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Providing mutual support when needed, sharing experience and conducting joint exercises and training – these are the key elements of any successful bilateral cooperation in the field of civil protection
Source:
Rolf Schmitz / THW
In the field of civil protection, Germany is engaged in bilateral cooperation at all levels, both with neighbouring countries and with many other countries around the world.
To this end, the Federal Government as well as the federal states and municipalities conclude joint declarations of intent, arrangements or treaties with their international partners. On this basis, the partners on both sides can tailor their cooperation to their specific needs.
How cooperation works in practice
In practice, cooperation includes the following aspects:
1. Sharing experience
Im Rahmen der bilateralen Zusammenarbeit erfolgt in der Regel ein Austausch von:
Informationen
gesammelte Erfahrungen und Erkenntnisse (Lessons Learned)
Erfolgsmodelle und Methoden (Best Practice)
Gemeinsame Workshops und Übungen sind ebenfalls Bestandteil der Zusammenarbeit. Hinzu kommen gemeinsame Ausbildungsveranstaltungen oder der Austausch von Dozenten.
2. Support during emergencies
If a country is affected by a disaster or large-scale accident, the Federal Government supports operations on the ground by despatching staff of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), provided that such assistance is agreed and accepted.
3. Cooperation projects
In some cases, Germany helps its partners to strengthen their civil protection systems. An example of such a bilateral support project is the cooperation with Tunisia (see below).
German-Israeli agreement on bilateral cooperation in the field of civil protection
In June 2021, Germany and Israel agreed on a two-year work programme to expand their bilateral cooperation in the field of civil protection. Representatives of both governments commended the excellent and successful cooperation between Germany and Israel in this important and sensitive area. The current programme provides not only for the sharing of best practices and information but also for the training of international emergency search and rescue teams.
Since 2011, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI), the Federal Agency for Technical Relief and the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) have been engaged in an intensive dialogue on civil protection with Israel’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), which is a department of the Ministry of Defense.
Project to help Tunisia build up its civil protection and disaster management system
Since 2012, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief have supported the Tunisian government in establishing a modern civil protection system. The project is funded by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office (AA).
It focuses on training with a view to establishing disaster management volunteer units and creating an interministerial crisis management system. Furthermore, Germany provides vehicles and special equipment which have already been successfully used to fight forest fires.
The aim of the project is to make Tunisia’s civil society resilient against emergencies.
You can find more detailed information on the THW website.
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