Research project launched
Resilient administrative staff for effective crisis management
The kick-off event for the ReVerSy research project took place yesterday at the Federal Agency for Technical Relief in Bonn. Prof Dr Frank Fiedrich (4th from right) from the University of Wuppertal was also present // Photo Francesca Müller
Many administrations lack the necessary structures, processes and resources to respond adequately to prolonged and complex crises. The new research project ReVerSy - Strengthening the resilience of administrative staff through holistic system modules - is tackling these challenges. The project is developing tools and methods that can increase the resilience of administrative staff while conserving resources.
Preparing for crisis situations
As part of an interdisciplinary alliance, science, administration and business are working together to create a modular "toolkit" (further information in the info box). "This is intended to help administrations at various levels of government to set up their staff in the best possible way and prepare them for crisis situations," explains Prof Dr Frank Fiedrich from the Department of Civil Protection, Disaster Relief and Property Security at the University of Wuppertal. The project results will be developed, tested and evaluated in collaboration with the partner administrations and the scientific community. Particular emphasis is placed on the transfer of the developed solutions into practice.
The solutions developed in ReVerSy are developed along realistic, climate-induced crisis scenarios. The focus is on two scenarios: a prolonged period of drought and a short-term heavy rainfall event. Both scenarios pose different challenges for administrative staff and offer ideal test environments to ensure the practical suitability of the modules. However, the results will be transferable to other crisis scenarios and civil defence.
Making the state more capable of acting
The project builds on the "German Strategy for Strengthening Resilience to Disasters" and contributes to the state's ability to act in complex crises. By developing a sustainable, practical toolkit for optimising administrative staff, a significant step is being taken towards more resilient administrations in Germany.
ReVerSy is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with a volume of around 2 million euros in the framework programme "Research for Civil Security" until September 2027. The official project launch took place in Bonn in mid-November under the leadership of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW).
The ReVerSy construction kit
The ReVerSy modular system consists of four central modules that specifically address the different requirements of administrative staffs:
(1) The first module, Organisational embedding of staff work, develops solutions for the optimal integration of staffs into the existing organisational structure of the respective administration.
(2) The command support module develops requirements for situation and information management as well as technical and non-technical systems for decision support that meet the specific needs of the administrative staffs.
(3) The staff self-sufficiency module focusses on the development of mobile and self-sufficient solutions for staff rooms, as not every administration can maintain a fully functional staff room at all times.
(4) Finally, the training module focusses in particular on the training and regular exercise of staffs, whereby specific training content and concepts for staff exercises are developed.
Project participants
The ReVerSy consortium is coordinated by the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). The partners are the Akkon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, the University of Wuppertal, the Berlin Senate Department for the Interior and Sport and the research and training company Team HF Ludwigsburg. Together, they are developing practical modules in the areas of organisation, leadership support, self-sufficiency and training in order to prepare administrations specifically for crisis situations.
