Background

Within the framework of the UNESCO-IOC CoastWAVE 2.0 Project “Scaling-Up and Strengthening the Resilience of Coastal Communities in the North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Regions to the Impact of Tsunamis and Other Sea Level-Related Coastal Hazards”, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Workshop will take place from 27 to 30 October 2025 in Cascais, Portugal. Hosted by the Municipality of Cascais Civil Protection Agency and organized by UNESCO-IOC, this workshop is a key activity under Component 2- Scaling-Up and Expanding Tsunami Ready in NEAM Countries- of the project.

The primary aim is to enhance tsunami preparedness and response at both national and local levels by supporting the development, review, harmonization, and integration of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across the tsunami early warning and response chain. This is particularly vital for near-source tsunami events, where immediate and coordinated actions are essential to save lives.

Key Objectives of the Workshop

The workshop will support participating countries in:

• Reviewing existing SOPs and regulatory frameworks and identifying gaps and challenges in tsunami SOP planning at national and local levels.
• Identifying core components and necessary content of Tsunami Response Plans (TRPs).
• Introducing and guiding the use of IOC-UNESCO Manuals and Guides (MG) 76 and 82, which provide global SOP standards and best practices.
• Guiding partners through a step-by-step SOP Preparation Workflow tailored to community and institutional needs.
• Promoting integration and alignment of SOPs across organizations and administrative levels.
• Sharing experiences, lessons learned, and examples from across the participating countries.

Target Audience:

The workshop will convene participants from the seven project countries involved in the CoastWAVE 2.0

 Expected Outcomes

The workshop is expected to produce the following outcomes:

• Strengthened understanding of end-to-end tsunami early warning systems and the role of SOPs
• Refined and harmonized SOPs aligned with international standards and local realities
• Improved coordination among NTWCs, DMOs, and other stakeholders
• Greater institutional readiness to respond effectively to tsunami threats