What does it finance?

The general objectives include:  

• To support Member States’ efforts of enhancing their institutional and technical capacity for preparing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and improving strategic disaster prevention and preparedness activities.
• To sustain Member States’ efforts to anticipate future systemic shocks, by fostering a culture of prevention and by improving cooperation among relevant actors.
• To support the preparation and the implementation of prevention and preparedness investments, strategies and reforms.  
• To support the new and future Participating States in fulfilling their responsibilities under the Mechanism.
• To support civil protection organisations and disaster risk management actors in integrating climate adaptation and resilience in their activities. 

The call priorities may vary from year to year. The priorities are aligned with the Union disaster resilience goals. 

Below you can find examples of eligible activities:  

• Developing a strategic framework for disaster risk management, including developing disaster risk management plans or strategies, develop risk assessment capabilities, or carrying out studies on disaster and climate resilience building.
• Investments for disaster risk management, including feasibility studies, cost-benefit analyses, impact assessment linked to a change of the disaster risk management policy or legislation, developing or enhancing a national multi-hazard disaster loss database.
• Investments to improve crisis management capabilities, including developing or enhancing plans, procedures and arrangements aimed at ensuring effective cross-sectoral crisis preparedness and response, and at enhancing information sharing through early warning systems. 

Which authorities are responsible for this instrument?

Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) is responsible for the Track 1 call.

What kind of funding does it provide?

The EU co-financing rate is 95% of the project budget, with a maximum EU contribution of EUR 750 000 for any project. Projects are funded for a duration of maximum 24 months. 

Costs may include personnel, travel and subsistence, subcontracting and purchase costs, and depreciation costs for equipment. VAT is not eligible under this call.

Which countries are eligible?

EU Member States and other participating states in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine. In addition, Kosovo* is also eligible to apply under this call.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Who is this call for?

This funding instrument provides financial support to the national disaster risk management authorities of the 27 Member States and other participating states in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

How to apply

Proposals must be submitted via the Commission's Funding & Tender Opportunities portal within the deadline specified in the call document.  

Specific information and details on the objectives, eligibility conditions, available budget and the call timeline can be found on the call specific page (coming soon), along with tips on how to prepare a good proposal. Proposals are evaluated according to their relevance, quality, and impact. 

Other useful links

Currently ongoing and recently ended projects and projects will find here helpful resources for project implementation and final reporting: Resources for funded projects.

Contact the Prevention and Preparedness team.

Project examples

For more ideas on projects supported under this call, please check our Success stories brochure. You can also find all the projects funded through the Track 1 call in the list of funded projects.