Spain National Platform

History

In October 1990 the National Commission for Civil Protection was attributed the function of the Spanish Committee for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) (Royal Decree 1301/1990). In September 2002, two years after the phasing-out of the IDNDR, the Commission was nominated as the Spanish Committee for the ISDR (Royal Decree 967/2002).

Structure

The National Commission for Civil Protection is an interministerial institution dependent on the Ministry of Interior. It consists of the following members: 

• Chair: Minister of Interior 
• Vice Chair: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior 
• Secretary: Director-General of Civil Protection 

Other members are representatives of the following authorities and political subdivisions: 

• Economy (1) 
• Science and Technology (1) 
• Public Works (1) 
• Education (1) 
• Culture and Sports (1) 
• Labour and Social Affairs (1) 
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Alimentation (1) 
• Public Administration (1) 
• Health and Consumers (1) 
• Treasury (1) 
• Office of Prime Minister (1)
• General Secretary of the Prime Minister (1) 
• Ministry of Environment (2) 
• Ministry of Defense (2) 
• Ministry of Interior (4) 
• Council for Nuclear Security (1) 
• Autonomous Communities (each 1) 
• Cities of Ceuta and Melilla (each 1) 
• Ministry of External Relations (1) (only if the commission functions as the Spanish ISDR-committee)

As indicated by the list of members most departments of the central government are involved. Due to the participation of representatives from the different political subdivisions, different levels of administration can be reached (central, regional, local). 

The Directorate General for Civil Protection serves as the technical secretariat of the commission and as such guarantees for the adequate implementation of adopted agreements, the preparation and distribution of documents, and the necessary coordination between the different technical commissions and working groups. The Directorate disposes of a National Civil Protection School (ENPC), which serves as the national academy for civil protection in Spain. The EPNC offers practical and theoretical training courses and workshops.

Mandate

• Be informed about criteria, directives and initiatives of the public administrations related to disaster risk prevention and mitigation. 
• Promote initiatives from the different public administrations and the private sector to implement actions, which contribute to the improvement of disaster National Commission for Civil Protection Spain Date of creation: September 2002 www.proteccioncivil.org NATIONAL PLATFORMS FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION 63 risk prevention and mitigation. 
• Promote the development of a preventive social culture related to disaster risk. 
• Be informed about and disseminate information on the programmes, reports, directives and recommendations issued by the institutions of the UN or ISDR. 
• Promote the participation and coordination of different public administrations, private entities and specialized personnel in international cooperation projects related to disaster prevention and mitigation

Activities

Realization of studies with respect to risk analysis as well as pilot projects with preventive character, which support disaster and emergency prevention planning. 

• Preparation of construction norms and guidelines for behaviour aiming at prevision, prevention, civil protection and emergency planning with respect to different hazards (heat/cold waves, thunder storms, droughts, inundations, storms, earth/seaquakes, volcanic eruptions). 
• Risk mapping 
• Development of studies and programmes with respect to information of the population, promotion of self-protection capabilities, support of civil participation in civil protection activities and development of school education programmes regarding disaster prevention. 
• Implementation of theoretical and practical training courses and workshops related to disaster risk prevention, risk analysis and emergency management (via ENPC). 
• Development of a simulation programme for earthquake impacts on a municipal basis (SES 2002) in cooperation with the National Geographic Institute. 
• Implementation of an education programme for forest fire prevention focusing on young people at school age (component of the worldwide disaster prevention campaign of ISDR “Disaster Reduction begins at school 2006- 2007”) including online material for professional training of teachers.