Purpose

X-STOCK is a web-based platform serving as a joint virtual warehouse mainly, to provide stock visibility, and up-to-date stock availability for deployment, and to facilitate bilateral requests for sub-regional relief assistance in case of large-scale emergencies. The specific objective achieved by this initiative was to enhance cross-border emergency management in five South East European countries by improving cross-border preparedness through shared management of emergency stock.

The Red Cross Societies of South East Europe (SEE) share a common background and face similar challenges. In recent years, there has been strong regional cooperation in many areas, especially in response to various emergencies. The SEE Red Cross Societies are committed to strengthening collaboration by using best practices from the IFRC, ICRC, and other Red Cross Societies, particularly in disaster and crisis preparedness and response.

The X-STOCK web-based platform was developed within the scope of the EU/UCPM-funded X-STOCK project, implemented between April 2021 and June 2023, with additional financial support from the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). The second phase of this initiative aims to onboard five more Red Cross Societies into the X-STOCK platform. This phase is supported by financial contributions from USAID BHA through the project "Enhanced Prevention and Preparedness in Europe through the Development of a Predictable Risk Financing Module," and is set to conclude by the end of 2024.

Operation and contact

With the end of the X-STOCK project implementation the hosting and maintenance of the website and web application is transferred to the IFRC Country cluster delegation to Central & South-Eastern Europe. For inquiries please contact: Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC, Disaster and Crisis Preparedness delegate, nebojsa.medojevic@ifrc.org


X-STOCK PROJECT SUMMARY

Title

Enhancing cross-border preparedness through shared management of emergency stock in South East Europe

Background

South East Europe is seeing an increase in frequency, unpredictability and intensity of disasters. Most hazards have the potential to become transboundary events for which regional collaboration is key. The global health emergency COVID-19 has shown how easily national and regional markets for essential stocks can collapse and hence how important it is to have adequate cross-border stockpiling and transportation strategies in place. This type of major challenge shows that efficiency in coordination and cooperation between SEE states as well as CSOs is far from being sufficient.

Aims and objectives

The specific objective of the X-STOCK project was to enhance cross-border emergency management in Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia by enhancing cross-border preparedness through shared management of emergency stock. The X-STOCK project identified existing gaps of cross-border emergency response regarding policies, emergency stocks and cross-border agreements for support with emergency items. Recommendations for improvements of procedures, policies and agreements were outlined. National pre-disaster agreements on emergency stocks between stakeholders in civil protection were revised and a cross-border agreement on joint stock management was drafted. A regional stock management strategy and a software application for joint regional stock record/management were developed & tested. Recommendations for replication and scale-up in neighboring countries were formulated.

Project consortium
  • Austrian Red Cross (Coordinator)
  • Bulgarian Red Cross
  • Croatian Red Cross
  • Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia
  • Protection and Rescue Directorate of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia
  • Red Cross of Montenegro
  • Rescue and Direction Directorate of the Ministry of Interior of Montenegro
  • Red Cross of Serbia
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Duration

01 April 2021 - 30 June 2023

Budget

EUR 579.057,- (funded by EU, ADC and AutRC)