Crisis Research Centre - MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus https://www.kruk.ee Mõtle ette, mõtle järele! Sat, 13 Jun 2026 08:27:59 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://www.kruk.ee/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/KruK.svg Crisis Research Centre - MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus https://www.kruk.ee 32 32 A crisis does not start with a headline: CRISIS LENS looks beneath the surface https://www.kruk.ee/en/a-crisis-does-not-start-with-a-headline-crisis-lens-looks-beneath-the-surface/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-crisis-does-not-start-with-a-headline-crisis-lens-looks-beneath-the-surface Sun, 01 Mar 2026 08:17:00 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=8781 The Crisis Research Centre is launching the publication of the analytical CRISIS LENS series on its website. Each article in the series focuses on a country, region, crisis-related phenomenon, or broader security-policy development that helps explain how crises emerge, evolve, deepen, or become embedded in long-term international tensions. Crisis Lens is not a daily news […]

The post A crisis does not start with a headline: CRISIS LENS looks beneath the surface first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

A crisis does not start with a headline: CRISIS LENS looks beneath the surface

The Crisis Research Centre is launching the publication of the analytical CRISIS LENS series on its website. Each article in the series focuses on a country, region, crisis-related phenomenon, or broader security-policy development that helps explain how crises emerge, evolve, deepen, or become embedded in long-term international tensions.

Crisis Lens is not a daily news section. Its focus is slower and more in-depth analysis: why a conflict, political confrontation, humanitarian crisis, technological risk, or state vulnerability develops into a crisis; which historical, political, and societal factors intensify it; and what can be learned from such cases for understanding, preventing, and managing crises.

Over the years, our researchers have published dozens of analytical overviews on geopolitical crises, security-related phenomena, and key issues in international politics. Several of these analyses have previously appeared in print in the Estonian Defence League’s magazine Kaitse Kodu!. Since March 2026, the Crisis Research Centre has been bringing these analyses systematically to its website, accompanied by specially created illustrations.

In the 2026 Crisis Lens overviews, we examine, among others, South Korea, Yemen, Iran, and Palestine and Israel. These cases are connected by different but comparable crises and challenges: questions of nuclear policy and deterrence, state fragility, regional power dynamics, the intertwining of military and civilian dimensions, humanitarian consequences, and long-term conflicts whose effects extend far beyond national borders.

The broader aim of the series is to show that crises do not emerge out of nowhere. They are often the visible moment of longer-term developments: the convergence of political choices, historical traumas, social tensions, regional power struggles, resource scarcity, or institutional weakness. For this reason, understanding crises requires more than following the latest event or headline. It requires attention to the trajectory of the crisis, the logic of the actors involved, visible and hidden vulnerabilities, and the ways in which one crisis can feed into others.

Crisis Lens is intended for readers who want to understand more than individual events. The series provides background knowledge, analytical context, and a crisis research perspective on how uncertainty, power, violence, societal resilience, and political decisions intersect.

For the Crisis Research Centre, publishing the series on its website is a step towards making its long-standing analytical work more widely accessible. Talking about crises should not be limited to reacting during a crisis. Crises need to be understood before, after, and in between — when they are still taking shape, when their consequences become embedded in society, or when similar patterns begin to appear elsewhere. Crisis Lens helps to identify these patterns. Enjoy reading!

Photo: An article from the Crisis Lens series in printed form (KRUK, 2026).

Jaga postitust:

The post A crisis does not start with a headline: CRISIS LENS looks beneath the surface first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> We shared recommendations for employers on strengthening employees’ crisis preparedness in Äripäev Radio’s “Kriisiplaan” https://www.kruk.ee/en/we-shared-recommendations-for-employers-on-strengthening-employees-crisis-preparedness-in-aripaev-radios-kriisiplaan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-shared-recommendations-for-employers-on-strengthening-employees-crisis-preparedness-in-aripaev-radios-kriisiplaan Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:45:00 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=8669 In Äripäev Radio’s programme “Kriisiplaan”, host Hando Sinisalu, Hannes Nagel, Head of the Crisis Research Centre, and Erki Mägi, Head of Management Consulting at PwC, discussed how crises affect companies and why organisational resilience begins with employees’ own crisis preparedness. In the programme, we emphasised that during a crisis, a company is not only a […]

