Capacity-building in Porvoo
Learning about risk assessment approaches and contingency planning was the main topic of the capacity. building event in Porvoo on 29th March 2022. Municipal, public and rescue service providers from Spain, Italy, Slovakia and the Czech Republic participated in the workshop on risk assessment in the city of Porvoo in Finland.
Mr Mika Gröndahl, director of the Finnish National Rescue Association SPEK, stressed NGOs‘ role in the comprehensive security model and citizens‘ preparedness. At the same time, Ms Tuula Luoma (SPR Finnish Red Cross) and Mr Arsi Veikkolainen from the platform of the Voluntary Rescue Services Vapepa outlined the importance of the continuous building of a professional „army“ of non-public organisations enabling relief and preparedness services throughout the whole society. The cooperation model between non-governmental and state institutions is centred on the idea of humanitarian expertise and volunteer services.
Last but not least, the municipalities are playing a critical role in crisis management, concluded the participants by following the experience of the recent pandemic crisis and excellent disaster risk analyses and management presented by the administration of Porvoo and its preparedness planning. Presenters: Ms Sari Gustafsson, director for education in Porvoo, Ms. Minna Särelä, Development coordinator in Porvoo and Mr Peter Johansson, Director, Rescue Services of Itä-Uusimaa.