On 20 September 2024, the Council of Europe's Toolkit Education in times of emergencies and crisis (EDURES) was successfully introduced to representatives from Durrës Municipality and local schools from the Durrës area that will be a part of the piloting of this initiative in Albania. They particularly appreciated the innovative approach of this tool that aims to equip relevant stakeholders with the effective means and knowledge to adequately face emergencies related to the education sector.

During the meeting, key focus was placed on familiarising participants with the EDURES methodology, evaluation instruments, and indicators. Representatives from the municipality of Durrës and the schools shared information about the existing measures, thus fostering an open dialogue among all participants.

Led by Council of Europe experts, the participants engaged in discussions on how the implementation of the toolkit could improve current risk management practices, and potential challenges thereto, and committed to enhancing the educational preparedness in the face of emergencies and crises. The collaborative approach ensured a comprehensive understanding of the EDURES toolkit and its prospective applicability in the local context in Albania and, potentially, in other Council of Europe member States.

The next phase of the piloting initiative will involve the completion of indicators by participating schools. This data will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the EDURES toolkit and its potential for improving resilience in education amid challenges.

At this stage, the EDURES toolkit will be piloted across three municipalities in Albania: Durrës, Kavaja, and Tirana, engaging 15 schools that are currently working with the Council of Europe project “Strengthening democratic citizenship education in Albania”.

*The Council of Europe’s project “Strengthening Democratic Citizenship Education in Albania” is financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).