The post We shared recommendations for employers on strengthening employees’ crisis preparedness in Äripäev Radio’s “Kriisiplaan” first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

We shared recommendations for employers on strengthening employees’ crisis preparedness in Äripäev Radio’s “Kriisiplaan”

In Äripäev Radio’s programme “Kriisiplaan”, host Hando Sinisalu, Hannes Nagel, Head of the Crisis Research Centre, and Erki Mägi, Head of Management Consulting at PwC, discussed how crises affect companies and why organisational resilience begins with employees’ own crisis preparedness. In the programme, we emphasised that during a crisis, a company is not only a workplace, but also a small community whose continuity depends on how well its people are prepared to cope themselves.

Because the level of individual crisis preparedness in Estonia remains regrettably low, a company’s resilience cannot be viewed separately from the people who work there. When a crisis affects an individual, their first priority is the safety of their family and meeting basic needs. This is precisely where workforce-related risks emerge for employers, alongside uncertainty regarding the availability of resources and increased pressure on organisational continuity.

Our recommendation to business leaders is simple: view the company as a small community. If the members of that community — its employees — are not prepared for crises, the organisation cannot realistically expect to operate flexibly under difficult circumstances. Employers should therefore invest far more in strengthening the individual crisis preparedness of their workforce through training, practical guidance and recommendations that help people cope more effectively during emergencies. This community-based approach to crisis preparedness within the private sector is still relatively new in Estonia, but in our view it is becoming increasingly necessary.

The programme also highlighted a broader trend: the role of the private sector in strengthening crisis preparedness is inevitably growing. The reason is straightforward. At present, the state lacks sufficient capacity, resources and, in some areas, readiness to address this issue systematically. As a result, companies cannot afford to wait for solutions to come from outside; they must increasingly develop their own preparedness culture that supports both employees and organisational continuity as a whole.

Erki Mägi emphasised that crisis preparedness begins with recognising risks. According to him, companies should first focus on tangible threats that are directly relevant to their operations, such as cyberattacks, staff shortages, supply-chain disruptions and power outages. Organisations that have already considered potential crisis scenarios and planned their responses are in a clear advantage compared to those that have not.

The programme also explored organisational adaptation to crises, risk insurance and lessons from the war in Ukraine. One of the key conclusions of the discussion was that crisis preparedness is no longer a peripheral issue or a formal compliance requirement; it is a direct component of an organisation’s ability to continue operating under challenging conditions.

We invite you to listen to the programme, as the discussion clearly illustrates why organisational resilience begins with people’s preparedness and why community-based crisis preparedness in the private sector is no longer a topic for the future, but a necessity today.

🟠 You can listen to the full discussion on crisis preparedness here (in Estonian). 

Jaga postitust:

The post We shared recommendations for employers on strengthening employees’ crisis preparedness in Äripäev Radio’s “Kriisiplaan” first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> How do we know if Estonian local governments are prepared for crises? https://www.kruk.ee/en/how-do-we-know-if-estonian-local-governments-are-prepared-for-crises/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-do-we-know-if-estonian-local-governments-are-prepared-for-crises Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=7873 It is in the interests of every outgoing and incoming local government leader, as well as residents, to know how Estonian local governments are doing in terms of crisis preparedness. The state assesses this through a service level model across local governments over a number of years, and the results are available for each local […]

The post How do we know if Estonian local governments are prepared for crises? first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

How do we know if Estonian local governments are prepared for crises?

It is in the interests of every outgoing and incoming local government leader, as well as residents, to know how Estonian local governments are doing in terms of crisis preparedness. The state assesses this through a service level model across local governments over a number of years, and the results are available for each local government on the minuomavalitsus.ee portal. At first glance, everything seems positive – the service level of local governments is calculated on the basis of data, which is becoming greener on the map every year, as if confirming that crisis preparedness is improving rapidly.

