Floods and fires are the most common natural hazards in both Montenegro and Albania, with devastating effects on the environment, people’s lives and property, cultural heritage and economy. This project seeks to improve the protection of the targeted cross-border area from the risk of disasters.

This is a continuation of the “Disasters do not know borders” project, which ended in January 2021 and whose implementation highlighted the need for continuous action in disaster risk reduction (DRR) in both countries. The project focuses a wider cross-border area, which includes Podgorica and the municipalities of Bar, Ulcinj, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Andrijevica, Berane, Plav, Petnjica, Gusinje and Rožaje in Montenegro, as well as the municipalities of Shkodër, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Fushë-Arrëz and Vau i Dejës in Albania. This will help reach a large number of people, while different communication channels will be used to raise citizens’ awareness about the need for DRR.

The project is expected to strengthen the capacities of institutions and services from the target area with respect to DRR, weather forecasting and early warning systems, while also enhancing their mutual cooperation. It will also provide guidelines for improving rescue and protection systems in Montenegro and Albania in line with best EU practices. In short, the project will improve protection from hazards in both countries through capacity building, awareness raising and enhanced cross-border cooperation in DRR.