On 14 November, key actors involved in all 2020-2024 reviews gathered for the UCPM Peer Review Programme Lessons Learnt meeting. The event marked the conclusion of the 2020-2024 programme cycle. Since 2013, the Peer Review Programme has played a crucial role in enhancing disaster risk management (DRM) and civil protection strategies across Europe and beyond, and this cycle continued that legacy.
The Lessons Learnt meeting was an interactive event that brought together representatives from National and Regional Contact Points, peers who conducted reviews in Romania, Moldova, Greece, Italy, and the German region of Brandenburg, as well as the consultant, Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change (CMCC), and the support team from DG ECHO. The agenda highlighted the programme's achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement. Attendees participated in breakout sessions, exchanging ideas on refining the methodology and enhancing the impact of future reviews.
Peer reviews help improve how disaster management is handled across different member states by leveraging technical expertise to analyse and enhance national systems.
A major development this cycle was the introduction of a Peer Review Assessment Framework (PRAF) and of a Wildfire Peer Review Assessment Framework (Wildfire PRAF), launched under the EU Wildfire Prevention Action Plan. The tailored framework enables focused reviews to enhance wildfire prevention and response capabilities, benefiting countries like Greece and Italy and contributing to projects supported under the Technical Support Instrument.
The open format allowed us to exchange knowledge and gain international expertise, serving as a catalyst for change in our system.
Country-Specific achievements and challenges
In Romania, the peer review (which involved over 50 stakeholders) directly fed into a National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, the upgrading of its national strategy for disaster risk reduction, and the launch of implementation actions, such as an impact-based early warning system.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore different civil protection systems and collaborate with experts from across Europe.
The review of Moldova was very comprehensive, covering the entire disaster risk management cycle. The review was carried out in the second year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and just ahead of Moldova joining the UCPM. Some of the report recommendations are implemented through projects supported under the UCPM Track 1 and TAFF instruments. The report also served to identify key priorities for action by the Moldovan Government.
In 2023, the programme saw unprecedented interest, with more countries applying than there were available slots, underscoring its growing reputation. In Greece, the review focused on wildfire risk management. Three Greek authorities worked hand in hand on this review: the General Secretariat of Civil Protection (GSCP) under the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the Hellenic Fire Corps and the Ministry of Environment and Energy. Over 40 organisations in Greece were part of the discussions, and allowed the UCPM peers to get a good overview of the national system.
The review in Italy examined the overall wildfire risk governance as well as the preparedness and the response phases. The aim was to take stock of the current governance framework and look at whether any updates were needed in view of the increased risk for population and communities. The review process involved significant stakeholder engagement and facilitated the exchange of expertise with the European peers who visited Italy. The report will be published in the coming weeks.
Strategic thinking, teamwork, and the sense of contributing to something meaningful are invaluable aspects of the peer review.
Personal takeaways for the peers involved in the process
Over the course of the meeting several key themes began to materialise. This included a consistent emphasis on empathy and collaboration, whereby peers constantly made clear that they were there to support — not judge, nor evaluate — the countries under review.
One peer expert highlighted an incredible 80 years of combined experience between the peers in one of the review teams. Many experts also expressed a strong feeling of contribution and pride, of going out of their comfort zones, and developing a more critical thinking even outside the mission. Reviews also created a team spirit amongst the participants. There was also a true appreciation of the efforts of the focal points of countries and region under peer review, and of the openness of the many stakeholders involved.
New call for express of interest in peer review will be published soon
The next cycle of the Peer Review Programme is set to run from 2025 to 2027 and will feature six reviews. Building on a decade of experience and lessons learnt, DG ECHO remains dedicated to ensuring the programme continues to evolve by incorporating recommendations from this meeting. As Europe faces an increasingly complex landscape of risks, the UCPM Peer Review Programme will continue to be a vital tool for strengthening civil protection and disaster risk management systems, contributing to a more resilient continent. A new call for expression of interest in a peer review will be circulated in the coming weeks!