The assessment is based on crisis preparedness criteria, in which it is possible to achieve a basic, advanced, or exemplary level. For example, there is a criterion called “The crisis committee is functional,” in which the local government is assessed according to its activities to determine how well it is performing. Based on the fulfillment of the criteria, the overall service level is calculated on a scale of 0–9 (the better you are, the higher the final score). Looking at the service levels, it seems that local governments are increasingly prepared for crises, but a closer look reveals that an increasingly green map can be misleading.

There are serious methodological questions about how this data has been collected, particularly from the point of view of comparability. It appears that the wording of the levels used as the basis for assessment has been partially changed and reworded from year to year, and new criteria have also been added. This is a problem because, by changing an important part of the methodology in this way, the data can no longer be considered fully comparable. It is no longer possible to be certain about the extent to which development has actually taken place over the years.
 

There may be situations where local governments appear to be increasingly competent, but their actual readiness remains stagnant. The problem lies in the inconsistency of the methodology used. Firstly, as mentioned above, the descriptions of the criteria levels have been changed. For example, in 2022, local governments were assessed according to 26 criteria, and in 2024, according to 27. One criterion was added and the level descriptions were changed for as many as seven (nearly a third!) criteria. In practice, this means that if a local government achieved the advanced level for fulfilling one requirement in one year, it later achieved it for a slightly different activity. As a real-life example, I would like to compare a situation where in one year the criterion for graduating with a gold medal is a grade of “5” in all subjects, but in the next year, half of the grades can be “4” and the medal is still awarded. In this case, the school would say that we are getting better and better, there are more medalists.

In this method, the scale itself (basic level–advanced level–exemplary) has remained formally the same, but what is understood by, for example, exemplary level may have changed from year to year. For example, if in 2022 the criterion “Assistance is guaranteed to risk groups in emergency situations” at the basic level meant that “risk groups as defined by the Social Welfare Act have been mapped,” then by 2024, the wording was limited to the general phrase “persons belonging to risk groups have been mapped.” The result is two essentially different indicators. In 2022, some criteria did not have an “exemplary” level at all, but by 2024, this had appeared. This means that there could be a sudden increase in the number of local governments that are suddenly exemplary (and receive more points) because a new assessment level has been created. Such seemingly minor shifts can tip some local governments into being more advanced, and others into being exemplary – or perhaps more competent.

Secondly, some of the indicators have become less stringent over time. In 2021, an exemplary, or highest-level, local government had to be able to guarantee evacuation sites for at least 10% of the population under the criterion of “extent of evacuation sites” (Kaal & Lillo, 2023, p. 23). By 2024, this had disappeared: it is sufficient to have 2% of places, with the actual scope describing only the “basic level.” A municipality can now be considered exemplary even if the scope of evacuation sites, i.e., the capacity to accommodate people, has not been increased, but other issues have been addressed. Thus, some local governments may once again “rise” from one level of crisis preparedness to another without their actual capabilities having improved.

Thirdly, the methodology for collecting data has been inconsistent. In 2018–2019, information was collected solely on the basis of documents, while in 2021, interviews were conducted by officials from the Rescue Board themselves – the very same people who are supposed to be monitoring local governments. It was not until 2023 that a method combining document analysis and surveys was introduced, which its creators have said will help reduce the influence of officials as interviewers on the results (Kaal & Lillo, 2023, p. 18). Thus, it is not possible to speak of a uniform and comparable data series.

The fourth problem is that the criteria levels are used to calculate the service levels of local governments and, in turn, the median level for Estonia, with both measured in terms of development over the years. However, given the problems, it cannot really be said that the averages reflect the actual situation. If the content of the levels changes over time, the aggregate levels cannot be used for decision-making or comparison. To put it bluntly, the map may become greener and greener, but this does not guarantee that preparedness has actually improved.

The problem is that decisions are made based on crisis preparedness service levels. When politicians or government agencies see that the average level is rising and the maps are turning greener, they are tempted to declare success and reduce attention and resources (money) in the area. But what does it mean for citizens if we have a false understanding of local governments’ crisis preparedness, even if only partially? For example, in the context of a military crisis, this could mean the following: the evacuation plan is “exemplary” on paper, but at the critical moment, there are no people to implement it; the list of public hidings places is available on the web portal, but the doors are closed; the crisis committee has met three times a year, but the actual development of the field is questionable. This means an illusion of preparedness.

