Fight it Together - cross-border cooperation in the field of risk prevention and management

The most important challenge of our project area is, that we are talking about smaller settlements with poor facilitates and public services comparing to urban localities. It is a demonstrated fact, that these localities are less safe against disasters. Valcani is one of the most marginal settlements of Timis County, being a border locality, having even a border crossing point. On the other side of the border, Novi Knezevac is also very close to both Romanian and Hungarian border. In crucial moments, like accidents and fire disasters, every minute counts, so if we have well trained and properly equipped volunteers in rural settlements and smaller towns too, it can save lives. According the statistic elaborated by the Romanian General Inspectorate for disasters in the period 2020-2022, the number of house hold fires remains the same but there is an increase in the number of disasters related to climate change (storms, floods, vegetation fire). The current partnership, through the implementation of the project, will fight against these impediments, by reaching the following specific objectives: risk prevention and awareness raising campaign at the level of the population, with specific specific emphasis on older generation and children, organizing theoretically and joint practical exercises for volunteer fire fighters; by procuring professional equipment for both unit and rehabilitation of fire station in Valcani; by elaborating a bilateral protocol for joint cross-border risk prevention and intervention. We have in plan a multi-level improvement, focusing on the preparedness of this region by improving the infrastructure of the disaster management units and by elaborating and developing a training session with joint practical exercises for the two units existing in the involved region - in Valcani and Novi Knezevac. In this way with proper equipment and infrastructure and properly trained volunteers we are improving the existing quality of risk prevention in this region. Not the last, the partners will elaborate a joint disaster management and intervention protocol in order to improve the collaboration and even the quality of the cross-border interventions. By means of our project, the involved volunteer firefighter units, having efficient equipment , having well trained members, having a strong collaboration with the professional units, having an elaborated material regarding joint intervention protocols, we are majorly improving the disaster and risk management in the involved localities, which is conducting to an improved cross-border disaster and risk management. Our projects main deliverables: 1 renovated disaster management building, 2 small equipped quick intervention vehicle equipped with necessary equipment, protective equipment for 10 persons; 1 power generator, 30 trained volunteers; 200 firefighters participating in international competition; 1200 persons living in 800 households involved in the door-to-door awareness raising campaign; 100 children and 75 parents/grandparents involved in the awareness raising campaign, elaborated protocol of the involved volunteer firefighter units for joint risk prevention and joint intervention. In this way the project partners ensure to have well-trained volunteer fire fighters, who has access to professional tools and equipment crucially needed in case of disasters, using not only the equipment, but also the priceless know-how regarding behaviour, action plan and best procedures in case of risks. The results of our project will majorly contribute to the improvement of the joint risk management and contributes to the Programmes objectives by safeguarding a population of over 10.000 persons. The cross border approach is needed mainly because disasters are not stopped by borders. Because the small distance between the two localities makes very effective the cooperation between the two disaster management unit. For Valcani, because its location the cooperation with nearby Serbian cities is vital and can lead to increase of the safety of the population. Also it is very important that the unit from Novi Knezevac has more experience and can have a beneficial effect on the unit from Valcani. An original aspect of our project is that we are pointing expressly the weakest points of this area, we proposed to act there where the statistics of disasters are higher. For this reason, after consulting the relevant statistics (the horrifying high number of victims aged under 6 years old and over the age of 70), we decided to dedicate a special awareness raising campaign in each of the involved localities for women, mothers of infants or kindergarten pupils, to point the basic risk factors in a household for little children and to teach them the basic first aid technics, also we will have a direct awareness raising campaign for older persons.

