The VOALA project is about management of natural and manmade disasters in the Baltic Sea region. It will focus on cross-sectoral cooperation between authorities and volunteer organisations.
The response to crises, such as environmental disasters or terrorist attacks, often involves engagement and coordination of several organisations across national borders. VOALA argues that volunteering in civil protection and disaster management should play a prominent role in this process. However, it suggests that most countries in the Baltic Sea region face challenges in initiating and sustaining robust engagement with non-civil protection and non-traditional organisation when it comes to designing and implementing civil protection strategies.
The project wants to support multi-sectoral cooperation for societal security in the region and enhance resilience to natural and man-made disasters. It plans to do so by strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation between authorities and volunteer organisations in crisis management. The project will establish a Baltic Sea Region Network of volunteers and local actors for cooperation to tackle common regional challenges. Main activities will be national round tables, international workshops for volunteer leaders and national authorities, a conference and development of recommendations.