However, a separate question is why we claim to be ready at all. The current system treats all crises with the same yardstick – storms, cyber incidents, and drone warfare are all placed on the same scale, regardless of their scope. In reality, no local government is ready for drone warfare, but the map may give the impression that they are at an “exemplary” level.

A database that purports to show the comparability of local governments may create a false sense of security, which in turn may lead to the misallocation of resources, leave actual shortcomings unresolved, and undermine the credibility of both local governments and the state in crisis management. In summary, due to methodological confusion, no one can reliably say today to what extent the crisis preparedness of local governments has improved in recent years. This is not just a technical or wording problem – if the underlying data is not comparable, conclusions about improvements in preparedness cannot be reliable. This can lead to false positive results.

Crisis preparedness assessments can only be reliable if the methodology is stable and transparent. In order to ensure comparability, the descriptions of the levels must not be reworded from year to year, and if this is done, the changes must be clearly highlighted and their impact on comparability must be demonstrated. Only by doing so can decision-makers obtain an adequate data-based overview and residents an honest picture of the crisis preparedness of their home region.

× The op-ed (by Hannes Nagel) was first published on October 10, 2025 on the Estonian Daily web portal. Photo: portal screens  (Kriisiuuringute Keskus, 2025).

Jaga postitust:

The post How do we know if Estonian local governments are prepared for crises? first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> Hope through action: reflections from the TalTech PhD panel https://www.kruk.ee/en/hope-through-action-reflections-from-the-taltech-phd-panel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hope-through-action-reflections-from-the-taltech-phd-panel Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=7843 On October 3, the TalTech School of Business and Governance held its annual PhD reception for the third time, bringing together new and continuing doctoral students as well as faculty members. One of the central parts of the event was the PhD panel discussion, featuring Anne-May Nagel, researcher at the Crisis Research Centre and a […]

The post Hope through action: reflections from the TalTech PhD panel first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

Hope through action: reflections from the TalTech PhD panel

On October 3, the TalTech School of Business and Governance held its annual PhD reception for the third time, bringing together new and continuing doctoral students as well as faculty members. One of the central parts of the event was the PhD panel discussion, featuring Anne-May Nagel, researcher at the Crisis Research Centre and a PhD student at TalTech.

The life of a doctoral student is not an easy one – it often involves doubt, setbacks, and a persistent sense of uncertainty that comes with doing research. In many ways, the PhD journey itself can be seen as a kind of crisis – a period that requires learning how to cope with external demands, article rejections, and one’s own expectations and self-criticism.

“In academia, rejections are part of the process. What matters is the ability to recover, move forward, and believe that the work will eventually pay off. For that, we need both work and hope – and rest,” said Nagel. Such an experience connects doctoral studies more broadly to the perspective of crisis research: a crisis is not merely a breaking point, but also an opportunity for finding new balance, adaptation, and growth.

Nagel also emphasized the importance of support networks – supervisors, colleagues, and the various support services provided by the university. Doctoral students were encouraged to reach out to their doctoral associations – at TalTech, for instance, DoKo – which help foster a sense of community and mutual support. TalTech also offers professional support in the form of study and career counselling, as well as mental health services. These systems help young researchers not only to cope, but also to grow.

The Crisis Research Centre supports its researchers and doctoral students throughout their academic journey – whether that involves researching crises, pursuing scientific self-development, or simply navigating the human challenge of persistence. After all, the path of research is itself a kind of crisis – and a story of recovery.

Photo: annual PhD reception at Taltech (Taltech, 2025).

