Small communities are often the most vulnerable when disasters strike.
Across the Black Sea Basin, floods, landslides, droughts, forest fires and earthquakes are becoming more frequent and severe, while climate change continues to increase the intensity of extreme weather events. Rural areas are particularly exposed, as they often have limited infrastructure, fewer resources and longer response times from specialised emergency services.
The project IMPACT+: Improving Emergency Response Capacities to Natural and Man-made Disasters in Small Communities across the Black Sea Basin Region, set out to change this reality by helping communities become better prepared before emergencies occur and more resilient when they do.
Rather than focusing only on emergency intervention, the project invested in prevention, preparedness and cooperation. It strengthened the capacities of local authorities, schools, NGOs, volunteers and citizens by providing practical knowledge, training and tools that enable communities to respond effectively during the critical first moments of an emergency.
One of the project's main achievements was the development of a Common Emergency Response Methodology, including a Common Emergency Response Plan and a User Manual that can be adapted to the specific needs of local communities. To ensure long-term access to knowledge, the partnership also created an e-learning platform, offering training materials on disaster preparedness and first aid for both professionals and the general public.
These joint solutions were complemented by a wide range of activities, including training programmes, simulation exercises, pilot actions, public awareness campaigns, seminars and reforestation initiatives. Together, these actions helped strengthen local preparedness while encouraging communities to take an active role in disaster risk reduction.
The project involved more than 39 local public institutions, 9 regional public institutions, 29 non-governmental organisations, universities, schools, healthcare providers and numerous community representatives. By the end of the project, 947 people had participated directly in project activities, benefiting from training, awareness campaigns and practical learning opportunities.
The project's impact extends beyond its immediate results. Local authorities now have adaptable planning tools to improve emergency preparedness, while schools, teachers and students have access to educational resources that promote a culture of prevention. Volunteers and civil society organisations have strengthened their capacity to support emergency response, and citizens have gained valuable knowledge on disaster preparedness and first aid.
By strengthening cooperation and investing in local preparedness, IMPACT+ has shown that resilient communities are built long before disasters occur. Its results provide practical tools, stronger partnerships and lasting knowledge that will continue to support safer and better-prepared communities throughout the region.