Prepared International (PPI)

⛑️ Re-building a #CivilProtection system for #Gaza ⛑️   🇵🇸 In the Gaza strip, the continuing conflict has left the civil protection system nearly completely destroyed. Independent of a future solution in the field of governance for Gaza, it is essential to re-design and re-build a civil protection system for the civilian population. The ability of responders to deliver vital goods and services to vulnerable and affected civilians is mandatory. A strong civil protection system getting established after the end of active warfare is a crucial stepping stone in keeping the Gaza strip habitable, but faces two key issues: continued insecurity in the absence of safety and security, and a missing authority as host of the civil protection system.   🚧 Re-building Gaza's civil protection requires addressing the urgent need for critical services. These include water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure as well as backup power systems. Such services are crucial to mitigate the human toll, already exacerbated by attacks and Gaza's poor, overcrowded living conditions. This process, however, extends beyond infrastructure. It demands a fundamental re-thinking of the civil protection model's organization.   🌐 Recently, Prepared International (PPI) participated in a conference exploring strategies to re-build Gaza’s health systems. While the design of a new, re-built health system for Gaza is moving forward, the question of governance is hindering the development for the civil protection side. Given the unique context of Gaza, a viable path forward will be to establish a flexible, modern system relying not solely on national or governmental structures, but rather involving a diverse set of actors. This system needs to be designed in a way that it can be run by different actors over time, depending on the governance status, while being rooted in the communities and the civilian population. It would necessitate a central body to coordinate the five governates of the Gaza strip. Moreover, based on lessons learned, a cohesive framework can be created to integrate different types of services such as fire rescue, emergency health and civil protection, and to combine professional expertise with volunteering. Finally, like already suggested by the 2014 UNDAC Disaster Response Preparedness mission, this re-building effort would require involving community engagement and a multi-hazard approach.   💥 Now, more than ever, is the time to begin this process — one that is modern yet realistic, undertaken with pride to serve Gaza's civilian population, and that focuses solely on humanitarian needs outside of political considerations. By starting now, we can help build a system that supports the population as effectively as possible, ensuring safety, resilience and hope for the future. It is important that one integrated system for supporting the population is developed, and that separated silos are not re-established again. 📸: Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images

👋 Meet Prepared International (PPI)'s new intern Antoine Berment from France, who has recently graduated with a Master of Science in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation from The Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, Sweden, where he is currently based. 👨🏻🎓 Antoine previously completed a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Planning from Université Paris Cité, with the highest honors, during which he had the opportunity to participate in a one-year exchange program with UQAM | Université du Québec à Montréal. Throughout his studies, Antoine gained international experience abroad as well as strong theoretical knowledge and practical insights into the multidisciplinary field of disaster risk management. 📚 He brings diverse competencies in areas such as capacity development, physical geography, emergency preparedness and risk-based land use planning. Moreover, his expertise in GIS and drone technology, along with his master’s thesis exploring the opportunities and challenges of an AI-based tool for decision-making in urban stormwater management, demonstrates his commitment to using innovative technologies for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. 🔎 Antoine is eager to dive into the professional world to apply the skills he has developed and pursue his learning journey. Passionate about addressing complex resilience, environmental and sustainability challenges, he is determined to contribute to PPI’s projects by collaborating with diverse stakeholders, fostering best practices and finding climate-smart solutions. 🌟 During his free time, Antoine enjoys practicing outdoor sports, such as hiking, tennis and skiing, as well as organizing trips abroad and learning languages. 🌐 Are you also interested in a PPI internship? Follow us to stay updated on future opportunities!

