Bucharest, 25–27 November 2025

The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE), in cooperation with the Department for Emergency Situations of Romania, successfully conducted the workshop “Volunteering as a Pillar of Civil Protection” from 25 to 27 November 2025 in Bucharest.

This event brought together representatives of civil protection authorities, volunteer organizations, training centers, and relevant institutions from across the DPPI SEE region. The workshop explored the essential role that volunteers play in strengthening national civil protection systems and enhancing preparedness, response, and recovery capacities.

Over the course of three days, participants examined various models of organizing, training, and sustaining volunteer structures; shared national experiences and lessons learned; and discussed opportunities for stronger regional cooperation. Special attention was given to the integration of volunteers in response operations, cross-border engagements, digital tools for volunteer management, and approaches to maintaining motivation and long-term engagement within volunteer communities.

The workshop featured expert presentations, interactive group work, and field insights provided by the Romanian hosts, offering participants a deeper understanding of how volunteer systems contribute to resilient societies. The exchange of practical experiences highlighted the importance of structured volunteer engagement as a core component of modern civil protection systems.

This activity was implemented within the 2025 DPPI SEE Disaster Management Training Programme (DMTP), reinforcing DPPI SEE’s commitment to promoting regional dialogue, capacity building, and shared learning in disaster preparedness and response.