PRIORITY 1 - Transition to a low carbon economy
The VOLUnteer II project is a two-year cross-border initiative that builds on the achievements of its predecessor, VOLUnteer (Programming period 2014-2020). While the first project focused on wildfire preparedness, VOLUnteer II expands the established Civil Protection Volunteers and Authorities (CPVA) network to tackle the growing risk of flash floods, which increasingly threaten the region’s mountainous areas, river valleys and low-lying plains. By combining knowledge, technology and coordinated action, the project creates a resilient, adaptable framework to protect people, ecosystems, and infrastructure from interconnected wildfire–flood hazards.
Activities are implemented in Thessaloniki (Greece) and across the regions of Vardarski, Jugozapaden, Jugoistocen, and Pelagoniski (North Macedonia). Partners will extend and integrate a Decision Support System and mobile app for flood risk management, develop a digital flood risk map, and adapt local flood response plans. Training programmes, common demonstrations and multilingual educational materials will empower both volunteers and authorities, while modern field equipment—including protective gear, ATVs, and operational tools—will significantly strengthen the network’s capacity. Publicity actions and awareness campaigns will further engage local communities and ensure transferability of results.
The partnership brings together the Network for the Operational Support and Education of Volunteer Associations in Civil Protection (Lead Beneficiary, Greece), which coordinates management and technical development, the University of Macedonia (Greece), which leads training, communication and dissemination and the Protection and Rescue Directorate (North Macedonia), the country’s main civil protection authority responsible for operational support and exchange of best practices.
Key deliverables include the upgraded DSS web-platform and mobile app, a digital flood risk map of the cross-border area, multilingual training packages, a joint training platform, common demonstrations, at least six cross-border public events and a sustainability and transferability plan.
The project directly benefits civil protection volunteers and authorities, but also local communities across the border area, who will gain from improved preparedness, awareness, and safety. Environmental stakeholders will also benefit through better protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
With a total budget of €1,066,148 (80% EU co-financed), VOLUnteer II will deliver 3 pilot actions, 6 public events, and ensure the long-term cooperation of 3 organisations beyond the project’s duration.
Lead Beneficiary
Project Beneficiaries