USAID and Sector for Emergency Situations Partnership to provide support to the National training center
Friday, 23 April 2010 13:05
Establishment of the National Training Centre (NTC) will allow representatives from the Sector for Emergency Situations of the Serbian Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense to continue with development and improvement of the integrated protection and rescue system in Serbia. Foundation of the National Training Centre is a concrete step in implementation of the recently adopted Law on Emergency Situations. USAID Preparedness and Planning Program provides active support to Sector for Emergency Situations in these efforts, and provides technical assistance and financial support to the development of high quality training curriculum for members of disaster management teams in Serbia.
National Training Center is a part of the Sector for Emergency Situations, and it has been established to improve Sector’s operational capabilities in accordance with the newly adopted Law on Emergency Situations. NTC is the training base for all disaster management structures in the country currently employing 22 coaches and associates. National Training Center has five task forces formed to develop the NTC, including members of the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense. Mr. Aleksandar Lazarevic, the Senior Police Advisor, is the Head of the NTC.
National Training Center is located at Serbian Red Cross headquarters in 19 Simina St. Belgrade, and its offices have been provided and equipped through the direct support of the USAID’s program. Today’s visit of Predrag Maric, Head of the Sector for Emergency Situations and Michael Harvey, USAID Mission Director, mark a new stage in the development of this institution that will deliver trainings to all participants in the Serbian integrated protection and rescue system in the future, thus contributing to the enhancement of the disaster preparedness level.
USAID Preparedness and Planning Program has been collaborating with the Sector for Emergency Situations and Serbian municipalities since 2006, making the joint efforts to advance disaster preparedness and response. The aim of the program is to support development of a sustainable and systemic approach to disaster management at the local and national level and establish new partnerships between municipalities and towns and the national ministries. 80 municipalities have joined USAID Preparedness and Planning Program so far, while 38 municipalities, upon their successful months long training and meeting certification requirements, have been certified for achieving enhanced disaster resilience at the local level.