The HOPE FSX
Implemented results
In the past period, all partner institutions in the HOPE FSX project worked on implementation of following results:
Work package 1: HOPE FSX Project management
1.1 Kick off meeting
The DG-ECHO project HOPE started with a Kick-Off meeting in hybrid format that took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 31st of January 2022.
Mr. Evangelos Katsaros, Research Associate from the European University of Cyprus (CERIDES) and Manager of the project, attended the meeting with physical presences and presented the planned activities to the DG-ECHO Officers. All aspects of project implementation were discussed, such as providing common terminology among the participants, methodologies for analyzing legislation, operational procedures and human resources, as well as the time scheduling and requirements for the implementation of all WPs. Representatives from all consortium partners attended the meeting virtually.
Work package 2: Planning
2.1. Exercise Study Visit
The Exercise Study Visit of the HOPE FSX took place on 18 – 19 May 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia. The aim of this event was to create a common understanding of the actual needs and challenges of the Exercise, avoiding misunderstanding and mistakes in planning process.
The Study Visit to the pilot area of the exercise, paid by the partners’ delegations, creates a common picture and understanding of the actual needs and challenges, avoiding misunderstanding and mistakes in planning. In particular, it provided participants with the opportunity to gain a first-hand experience of the exercise sites and their special characteristics.
The Study Visit was organized and implemented in an excellent manner by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia (MES).The Team of the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations of The Republic of Armenia was headed by Mr. Hovhannes Yemishyan, Deputy Director of Rescue Service, and Ms. Armine Hayrapetyan, Representative of MES in foreign countries and International Organizations. It showcased the initial plans for the elaboration of the Full-Scale Exercise scenario. The project participants’ provided their ideas for possible further improvements.
2.2. Initial Planning Conference
The Initial Planning Conference of the DG-ECHO HOPE FSX project took place in Yerevan, Armenia, in the period of 6-9 September 2022. The main objective of the Conference was to provide a framework for discussion of the exercise implementation, through the elaboration of the initial exercise scenario and the presentation of the associated injects capacities, as well as the project management structure of the organizations and people involved in the exercise.
In addition, the Conference brought together all participating countries and allowed them to discuss their experiences on successful emergency strategies, and the implementation of the Host Nation Support process.
The event was hosted by the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations of The Republic of Armenia (MES), headed by Mr. Hovhannes Yemishyan, Deputy Director of Rescue Service, and Ms. Armine Hayrapetyan, Representative of MES in foreign countries and International Organizations. At the Conference also attended the key stakeholders from the MSB – Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, supporting the project through the PPRD EAST 3 and the Twinning “Enhancing Civil Protection in Armenia” initiatives.
The Emergency Management Agency of the Ministry of Interior of Republic of Georgia also attended the Conference, in order to emphasize the importance of the international cross border cooperation procedures of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, which improvement is one of the main aims of the HOPE FSX project.
The Conference was honored to host the DG-ECHO Project Officer Mr. Geir Ellingsen, who offered his valuable insights on the design and implementation of Full-Scale Exercises, based on his enormous practical experience on the subject.
2.3. HOPE FSX Training Event, Project Meeting and Participation the PPRD EAST III IPC
The HOPE FSX Training Event and the Project Meeting took place in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 6 – 8 December 2022. Тhe activity was conducted in a hybrid format, with physical presence and virtual participation of the representatives from the partners in the project, including Armenia, Georgia, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Greece, Montenegro, France, and DG – ECHO. The training was related with the cross-border cooperation and all the partners shared their experience in this regard. Weak points, findings and lessons learned were discussed, as well as the scientific collaboration in this domain. The second day was dedicated to the discussion of the upcoming planning conferences, training events, TTX, CPX and FSX. The Armenian representatives elaborated the scenario for the FSX.
The teams and other stakeholders’ engagement in the exercise were discussed too. Moreover, the HOPE participants attended the Regional TTX and Initial Planning conference for the FSX of the PPRD East III countries, where, among other things, the mutual contribution and benefit of the two components, HOPE and PPRD East III, in the implementation of the exercises in Armenia and Georgia were discussed. The second day was dedicated to the discussion of the upcoming planning conferences, training events, TTX, CPX and FSX. The Armenian representatives elaborated the scenario for the FSX. The teams and other stakeholders’ engagement in the exercise were discussed too.
The HOPE FSX Training Event and the Project Meeting took place in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 6 – 8 December 2022. Тhe activity was conducted in a hybrid format, with physical presence and virtual participation of the representatives from the partners in the project, including Armenia, Georgia, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Greece, Montenegro, France, and DG – ECHO. The training was related with the cross-border cooperation and all the partners shared their experience in this regard. Weak points, findings and lessons learned were discussed, as well as the scientific collaboration in this domain.
The second day was dedicated to the discussion of the upcoming planning conferences, training events, TTX, CPX and FSX. The Armenian representatives elaborated the scenario for the FSX. The teams and other stakeholders’ engagement in the exercise were discussed too.
Moreover, the HOPE participants attended the Regional TTX and Initial Planning conference for the FSX of the PPRD East III countries, where, among other things, the mutual contribution and benefit of the two components, HOPE and PPRD East III, in the implementation of the exercises in Armenia and Georgia were discussed.
Work package 3: Dissemination and visibility
In the frame of this WP, the following deliverables are completed/in progress:
- 1st Newsletter had been produced.
- The official logo for the project is developed, as well the profiles on social networks Face book and Tweeter. Тhe link to the networks, including the QR code to Canva, can be found on the last page of the Newsletter. It is recommended the profiles to be linked to the official web pages of the participants.
- The Power Point presentation template is prepared.
- All materials produced are shared in the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network Platform.
- Banners, brochures, fliers, and other publications will be prepared on an ongoing basis.