🔑 Navigating Uncertainty: High-Risk, Low-Probability Events 🌍    🌐In an increasingly interconnected world, the frequency of high-impact, low-probability (HILP) events—whether natural disasters, pandemics, or geopolitical shocks—is on the rise. These events disrupt industries, supply chains, and communities globally, often with cascading effects for which few are fully prepared.     🦺At Prepared International (PPI), one of our standout initiatives is project AGILE (Agnostic High-Impact, Low-Probability Events), funded by the EU Horizon program and supported by key public and private institutions from the EU, UK, US, and Japan. 👥This project is designed to close the gap in managing unforeseen #HILP events through a holistic framework that integrates systems theory, strategic foresight, promoting leadership skills, lateral thinking, innovation, as well as machine learning to help understand, anticipate, and manage systemic risks.   🚸 Drawing from both operational and academic expertise, our team explores how to adjust knowledge management and traditional disaster management training methods to better fit the new reality dictated by HILP events. On that path of research, two subtopics have emerged: the need for innovation in training and leadership.    🚀 Incorporating innovation in disaster preparedness isn't just about solving today’s problems—it's about preparing for tomorrow’s uncertainties. In our research we aim to understand the why and the how for integration of innovative thinking when organizing training activities. We strongly believe that by doing so organizations can transform towards becoming more adaptable and resilient.    ✨Effective leadership is a cross-cutting skill that seeks to ensure trust and unity through clear and consistent messaging while empowering teams to make informed decisions, fostering quick and innovative problem-solving, and encouraging creativity to generate innovative solutions for unpredictable challenges. Our findings, mainly directed toward hierarchical organizations, identify room for improvement. #Leadership #CrisisManagement #Innovation #RiskManagement #CreativeThinking #AGILE Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. , Ministerul Afacerilor Interne România, ENA - Agência de Energia e Ambiente da Arrábida , Pukhov Institute for Modelling in Energy Engineering (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) , Veiligheidsregio Rotterdam-Rijnmond , Gemeente Rotterdam , UCL Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (RDR) , TU Delft | Technology, Policy and Management , Factor Social , CMCC Foundation - Centro Euro Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici , Pacific Disaster Center - PDC Global , ARTTIC Innovation

👋🏼Meet PPI's lastest consultant Anakaren Agüero Rojo from Mexico, who brings a wealth of international experience in diplomacy, security, and crisis management.   📚 Ana Karen holds a Master’s in International Security from Sciences Po Paris and a Bachelor’s in International Relations from Tecnológico de Monterrey, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She has also broadened her academic experience with studies at the London School of Economics and Columbia University.   🌍Ana Karen has contributed to global organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (#UNODC), where she worked on high-level events, research projects, and policy development, at the Organization of American States (#OAS), Ana Karen provided research and translation support for key political forums and ongoing projects, as well as at the International Chamber of Commerce (#ICC), where she supported global business development through cross-cultural marketing initiatives.   🆘🕊️With a strong passion for international security, development, disaster preparedness, diplomacy, and geopolitics, Ana Karen is dedicated to powering solutions to critical global challenges, including climate change adaptation, food security, and crisis management.    🗓️🎤 Outside of her professional endeavors, Ana Karen has worked as a social innovation consultant, co-designer for a digital exposition for the Morgan Library and MuseumXColumbia, coordinated events with high-profile diplomats and specialists in international studies and organizations, as well as participated in international exchanges with high-level-figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Prepared International (PPI) #PPI #KnowledgeSharing #CapacityDevelopment #Teamwork #PreparednessandResponse #DisasterManagement #ClimateChangeAdaptation #PreparedInternational

🚨 Not all disasters can be prevented, but their impact can be mitigated with the right preparation. Continuity of Government (#CoG) and Continuity of Operations (#CoO) are crucial concepts and procedures designed to ensure that a government can maintain its essential functions and deliver vital services during and after emergencies. 👥 Prepared International (PPI) is dedicated to supporting the government of #Albania in building robust CoG frameworks through our work. This project, delivered by our director together with Prof. Alois A. Hirschmugl, focuses on developing CoO plans for key ministries and institutions, ensuring that critical services remain operational in times of crisis. 🦺 As part of this initiative, a unique #TabletopExercise (TTX) was conducted to test the ability to continue essential services in an extreme disaster event. The exercise involved 12 ministries and institutions, the National Civil Protection Agency of Albania and UNDP, providing a valuable opportunity to evaluate how continuity planning is integrated into existing plans, policies, and procedures. Additionally, a comprehensive review of the current draft CoO and CoG plans was conducted to identify any gaps or challenges in their structure and content. ⚠ The #TTX yielded deep discussions among participants on key decisions and actions required to implement these plans effectively. It also provided a platform to explore potential short- and long-term solutions and mitigation strategies to address identified issues and bolster overall resilience. With this, Albania is a forerunner in implementing these concepts in the #WesternBalkans. 👏 We extend our congratulations to all participants, ministries, institutions, the National Civil Protection Agency, and #UNDP for their invaluable contributions and efforts, which have been instrumental in making the CoG and CoO project in Albania a success.  #DisasterPreparedness #GovernmentContinuity #OperationalResilience #EmergencyPlanning #CollaborativeResilience #DisasterRiskManagement #ResilienceBuilding #PreparedInternational #PPI

