging risks. The majority of respondents marked the KAPP call to be very relevant and useful to their organisation, with the main identified added value being its contribution to new and existing competencies, skills and knowledge in CP and DRM, while strengthening knowledge partnerships between actors. 

However, the findings also revealed areas where improvements are thought to be needed. Many respondents emphasised the importance of clearer guidelines during the application phase and more transparent evaluation criteria. These insights align with the Civil Protection Knowledge Network’s commitment to refining processes to ensure that funding opportunities remain inclusive, effective, and impactful. Respondents were also asked about their opinion on mandatorily including CP or DRM authorities in the consortium to which the majority responded favourably. 

Key Findings from the Respondents

  1. High Level of Engagement: Applicants expressed strong enthusiasm for KAPP calls, recognising their role in supporting innovative approaches to disaster risk management. 
  2. Call Clarity and Application Support: While many praised the accessibility of the process, some highlighted challenges in navigating the documentation. Suggestions for providing detailed examples and FAQs emerged as actionable takeaways. 
  3. Impact of Funded Projects: The majority of respondents underscored the tangible benefits of projects funded under KAPP, citing enhanced cooperation, capacity building, and knowledge exchange across the EU. 
  4. Areas for Improvement: Applicants identified the need for faster evaluation timelines and greater feedback on unsuccessful applications to improve future submissions.  

Conclusion and Next Steps

The survey results reflect a strong interest in the continued evolution of the KAPP calls as a key mechanism provided by the Commission. 

The 2025 KAPP call will incorporate some of the key elements identified in the survey and discussed subsequently with the Civil Protection national authorities in the context of the workshop on boosting disaster risk management financing (12 and 13 November 2024), such as a clear alignment of the call priorities with the Disaster Resilience Goals and a reinforcement of the communication of project results to national civil protection authorities, when they are not part of the consortium of beneficiaries. 

The 2025 KAPP call for proposals will be published on 23 January 2025, with opening for submission on 4 February 2025. A dedicated online Information Day will be held on 30 January 2025, providing a detailed overview of the call. 

The KAPP call is a financial instrument that supports multi-country partnership projects strengthening cooperation on disaster prevention and preparedness and full-scale field exercises. 

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