In November 2000, the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe launched the “Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative” in an effort to contribute to the development of a cohesive regional strategy for disaster preparedness and prevention for the countries of the South East European region (hereinafter: the SEE). After the completion of the transition process from the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe to the regionally-owned Regional Cooperation Council, established on 27 February 2008, a new stage began for the cooperation between countries in the SEE region. In the capacity of the operational arm of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the Regional Cooperation Council with its Secretariat in Sarajevo took over the coordination of relevant initiatives and task forces inherited from the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.
Today, the DPPI SEE is an excellent example of regional ownership, with full involvement of regional countries operating under the umbrella of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). The Memorandum of Understanding on the Institutional Framework of DPPI SEE establishing the DPPI SEE has been signed by 11 countries to the date - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Turkey and is supported by Donor and partner countries, international organizations and agencies.
The DPPI SEE has been conceived as an activity that seeks to provide a framework for South East European nations to develop programs and projects leading to strengthened capabilities in preventing and responding to natural and man-made disasters. It also brings together donor countries and international governmental and non-governmental organizations to coordinate ongoing activities and identify unmet needs in order to improve the efficiency of national disaster management systems within the regional cooperation framework.
Transition
The MoU defines the goals and objectives of the Initiative, the governance and coordination structure, the role and responsibilities of the Advisory Board, the Working Groups, Partners; it defines the role of the Secretariat as well as the budget and financing. In its Annexes it gives the Terms of Reference for the Chair in Office, the Advisory Board, the Head of the Secretariat and the Finance/Administrative Assistant.