Jaga postitust:

The post Hope through action: reflections from the TalTech PhD panel first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> VIDEO | Power of community in crisis – the example of Ukraine: cooperation between NGOs and local authorities https://www.kruk.ee/en/video-power-of-community-in-crisis-the-example-of-ukraine-cooperation-between-ngos-and-local-authorities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-power-of-community-in-crisis-the-example-of-ukraine-cooperation-between-ngos-and-local-authorities Thu, 12 Jun 2025 22:18:00 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=7470 The Crisis Research Centre’s YouTube channel now features the presentation from the May 28 seminar on third-sector and local government cooperation in Ukraine! Dr Mariia Tyschenko (Ukraine), head of Poruch, one of Ukraine’s largest NGOs, gave a presentation on cooperation between the third sector and local government in Ukraine at the final seminar of the […]

The post VIDEO | Power of community in crisis – the example of Ukraine: cooperation between NGOs and local authorities first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

VIDEO | Power of community in crisis – the example of Ukraine: cooperation between NGOs and local authorities

The Crisis Research Centre’s YouTube channel now features the presentation from the May 28 seminar on third-sector and local government cooperation in Ukraine!

Dr Mariia Tyschenko (Ukraine), head of Poruch, one of Ukraine’s largest NGOs, gave a presentation on cooperation between the third sector and local government in Ukraine at the final seminar of the Crisis Research Centre’s K-24 project “Crisis Preparedness of Communities – Where do we stand?” on May 28.

Anne-May Nagel, co-founder of the Crisis Research Centre, will introduce the presentation with an overview of the organization’s 2024 Tallinn and Kohtla-Järve community-based population protection projects. The video is in English.

🟧🟦 The presentation and its recording were supported by the Estonian Ministry of the Interior through the National Foundation for Civil Society.

Photo and video: the presentation on May 28 (Crisis Research Centre, 2025).

Jaga postitust:

The post VIDEO | Power of community in crisis – the example of Ukraine: cooperation between NGOs and local authorities first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> VIDEO | How to support communities in crisis preparedness? https://www.kruk.ee/en/video-how-to-support-communities-in-crisis-preparedness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-how-to-support-communities-in-crisis-preparedness Wed, 11 Jun 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=7441 The May 28 panel discussion on how to support crisis preparedness in an apartmment building oriented community is now also available on the Crisis Research Centre’s YouTube channel! The panel discussion took place on May 28 in English with the participation of experts with different perspectives on communities and crisis preparedness Maria Derlõs (City of […]

The post VIDEO | How to support communities in crisis preparedness? first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

VIDEO | How to support communities in crisis preparedness?

The May 28 panel discussion on how to support crisis preparedness in an apartmment building oriented community is now also available on the Crisis Research Centre’s YouTube channel!

The panel discussion took place on May 28 in English with the participation of experts with different perspectives on communities and crisis preparedness Maria Derlõs (City of Tallinn), Dr. Mariia Tyschenko (NGO Poruch, Ukraine), Dr. Kadi Luht-Kallas (Estonian Ministry of Interior) and Hannes Nagel (Crisis Research Centre).

🟧🟦 The panel discussion and its recording were supported by the Estonian Ministry of the Interior through the National Foundation for Civil Society.

Photo and video: the panel discussion on May 28 (Crisis Research Centre, 2025).

Jaga postitust:

The post VIDEO | How to support communities in crisis preparedness? first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> UKRAINE’S EXPERIENCE | The functioning of Point of Invincibility requires cooperation https://www.kruk.ee/en/ukraines-experience-the-functioning-of-point-of-invincibility-requires-cooperation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ukraines-experience-the-functioning-of-point-of-invincibility-requires-cooperation Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=7540 On June 9, PIMA project organised a special seminar in which four Ukrainian municipalities discussed their experiences with their Points of Invincibilities. The seminar was attended by 40 local crisis preparedness officials from Estonia, Sweden, and Ukraine. The seminar featured presentations by local officials from various regions of Ukraine. “It is critical to have representation […]

The post UKRAINE’S EXPERIENCE | The functioning of Point of Invincibility requires cooperation first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

UKRAINE’S EXPERIENCE | The functioning of Point of Invincibility requires cooperation

On June 9, PIMA project organised a special seminar in which four Ukrainian municipalities discussed their experiences with their Points of Invincibilities. The seminar was attended by 40 local crisis preparedness officials from Estonia, Sweden, and Ukraine.