🤖 Artificial Intelligence in Disaster Risk Management 🤖   ⛓️💥 #DisasterRiskManagement is a complex, data-driven process necessitating a holistic and collaborative approach. Municipalities and national governments have their efforts hindered by siloed data systems, such as social, demographic, historical, and infrastructure data, as well as #GIS, satellite imagery, and real-time sensors. It is often the case that existing tools lack #Interoperability, limiting coordination between and within organizations, and with external partners. This fragmentation results in inefficiencies and miscommunications during critical events, in turn reducing actionable insights and delaying response times.   ✨ At Prepared International (PPI), we have collaborated with local and national organizations on developing innovative systems and improving disaster preparedness and response. Through our work with them, we recognize the emerging and increasing use of #ArtificialIntelligence (AI). Leveraging rich sensor and satellite data, #MachineLearning can enhance Emergency Operation Centers coordination and response times during emergencies by automating data collection, patching, and formatting processes, and by improving the accuracy of weather forecasts, timely detection of natural hazards, and prediction of long-term climate trends. #DeepLearning has the potential to increase the performance of models, enabling quicker simulations and scenario comparison, which in turn can foster collaboration and accelerate decision-making during Emergency Preparedness & Response planning. #LargeLanguageModels are designed to analyze and summarize extensive quantities of textual data, accelerating workflows and helping national and local entities to quickly assess disaster risk, leading to more informed decisions.   ⚠️ While still trying to understand its potentials, AI application brings limitations as well. #Cybersecurity risks, as well as the unequal quality and accessibility of data across different contexts and levels of governance, are important factors to be considered. Additionally, AI raises ethical issues concerning #DataPrivacy, the generation of new information, and the responsibility of decisions. The humanitarian principle of “Do No Harm” should guide us all in the future development of this field. While aiming towards solutions, the tools that we use should not create additional layers of complexity.   📣 To stay updated on AI developments, explore resources like AI for Good, Google AI for Social Good, or AI for disaster risk reduction on PreventionWeb. Follow legislative advancements too, such as the 2024 EU #AIAct.     #AI #ClimateChangeAdaptation #DisruptiveTechnology #DL #DRM #DRMTools #EOC #IT #LLM #ML #PPI #Resilience #Silos #SustainableDevelopment

⛑️ Enhancing health emergency prevention, preparedness, and response through #CriticalInfrastructure and #EnvironmentalServices ⛑️   🇪🇺 At Prepared International (PPI), we are committed to continuing the strengthening of health systems across and outside Europe. Currently we are assisting our colleagues at the KIT Institute in the Emergency Preparedness Integrated Courses (EPIC11) project, commissioned by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). The project aims to support EU Member States in preventing, preparing for, and responding to serious cross-border health threats, in line with the EU Regulation 2022/2371.   🧩 Thanks to its expertise in #DisasterRiskManagement and technical training, PPI is leading the development of the learning unit about Critical Infrastructure and Environmental Services. It is designed to equip health professionals with the essential knowledge to understand and manage these elements, highlighting their vital role in enabling #Resilient and #Sustainable health systems during emergencies.   💡 The unit addresses the increasing vulnerability and interconnectedness of Critical Infrastructure, such as #Shelters, #WASH, #Energy, and #Telecommunications, and explores their synergic relationship with Environmental Services, like with #NatureBasedSolutions, beneficial to human physical and mental well-being. The unit also notes how perceptions of what is considered critical can vary depending on the context, as illustrated by the COVID-19 #Pandemic.   🚀 Our journey continues as we strive to improve #HealthPreparedness and #EmergencyResponse with each project.   🔗 Stay connected for further updates on our work. #ClimateChangeAdaptation #EmergencyManagement #EU #NbS #PPI #PublicHealth #SustainableDevelopment 📸: INMR

