Ready to Respond: Modernised Preparedness and Response Capacity in South Caucasus

ended

Armenia and Georgia are prone to natural and manmade disasters. The main humanitarian challenges in Southern Caucasus region are generated as a result of extreme weather conditions. Climate changes are causing more frequent floods, flash floods, landslides, and mudflows, which may have devastating effects on critical infrastructure in the region. This Action will contribute to improving the level of preparedness of civil protection systems in Armenia and Georgia by enhancing cooperation between civil protection and humanitarian aid actors and increase and diversify preparedness and response capacities of key actors. The Action will significantly improve the technical capacity of both Armenia Red Cross (ARCS) and Georgia Red Cross (GRCS) to provide aid at scale, through diversified assistance options. It is anticipated this will result in a more efficient response in the Southern Caucasus region to future emergencies and reduce loss of life and/or damage to crucial infrastructure. The main achievements anticipated in the Action are related to improvements within; management and coordination; interoperability, experience exchange and coordination between Civil Protection actors; capacity building within Cash Transfer Programming (CTP); volunteering in emergencies; Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in emergencies (MHPSS). Preparedness will be tested through emergency exercises and simulations. The Action will integrate CTP in GRCS and ARCS’ future emergency operations, thereby in future disaster response situations, allowing beneficiaries the right to prioritise own needs and support the local market economy. It will ensure that mental health and psychosocial needs of volunteers and disaster-affected people are met in a timely and effective manner. Both GRCS and ARCS will be able to efficiently engage and manage Disaster Response Team during disasters. GRCS and ARCS will become more reliable and knowledgeable partners to the Civil Protection Mechanism in the region.