The seminar featured presentations by local officials from various regions of Ukraine. “It is critical to have representation from various regions because Ukraine is a large country and local authorities’ experience varies slightly depending on their location. The war has affected all regions of Ukraine, but people near the frontline or in Western Ukraine have different needs in certain areas,” said Dr. Mariia Tyschenko, head of NGO Poruch (Ukraine), a PIMA project partner, at the seminar. However, crisis centres, or Point of Invincibility as they are known in Ukraine, are spread across the country and provide critical support to the population during the war.

“Estonia and Sweden are both actively developing civil protection, including crisis centres. However, in order to achieve the best possible outcome, we must learn from the Ukrainian experience. This is what the PIMA project is all about,” said Anne-May Nagel, co-founder of the Crisis Research Centre. ‘The need for cooperation was also important – in Ukraine, companies, local governments, the Ukrainian Rescue Service, NGOs, and the community itself all contribute to setting up, opening, and maintaining the centres – and we need similar solutions in Estonia and Sweden to make the centres work in practice,’ she added.

The seminar also covered the services provided by Ukraine’s centres. While the ability to charge electronic devices, gain access to information and the internet, and obtain food and hot drinks was critical at the start of the war, the services provided by the centres have since expanded. In addition to the services listed above, many of the centres provide initial psychological support, community events, and essential crisis skills. However, once again, regionality must be considered; while the emphasis is on basic survival services near the front lines, a broader range of services can be provided further afield. Flexibility and adaptability are therefore important.

“We will continue to investigate the functioning of centres and will present a report in late autumn summarising the main lessons learnt from Ukraine, Estonia, and Sweden. Dr. Tom Nilsson, a lecturer at Malmö University and the project’s lead partner. The project team hopes that these findings will be useful to all countries developing different types of crisis centres.

The Swedish Institute funds the PIMA project, which allows municipalities in Estonia, Sweden, and Ukraine to share their experience and knowledge.

Photos: June 9 online-seminar (Poruch/Crisis Research Centre, 2025).

Jaga postitust:

The post UKRAINE’S EXPERIENCE | The functioning of Point of Invincibility requires cooperation first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> Expert panel discussion: communities require help in crisis readiness https://www.kruk.ee/en/expert-panel-discussion-communities-require-help-in-crisis-readiness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=expert-panel-discussion-communities-require-help-in-crisis-readiness Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=7545 Professionals engaged in a panel debate initiated by the Crisis Research Centre came to the conclusion that urban environments provide the most need for developing community-based crisis preparedness. Furthermore underlined was the need of housing associations being seen as urban communities. Part of the last event of the Crisis Research Centre’s Spring 2025 Community Based […]

The post Expert panel discussion: communities require help in crisis readiness first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

Expert panel discussion: communities require help in crisis readiness

Professionals engaged in a panel debate initiated by the Crisis Research Centre came to the conclusion that urban environments provide the most need for developing community-based crisis preparedness. Furthermore underlined was the need of housing associations being seen as urban communities.

Part of the last event of the Crisis Research Centre’s Spring 2025 Community Based Civil Protection initiatives was the panel discussion With Maria Derlõs (City of Tallinn), Dr. Mariia Tyschenko (NGO Poruch, Ukraine), Hannes Nagel (Crisis Research Centre), and Dr. Kadi Luht-Kallas (Estonian Ministry of Interior) joining the conversation, the goal was to compile experts with various points of view on communities and crisis readiness.

The panellists considered at the start of the conversation what we might define as community in Estonia nowadays. The main description given was people working together in the same area, for the same goal; but, communities based on interests were also emphasised: for instance, people engaged in a particular hobby in the same area can also establish a community. Dr. Luht-Kallas underlined that in times of crisis, the community close by is quite crucial since it can be challenging to get persons living far away.

“People living in large apartment blocks and prefabricated housing are particularly vulnerable in an urban environment because of their reliance on basic services such electricity, water and heating,” said head of the Crisis Research Centre Hannes Nagel. Given many people live together, both individual initiative and the management of the housing association’s crisis readiness are equally crucial. Maria Derlõs emphasised her own experience serving on a board of a housing association and noted that, in order to effectively involve residents—including on crisis readiness—the boards of housing associations require particular support and training. Participants observed that, in terms of crisis preparedness and crisis management, the communication among residents—whether or not it occurs in housing associations—is rather crucial.