In the first period the LP has started the management of the project and launched the first procurement procedures, signing contracts for financial management and procurement, design, event organisation services, energy generator and small quick intervention vehicle. Also the partners have decided the general design of the promotional materials. The partners have decided that the opening press conference in Valcani will be organised in period 2, in the last week of March. In this reporting period the PP2 also started project implementation. In close cooperation with lead partner PP2 organized meeting in Valcani on 16/01/2025 and were in weekly communication via emails and telephone. In December 2024 PP2 has launched tender for Procurement expert (single tender for services), in January 2025 signed contract and published award decision on https://romania-serbia.net/transparency/public-procurements/. In meanwhile PP2 has participated on several workshops in Novi Bečej (11/02/2025) and Bela Crkva (13/02/2025) regarding project implementation. Expert helped to prepare contracting plan and launch other tenders: Promotion materials (services), Organization of events (services) and Quick intervention vehicle and equipment (supply). One single tender for services (TD3/promotion materials) was launched on 31/01/2025 (published on programme website: https://romania-serbia.net/transparency/procurements2025/). On 14/02/2025 PP2 signed contract with Snežana Filipović PR kreativni studio za grafički i veb dizajn SN Line Desing Vlajkovac and published Award notice on program website. Contractor was obligated to provide and deliver promo materials (personalised fire extinguishers, roll-up banner, hanging banners, permanent plaque and T-shirts) which was done on 27/02/2025 and has been paid on 28/02/2025. One simplified tender for services (TD2/Organization of events) was launched on 19/02/2025 (published on programme website: https://romania-serbia.net/transparency/procurements2025/ and sent on three e-mail addresses). Deadline for submission of tenders is 24/03/2025. One local open supply tender (TD5/Quick intervention vehicle and equipment) was launched on 19/02/2025 (published on programme website: https://romania-serbia.net/transparency/procurements2025/ and published in daily newspaper "Kurir". Deadline for submission of tenders is 24/03/2025. PP2 has published information via electronic media (municipal website, other project website, local media website and municipal facebook page) to inform general public about project. In the next period PP2 are planning to create project website and social network page together with the lead partner. In this intermediate period the LP has organised an opening press conference in Valcani and has purchased the emergency equipment (small quick intervention vehicle and high capacity power generator). Also the LP has signed the contract for the promotional materials. The LP has continued the implementation of the project. In the second period the LP has purchased the equipment (small quick intervention vehicle and high capacity power generator), organised a press conference, published a press article, purchased the promotional materials, finished the design documentation and the verification of the design, continued the project management and prepared the procurement procedure. In close cooperation with lead partner the PP2 organized mutual meeting and opening conference in Valcani on 27/03/2025. The partners were in weekly communication via emails and telephone. In March 2025 PP2 have evaluation for 2 tenders launched in previous reporting period. Procurement expert helped PP2 to prepare documentation for this tenders: Organization of events (services) and Quick intervention vehicle and equipment (supply). One simplified tender for services (TD2/Organization of events) was launched on 19/02/2025 (published on programme website: https://romania-serbia.net/transparency/procurements2025/ and sent on three e-mail addresses). Deadline for submission of tenders is 24/03/2025. On 01/04/2025 PP2 has signed contract with Open University Subotica Lts. for the total price of 4.500.000,00 RSD and published Award notice on program website. Contractor was obligated to provide organization of the events in May and June which was done on 28th and 30th of May (seminars for parents of kids under 6 years old) and in June it is planned to organize 2 seminars for children (age 6-12 years old) regarding emergency situations. Payment for this service is planned after 5 more events (trainings for firefighters) by the end of the year. One local open supply tender (TD5/Quick intervention vehicle and equipment) was launched on 19/02/2025 (published on programme website: https://romania-serbia.net/transparency/procurements2025/ and published in daily newspaper "Kurir". Deadline for submission of tenders is 24/03/2025. On 11/04/2025 PP2 has signed contract with Elektrometal Plus DOO Beograd for the total price of 14.581.660,50 RSD and published Award notice on program website. The PP2 has paid advance payment to this contractor according to Contract (Special conditions) as they gave guarantee from bank. Contractor is obligated to deliver vehicle and equipment within 8 months from contract signature by both parties. PP2 has published information via electronic media (municipal website, other project website, local