🌟 Opportunity Alert: PPI Internships Now Open! 🌟 Are you passionate about tackling global challenges head-on? Ready to dive into the world of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation? Prepared International (PPI) has just the opportunity for you! What We're Offering: - 🏅 Join our award-winning team - 🌍 Make a real-world impact - 🚀 Gain invaluable experience in a cutting-edge field We're Looking For: Two dynamic, proactive individuals eager to learn and contribute to our mission. Key Details: - 📅 Application Deadline: September 15th, 2024 - 🗓️ Start Date: Early November 2024 Don't miss this chance to kickstart your career in a field that's shaping our future! Check out the full Terms of Reference below and apply now to be part of the PPI team! #PPIInternship #DisasterRiskReduction #ClimateChangeAction #CareerOpportunity

🌏 World Humanitarian Day 🌍 🌐 On this #WorldHumanitarianDay, Prepared International (PPI) remains steadfast in its commitment to join the global community in calling for public support to pressure parties in conflict and world leaders to take action, ensuring the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, in conflict zones. ⚖️ Through our initiative on #DisasterDiplomacy, Professional Dialogue: Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation through Disaster Diplomacy, we underscore the importance of saving lives and supporting both civilians and humanitarian workers amid conflict. This project focuses on enhancing disaster preparedness and response coordination between Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. This aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response coordination across Jordan, Israel, and Palestine (JIP), and to improve daily cooperation during emergencies and disaster events. Our ultimate goal is to protect vulnerable communities and ensure effective international assistance when it's needed most. 🗺️ With extensive experience in disaster diplomacy and civil protection, PPI is committed to deepening understanding of the complex challenges surrounding disaster management in #FCV conext. Our work spans various critical areas, including civil protection, disaster diplomacy, climate change, conflict resolution, food security, displacement, sheltering, gender, inclusion and health. 🔄 Today, let us remember that World Humanitarian Day is more than just a date—it’s a powerful call for action to #ActForHumanity. Together, we have a shared responsibility to support and protect those affected by crises worldwide.

🌲 Mainstreaming Wildfire Risk Management in Development Policies 🔥 🔥 #Wildfires have become more frequent and severe due to #ClimateChange and changes in #LandUse and #LandscapeManagement, affecting areas that have not been considered fire-prone in the past. Since 2006, there has been an increasing trend in the number of fires and areas affected in the #EuropeanUnion. The 2023 wildfire season alone saw the fourth largest burnt area on record in the EU, with a total of around 500,000 ha affected. Further, the length of the fire season has increased beyond the usual months of July, August, and September, with many wildfires and critical events outside the period. 📚 With this, mainstreaming and integrating wildfire preparedness and risk management into broader #development policies is essential for #SustainableDevelopment. Effective wildfire risk management involves not only immediate response and planning but also long-term strategies to mitigate risks. 📈 Prepared International (PPI) contributes to this effort by working with various national and local authorities to develop effective wildfire management through the Wildfire Peer Review Assessment Framework (Wildfire PRAF). PPI uses this tool to support comprehensive reviews of disaster risk management and civil protection systems, focusing on the risk associated with large-scale unplanned or uncontrolled fires affecting natural, cultural, industrial, and residential landscapes. 🇸🇮 In Slovenia, PPI has emphasized the importance of mainstreaming wildfire risk management in sustainable forest management practices to reduce the risk of wildfires. In its National Forest Programme 2022–2026, Slovenia incorporates measures to enhance forest resilience to climate-related hazards, such as wildfires, and has identified key programs and activities that include measures for forest stability, vitality, and resilience. By mainstreaming wildfire risk management into such frameworks, we contribute to creating a cohesive approach that strengthens both environmental sustainability and resilience. 📷: European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS)