OSCE supports Aarhus Centers' role in community-based disaster risk reduction

This two-day training workshop on community-based disaster risk reduction (DRR), and adequate communication and outreach skills will commence in Belgrade on Tuesday.

Organized as part of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) project, the workshop aims at strengthening the capacities of Aarhus Centres in disaster risk reduction in order to enhance awareness of local communities, It also aims at enhancing the capacities and roles of communities in DRR thus contributing to their awareness-raising by using Aarhus Centers as a platform.

The workshop will include a field visit to Smederevska Palanka in the course of which participants will become acquainted with the strengths and shortcomings of water management practices in this municipality. Presentations delivered during the second day will focus on community-based DRR, and relevant communication and awareness-raising tools and methodologies.  

Participants will include local authorities in charge of water management from seven municipalities in Serbia prone to flooding (Smederevska Palanka, Aranđelovac, Topola, Batočina, Lapovo, Svilajnac and Despotovac) and representatives of Aarhus Centres from Subotica, Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Niš. 

The event is jointly implemented by the OSCE, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Regional Environmental Centre for South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia.