What is TAFF?

The Technical Assistance Financing Facility for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness supports projects, studies and training in disaster and climate resilience and promotes the sharing of knowledge among countries on disaster risk management.

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 (GFDRR).

The European Commission launched this new financial support instrument on 29 February 2024.

Its overall objective is to strengthen the knowledge and capacities of countries under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) for disaster prevention and preparedness with a focus on:

Strengthening the capacity:

Of civil protection and other relevant competent authorities in scaling up disaster and climate resilience in line with the Union Disaster Resilience Goals, the European Green Deal, the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, as well as the countries’ national priorities.

Supporting investments:

In disaster prevention and preparedness through the development of a project pipeline and enhanced administrative capacity.

Improving the knowledge base:

On disaster risk management, and facilitate the sharing of knowledge, good practices and information.

TAFF is a mechanism which allows national civil protection and disaster risk management authorities to access technical assistance and global knowledge on prevention and preparedness to support country efforts on disaster risk management (DRM). TAFF is aligned with:

The European Union Disaster Resilience Goals, which focus on enhancing UCPM response capacity, strengthening crisis and emergency preparedness of civil protection, improved risk analytics, anticipation and planning, enhanced early warning systems, and increased risk awareness of the population, and findings of the Niinistö Report, as well as the EU Preparedness Union Strategy which aims to boost the EU's ability to anticipate, prevent, and respond to various threats.
The World Bank’s strategy in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, which focuses on supporting a green transition, building resilience, and strengthening institutions, and boosting resilience.
The GFDRR mission to support communities and countries to reduce risk, prepare for, and recover from disaster by integrating DRM and climate change adaptation into development strategies and programs, and contributing to country efforts in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

What kind of funding does it provide?

TAFF has an annual indicative financial envelope of EUR 4 million and two components:

1. Country-specific technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of civil protection and other relevant competent authorities under the UCPM in scaling up investments contributing to disaster and climate resilience. Technical assistance includes various types of analytics, technical studies and recommendations for plans and strategies, piloting of activities, and capacity-building/training activities. Key areas of support include:

Anticipate

Improving anticipation and disaster risk management planning to proactively address potential hazards.

Prepare

Raising risk awareness and preparedness levels among the population to effectively respond to emergencies.

Alert

Enhancing early warning and hydro-meteorological systems for timely and accurate information dissemination.

Secure

Strengthening national civil protection systems to strengthen to prevent and prepare for disasters.

2. Knowledge and capacity building to facilitate the transfer and sharing of knowledge among countries on disaster risk management and facilitate the sharing of good practices across UCPM countries. Knowledge products and activities include, for example, studies, collection of best practices and lessons learned, practical guidance/knowledge notes, interactive workshops and technical deep dives/clinics, and training programmes.

How it works

Activities financed by TAFF include various types of analytics, technical studies and recommendations for plans and strategies, piloting of activities, and capacity-building/training activities to strengthen the capacity of civil protection and other relevant competent authorities under the UCPM in scaling up investments contributing to disaster and climate resilience.

Country-specific technical assistance

Eligible countries include EU Member States, Participating States of the UCPM, and Kosovo* in view of their ongoing efforts to join the UCPM.

Eligible entities include national level civil protection authorities or authorities with disaster risk management (DRM) responsibilities of eligible countries.

Proposals and start of activities: Based on the approved shortlist, World Bank/GFDRR, in coordination with beneficiary country and entity develops a full proposal for the proposed activities, and World Bank teams start implementation.

The expected budget for each activity will range between €250,000–€750,000, with an implementation timeline of 12 to 24 months (potential extension to maximum 30 months in total).

Coordination and reporting: The World Bank/GFDRR teams implement activities in coordination with the beneficiary, and disseminate knowledge and lessons learned.

*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.

How to apply

Eligible entities can respond to a Call of Expressions of Interest (EoI) which will be published on DG ECHO and GFDRR websites. The EOI will be reviewed on annual basis within defined timeframes. Proposals outside this range, particularly due to emergency situations, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

2026 Call for expression of interest

To find more of the new call click here.

Results and projects

Following the 2024 Call of Expressions of Interest eight country-specific activities are being implemented in Albania, Germany, Iceland, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, and Türkiye; as well as two cross-cutting analytical activities (EU-wide).

Following the 2025 Call of Expressions of Interest, seven country-specific activities are being carried out in Croatia, Ireland, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Sweden, and Türkiye; as well as three cross-cutting analytical activities (EU-wide).

Please find below the TAFF projects booklet.