The project consists of 4 main actions:
1. Baseline analysis: how to prepare towards a common ground for cultural heritage protection during disasters
The study allows to identify and collect lessons learned and good practices developed within the partners of the project. Information is gathered through questionnaires and check lists to be filled out by the involved countries, in order to assess tools, capacities and procedures of the national Civil Protection systems, particularly in relation to cultural heritageCH safeguard. The study includes also a preliminary stakeholder analysis at national level. A number of case studies from the European Union are covered as well, as an example of proper functioning within the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Fact finding missions to support the study are organized in order to let Italian Civil Protection provide its support to the partners in undertaking the assessment; a 2-day international workshop finalizes the study, presenting the main findings and elaborating road maps for the technical activities of the project. At the end of this action, each partner is expected to release a capacity assessment report.
2. Two capacity-development programs for beneficiary countries
The first Introductory Training Course (ITC) is conceived so as to share the international co-operation tools as well as the main internationally recognised standards for initial rapid needs and capacities assessment in the aftermath of a natural disaster. The course is inspired by the current methodology adopted within the trainings held by the Community Mechanism Induction (CMI) and the Assessment Mission Course (AMC), The main topics covered are: general knowledge of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, disaster response based on the international systems, assessment planning, information management, intercultural communication and media relations.
The second Specialized Training Course (STC) is specifically focused on the protection of cultural heritage during emergencies , and covers rapid need and capacity assessment, first actions and specific techniques for the safeguard of both movable and unmovable cultural heritage in emergency and the protection of different typologies of cultural items. The course aims at creating and preparing a pool of experts able to operate at both national and regional level.
3. Elaboration of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for civil protection assets
The SOPs are aimed at the safeguard of cultural heritage and based on standards and good practices already developed at European level, within the framework of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. SOPs include basic requirements, main team components, tasks, capacities, self-sufficiency, and deployment. Possible international expert missions might be offered to provide technical assistance, as well as to support and tutor beneficiary countries in the development of assets, team concept and SOPs, firstly at national level and subsequently at regional level through cross border/international operations.
4. Simulations (TTX and exercise)
Simulations are meant to train the experts and test the SOPs developed in the previous phases at regional and international level – through the activation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