media website and municipal facebook page) to inform general public about project. In this reporting period we have created social network page (facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/FiT-Fight-it-Together/61576755770798/) and our partners start working on developing project website. All this activities contributes to other partner activities and effected outputs and deliverables in this reporting period. One simplified tender for services (TD2/Organization of events) was launched on 19/02/2025 (published on programme website: https://romania-serbia.net/transparency/procurements2025/ and sent on three e-mail addresses). Deadline for submission of tenders is 24/03/2025. On 01/04/2025 we have signed contract with Open University Subotica Lts. for the total price of 4.500.000,00 RSD and published Award notice on program website. Contractor was obligated to provide organization of the events in May and June which was done on 28th and 30th of May (seminars for parents of kids under 6 years old) and in June it is planned to organize 2 seminars for children (age 6-12 years old) regarding emergency situations. Payment for this service is planned after 5 more events (trainings for firefighters) by the end of the year. One local open supply tender (TD5/Quick intervention vehicle and equipment) was launched on 19/02/2025 (published on programme website: https://romania-serbia.net/transparency/procurements2025/ and published in daily newspaper "Kurir". Deadline for submission of tenders is 24/03/2025. On 11/04/2025 we have signed contract with Elektrometal Plus DOO Beograd for the total price of 14.581.660,50 RSD and published Award notice on program website. We have pay advance payment to this contractor according to Contract (Special conditions) as they gave us guarantee from bank. Contractor is obligated to deliver vehicle and equipment within 8 months from contract signature by both parties. We have published information via electronic media (municipal website, other project website, local media website and municipal facebook page) to inform general public about project. In this reporting period we have created social network page (facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/FiT-Fight-it-Together/61576755770798/) and our partners start working on developing project website. All this activities contributes to other partner activities and effected outputs and deliverables in this reporting period. In this period the LP has organized 3 awareness raising events (two events for children and one event for parents), has started the preparation of the awareness raising campaign for the general public, and purchased the brochures and the activity good for children. In this reporting period the PP has continued the project implementation. In close cooperation with lead partner the PP has organized several activities. Mutual meeting in Novi Kneževac was held on 23/06/2025. After seminars for parents of kids under 6 years old the PP has organized 2 seminars for children (age 6-12 years old) on 24/06/2025 and 25/06/2025 where in total 50 children attended events regarding emergency situations. The PP was in weekly communication via emails and telephone with our partner and contractors. Elektrometal Plus DOO Beograd contractor for quick intervention vehicle and firefighters equipment delivered vehicle and equipment on 07/08/2025. Total price of contract was 14.581.660,50 RS and the PP has paid advance payment to this contractor according to Contract (Special conditions) as they delivered guarantee from bank. After delivery and instructions how to use vehicle and equipment provided by contractor on 07/08/2025 the PP returned guarantee to contractor and they gave the invoice and all necessary documentation for vehicle registration. PP is planning to pay the rest of the amount in the next reporting period. Also the PP has published information via electronic media (municipal website, other project website, local media website and municipal facebook page) to inform general public about project. In this reporting period the PP has created social network page (facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/FiT-Fight-it-Together/61576755770798/) and our partners start working on developing project website. All this activities contributes to other partner activities and effected outputs and deliverables in this reporting period. In this reporting period the PP2 continued project implementation. On 13/09/2025 the representatives of PP2 were in Valcani on joint exercise for firefighters. Elektrometal Plus DOO Beograd contractor for quick intervention vehicle and firefighters equipment delivered vehicle and equipment on 07/08/2025. Total price of contract was 14.581.660,50 RS and the PP2 paid advance payment to this contractor according to Contract (Special conditions) as they gave us guarantee from bank. After delivery and instructions how to use vehicle and equipment provided by contractor on 07/08/2025 PP2 returned guarantee to contractor and received invoices and all necessary documentation for vehicle registration (issuing two separate invoices was necessary in order to register vehicle in Ministry of Internal Affairs). After registration of the vehicle PP2 paid the rest of the amount for vehicle (3.490.132,80 RSD) and equipment in total (5.258.863,50 RSD) to contractor on 18/09/2025.