PROJECT SUMMARY

Project title

   Prevention and minimization of the Risks for the Environment and Vision for iNnovative Tools /PREVENT/

Lead Partner (name/country)
   Dimitrovgrad Municipality, Bulgaria

Partners
   Uzunkopru Municipality, Turkey

Priority axis
   Environment

   1.1 Preventing and mitigating the the consequences of natural and man-made disasters in the cross-border area

   15

   589529.38

   The main project objectives tackle the basic and global problems which are closely linked with forest fires, floods, atmosphere pollution, biotic agents and climate changes’ influence. Its successful implementation will be a response to the changes taking place during the last years in the character and the way of using the European environment which started to find their reverberation in Bulgaria and Turkey, especially in the neighbouring cross-border area.

   A Kick-off meeting between the legal representatives and technical and financial experts of the two project partners will be held in the premises of the Lead Partner in Dimitrovgrad and a Project Partnership Agreement will be signed by the Mayor of Dimitrovgrad and the Mayor of Uzunkopru. The project partners, fire-fighting institutions in the two municipalities, and other institutions responsible for protection of the population on both sides of the border, will create a formal cooperation network working on the prevention and mitigation of the consequences from natural and man-made disasters. The network will work towards capacity building, raising the awareness of prevention activities, developing joint risk assessment strategies, improved coordination, trainings in the use of ICT technologies, including introduction of new methods, exchange of experience, know-how and good practices (study visits, round-tables, conferences, and others. The main project activities are supply of equipment and work and supervision for the installation of the Automatic Observatory Tower for the LP and supply of equipment and work and supervision for the installation of Flood Prevention Information System for The Project Partner – Uzunköprü. To ensure the sustainability of the project there will be elaborated a Common Strategy for Prevention from Natural and Man-made Disasters and mitigating the consequences from them across the Cross border region. For disseminating the project’s results will be held Opening and Final press conferences and a Discussion forum "Prevention and mitigation of the consequences from natural and man-made disasters" A total of six publications in the media will be made to inform the local communities. Promotion materials for the project and the cross-border region activities will be elaborated /500 project brochures; 200 bags, 200 pens, 200 USBs and 200 CDs for the initiatives/. Information boards will be placed on the main buildings of the two partners.

1. Kick-off meeting for the project implementation proceeded. Partnership Agreement sogned. Contract assignment of the Project Management Team - Project Manager, Coordinators and Financial Assistants. Detailed Action Plan with strict deadlines, time schedule and responsibilities elaborated. Selection criteria for the participants in the Cooperation Network and the different activities agreed and approved. Detailed agreements with tasks and responsibilities with the participating institutions agreed and approved by both partners.

2. Cooperation network for prevention and mitigation of the consequences from natural and man-made disasters created to facilitate the awareness raising of the common challenges, risks, capacity building and enhancing the cooperation and exchange of knowledge and good practices between people, institutions and entities on both sides of the border.

3. Provision of all the necessary equipment for the AOT installation, ready to be assembled operational after the construction works.

4. Installation of the UFIS, as a real-time online operational flood prevention and information system. The output here is the provision of system set up as an important and inseparable and integral part and a significant element for the operation of the installation.

5. Elaborated Common Strategy for Risk Prevention and Mitigation of the Negative Consequences from Natural and Man-made Hazards and an Action Plan.

6. Opening and Final press conferences

7. Discussion forum "Prevention and mitigation of the consequences from natural and man-made disasters".

8. A total of six publications in the media. Promotion materials for the project and the cross-border region activities will be elaborated /500 project brochures; 200 bags, 200 pens, 200 USBs and 200 CDs for the initiatives/. 2 information boards will be placed on the main buildings of the two partners.

   1. Local and regional authorities;
   2. Groups of population of the Cross border region;
   3. NGO's;
   4. Business support institutions and organizations;
   5. Young people (up to age of 29).