European Disability Forum

Donate

Ongoing Disability Inclusive Emergency Preparedness and Response

The Disability-Inclusive Emergency Preparedness and Response project supports the implementation of the European Union Preparedness Strategy, in particular Action 33, which calls for developing guidelines on how to act in emergencies in ways inclusive of all persons with disabilities and for training first responders accordingly.

Implemented as part of broader technical assistance led by the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) in partnership with DG ECHO, the project aims to strengthen disability-inclusive emergency preparedness and response across the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) Member and Participating States.

Activities include:

  • EDF will publish in March 2026 a report assessing how persons with disabilities are currently included in disaster preparedness and response systems across UCPM countries.
  • The findings will inform the development of World Bank guidelines on inclusive emergency action and first-responder training.
  • EDF will also facilitate stakeholder consultations to validate the guidelines and provide expert feedback on the related learning syllabus.

Through this work, the project seeks to advance an inclusive approach to preparedness and ensure that emergency systems across Europe better protect and include all persons with disabilities.

Funder: World Bank (Global Facility on Disaster Risk Reduction), with funding from ECHO

Timeframe: October 2025 – September 2026 (12 months)

Budget: 35 000 euros

Project news and outcomes

News

Since the project started EDF assessed, with the support of a consultant, how disability inclusion is included into preparedness and response systems at national and EU/regional levels.  We conducted an extensive desk review and data collection process, screening approximately 700 DRR- and disability-related documents, covering DRR and disability policies, relevant reporting processes, as well as cross-cutting legislation, accessibility laws, and workshop outputs. In parallel, two online surveys were conducted between late November and mid-December 2025 with OPDs and disaster risk management (DRM) authorities. Overall, 29 of the 38 countries covered by the diagnostic participated in at least one survey, representing a 76 per cent response rate.

To complement the desk review and survey data, we organised a consultative workshop on 17th  December 2025. The workshop brought together 65 participants, including OPDs, DRM authorities, and other stakeholders. Discussions focused on barriers, emerging good practices, recommendations, and implementation needs, and all inputs were integrated into the diagnostic analysis. To finalise and strengthen the diagnostic, written consultations on the draft report took place in January 2026. Feedback from OPDs, DRM authorities, and institutional partners was used to inform the final version of the report.

Resources

Further information and contact