GOPA PACE, in partnership with the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI), is excited to announce the commencement of the project "CBRN Table Top and Field Exercises, Simulations, Training (TEST) to Mitigate Risks (P106)." This initiative began its implementation in May 2024 and will continue until November 2027. The project, which operates worldwide, focuses on enhancing global peace and security through improved disaster risk management.

Addressing evolving CBRN threats

The world faces an ever-evolving array of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, posing serious concerns for international peace and security. Effective CBRN security necessitates coordinated action across governments, industries, civil society, the media, and individuals at national, regional, and international levels. Recognising this critical need, the European Union has funded this project to bolster global preparedness and response capabilities.

The project aims at improving the preparedness, detection of, response and mitigation against risks related to CBRN materials and associated installations or sites in Partner Countries (PCs). It will also contribute to increasing the sustainability of the results achieved with capacity building and equipment supply projects funded by the EU CBRN programme.

Flexible and demand-driven approach

The project team will maintain a flexible approach to the project due to the demand-driven bottom-up nature of the initiative. The team will organize national and multi-country table top and field exercises, simulations and trainings to reinforce the risk mitigation capabilities of partners and beneficiaries based on the requests received by the CBRN CoE PCs. Furthermore, the project will assess the effectiveness of plans and procedures in realistic conditions and explore and test new response arrangements. 

Expected results and impact

By the project's end in November 2027, it is anticipated to contribute to:

- Strengthened Global Security: Address specific global and trans-regional threats to peace, security, and stability.

- Enhanced Capabilities: Improve preparedness, detection, response, and mitigation capabilities against CBRN risks in Partner Countries.

- Support EU CBRN CoE PCs: Assist in organizing exercises to bolster preparedness and response mechanisms for CBRN events.

Commitment to Peace and Security

The project aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through comprehensive training and simulations, the project will significantly contribute to global disaster risk management efforts. John Jones, Team Leader, emphasized the importance of such exercises: “CBRN is unfamiliar to most people, and even to most responding agencies, which is why exercises are of critical importance in raising awareness and challenging existing plans for these infrequent but highly-destructive incidents. In CBRN, failure during an exercise leads to a positive outcome – failure during a real-life incident leads to tragedy.”

The project will be implemented by a Consortium composed by GOPA PACE (lead) in partnership with ISEMI, Belgian National Crisis Center, University of Lodz, GOPA-HSD. 

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