The EMMA project (European training systeM aiMed at smAll and medium-sized municipalities), coordinated by the Consorci de la Ribera, formed by the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta and the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Baixa, has been launched during the Kick-off Meeting held in Cullera on 18 and 19 November. This initiative is funded by the European Union through the ERASMUS+ programme and aims to improve emergency response in small and medium-sized municipalities through effective volunteer management.
The meeting began with an institutional welcome by the Ajuntament de Cullera and the presentation of the project partners. Subsequently, the meeting addressed several key issues of the project, such as project management and the identification and development of a methodological intervention model to serve as a common guide. Each institution contributed its point of view on disaster management based on the experiences of its territories, and there was discussion on the necessary training and the creation of a toolkit for technical staff in small and medium-sized local councils. In addition, issues related to the dissemination, promotion and sustainability of the project were addressed. At this meeting, the next steps and other technical issues were defined that will enable progress to be made in its implementation.
The working session was attended by the Consorci de la Ribera and the five partners involved in the project: the Consorzio Scuola Cominità Impresa (Italy), Telewander ApS (Denmark), the Universitatea Lucian Blaga Din Sibiu (Romania), the Ajuntament de Cullera and the municipality of Lake Plastira (Greece).
EMMA will provide information and training tools with the aim of strengthening the skills of staff in small and medium-sized municipalities in the coordination of volunteering. It will also implement technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality. The project will run until September 2027, but all materials will be made available to municipalities and the public when it ends.