Dr Tyschenko, who shared her experience of more than ten years of war in Ukraine, echoed this point underlining the need of housing associations having a messaging app allowing for quick messaging—be it Facebook Messenger, Signal, or another group chat system. Furthermore mentioned by Dr Tyschenko was the so-called “social networking” should guide those in the building who cannot or do not know how to use such applications for whatever reason”. Should some members of the house find themselves unable to use these applications for some reason, it is advised that they use the traditional approaches of either knocking on the door or, for messages less time-sensitive, writing them on the stairwell notice board. Therefore, it is crucial that the residents’ or the management of the housing association have a general awareness of the neighbours who might require this type of information-sharing help.

Head of the Crisis Research Centre Hannes Nagel also unveiled a new paper textbook at the end of the panel: the “Apartment Building Community Crisis Preparedness Textbook”. “The textbook is especially fit for the newcomer to the topic of crisis preparedness, the resident or board member of a house association who wants to start with crisis preparedness from scratch or with little knowledge or experience,” said Nagel. The textbook addresses subjects including how to create a crisis plan, how to start getting ready together, but also how to start talking about crisis readiness with block of flat neighbours. Whether it is crisis planning, stockpiling, learning skills together or working together in a crisis, Nagel underlined that the later – communication – is the foundation of everything else.

🟧 The “Apartment Building Community Crisis Preparedness Textbook” is available for a postage and handling fee (3€) from this link;

🟦 The online version of the textbook can be found here (available in Estonian, English, and Ukrainian).

The Estonian Ministry of the Interior funded the textbook, the seminar and community-based civil protection projects in Väike-Õismäe and Kohtla-Järve via the National Foundation for Civil Society.

Photos: panel discussion and textbook (Crisis Research Centre, 2025).

Jaga postitust:

The post Expert panel discussion: communities require help in crisis readiness first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> Estonian and Ukrainian experts gather for a final seminar as part of a community-based crisis skills project in Väike-Õismäe https://www.kruk.ee/en/estonian-and-ukrainian-experts-gather-for-a-final-seminar-as-part-of-a-community-based-crisis-skills-project-in-vaike-oismae/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=estonian-and-ukrainian-experts-gather-for-a-final-seminar-as-part-of-a-community-based-crisis-skills-project-in-vaike-oismae Mon, 02 Jun 2025 10:00:03 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=7581 On May 28, the crisis skills project’s final seminar in Väike-Õismäe focused on the role of communities in crisis preparedness. The Crisis Research Centre organised the event, which brought guests from Ukraine to Tallinn. The seminar provided both inspiring experiences and a lively discussion about how local governments, civil society, and communities can collaborate before […]

The post Estonian and Ukrainian experts gather for a final seminar as part of a community-based crisis skills project in Väike-Õismäe first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

Estonian and Ukrainian experts gather for a final seminar as part of a community-based crisis skills project in Väike-Õismäe

On May 28, the crisis skills project’s final seminar in Väike-Õismäe focused on the role of communities in crisis preparedness. The Crisis Research Centre organised the event, which brought guests from Ukraine to Tallinn. The seminar provided both inspiring experiences and a lively discussion about how local governments, civil society, and communities can collaborate before and during crises.

Anne-May Nagel, co-founder of the NGO Crisis Research Centre, delivered the seminar’s opening remarks, emphasising the importance of projects that promote local preparedness and resilience. “We’ve been running crisis preparedness projects in communities for the past two years, and this year we began measuring the impact of our efforts.” We will publish the project training program’s final report in the autumn, where you can learn more about the project’s activities and impact,” she said.

The seminar’s keynote speaker was Dr. Mariia Tyschenko, Director of the Ukrainian NGO Poruch and Honorary Doctor of Malmö University. In her presentation ‘Power of community in crisis – the example of Ukraine‘, she shared her experiences in Ukraine, where civil society and local authorities have worked together to respond to crises. She discussed how communities are strengthened during crises, as well as what practical steps can be taken ahead of time to improve preparedness.

