The National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" in partnership with the Poznan University of Technology (Poland) has launched a large-scale international project entitled "Community Empowerment: Crisis-Ready Solutions". Funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme (NATO SPS G6119), the project is intended to strengthen the resilience to crisis challenges of local communities in Ukraine and Poland.
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Specifically, the project aims to solve key issues related to crisis management: how to bolster the resilience of local communities to overcome crises independently, how to involve communities effectively in the implementation of anti-crisis programs, how to develop social resilience, build up trust in local authorities, and raise the public awareness of risks. The culminating stage of the project is the creation of the Community Anti-Crisis Capability Model (MACC), which will be implemented through training programs and consultations. MACC is based on an interdisciplinary approach, integrating knowledge from various fields.
The project envisages organizing a series of trainings for the community, which will be attended by about 300 people. Target groups include local government representatives, activists, students, and young researchers. Training topics comprise crisis management, community safety, strategic planning, crisis communication, resource management, and risk assessment. An interactive guide for local communities will also be created, available in print and digital formats, and road maps will be made for implementing the MACC model to help communities respond effectively to crises.
An important component of the project is the holding of open lectures, round tables, scientific conferences, and workshops. These events aim to raise the level of knowledge and engaging the public in discussing security and sustainability issues. In addition, public-relations campaigns will be organized to communicate knowledge about crisis management, hygiene, safety, and well-being to local communities.
The project also envisages scientific research to study the experience of overcoming crises in Ukraine and Poland, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian military aggression. In order to popularize the project results, effective and ineffective crisis management practices will be analyzed, the phenomenon of community self-organization investigated, and several scientific articles, monographs and other materials published.
The project is expected to have a considerable impact on both local communities and the general public. It will contribute to raising awareness and preparedness of citizens for crises through training programs, developing local skills in risk management, security and anti-crisis management, spreading innovative approaches to community management to other regions of Ukraine and Poland, building trust between local authorities and the population through transparent communication and involvement of citizens in governance, as well as creating long-term tools for sustainable development of communities, including an interactive manual and a web platform.
The communities of Poznań County (Poland) and Buchansky District Council of Kyiv Region (Ukraine) are involved in the project. The audience targeted by the project totals about 770,000 people.
The project is being carried out by the joint efforts of the Poznań University of Technology (Project Manager PHD. Oksana Erdeli) and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (Project Manager Prof. Serhii Voitko).