The second half of the day was spent discussing ‘How to help communities prepare for crises‘. The panel featured:

  • Dr. Mariia Tyschenko (NGO Poruch, Ukraine)
  • Maria Derlõs (Tallinn City Office)
  • Hannes Nagel (NGO Crisis Research Centre)
  • Kadi Luht-Kallas (Estonian Ministry of the Interior)

The discussion focused on improving community preparedness in Estonia and Ukraine, including best practices and challenges. It was agreed that communities are on the front lines of crises, and that their support cannot be solely moral; a systemic approach, resources, and knowledge-based support are required.

Brigadier General Oleksandr Potii, Head of Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, also attended the event, where he outlined the reality of Ukraine’s efforts to protect critical infrastructure and communities. Brigadier General Potii presented the Crisis Research Centre with a Service commemorative coin and a newly published analytical report on Ukraine’s experience in cyber defence as a token of cooperation between Ukraine and Estonia.

Miltton New Nordics generously supported the event, for which we are grateful.

The seminar was part of the Väike-Õismäe civil protection K-24 project, which is supported by the National Foundation for Civil Society and the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. The project is focused on community crisis preparedness and raising awareness among local residents.

🟧🟦 The Crisis Research Centre manages the K-24 project’s activities, which are funded by the National Foundation for Civil Society through the Estonian Ministry of the Interior.

Photos: seminar on May 28 (Crisis Research Centre Keskus, 2025).

Jaga postitust:

The post Estonian and Ukrainian experts gather for a final seminar as part of a community-based crisis skills project in Väike-Õismäe first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]> Visiting Kuku radio: about the nationwide air raid drill and civil protection problems https://www.kruk.ee/en/visiting-kuku-radio-about-the-nationwide-air-raid-drill-and-civil-protection-problems/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=visiting-kuku-radio-about-the-nationwide-air-raid-drill-and-civil-protection-problems Wed, 14 May 2025 07:50:17 +0000 https://www.kruk.ee/?p=7148 On May 14, Hannes Nagel, the head of the Crisis Research Centre, appeared on Kuku Radio’s morning show to discuss the nationwide threat air raid siren exercise and the state of civil protection. On the occasion of the important day, we discussed a number of key issues confronting the civil protection sector: Specifically, today the […]

The post Visiting Kuku radio: about the nationwide air raid drill and civil protection problems first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>

Visiting Kuku radio: about the nationwide air raid drill and civil protection problems

On May 14, Hannes Nagel, the head of the Crisis Research Centre, appeared on Kuku Radio’s morning show to discuss the nationwide threat air raid siren exercise and the state of civil protection.

On the occasion of the important day, we discussed a number of key issues confronting the civil protection sector:

  • Specifically, today the country is testing for the first time the functioning of the nationwide air raid siren network, and we discussed the fact that today is a big step forward (we are finally going to test it!), but civil protection is not finished with today, there is still a lot to do;;
  • The draft law amending the Emergency Act, 635 SE, initiated by the Ministry of the Interior, should be adopted as soon as possible to establish requirements for civil protection in our legal area. This includes requirements for public and private shelters, as well as shelters in new buildings based on their size and preparedness.
  • Across Estonia, 15%, with 3% in panel houses (and they are the vulnerable target group we work with in the organisation).

We also discussed the salaries of police officers, rescuers, and emergency services, as they provide daily civil protection for many people. We discussed the need for a pay increase because it is obvious that it must be done! Rescuers do not need to work two jobs to provide a decent living for their families.

Every member of the internal security forces is as important to national defense as the military because they remain behind to assist people in the field. They do it on a daily basis in our cities, towns, villages, and farms, risking their lives in the process. It should not be forgotten that those in the front have loved ones in the back, and they, too, want their loved ones to be safe.

🎙️ You can listen the show in Estonia here.

Photo: Kukuraadio/Postimees/Estonian Rescue Board, 2025.

Jaga postitust:

The post Visiting Kuku radio: about the nationwide air raid drill and civil protection problems first appeared on MTÜ Kriisiuuringute Keskus.

]]>