NFP
National / EC user Focal Point
The National / EC user Focal Point (NFP) is the organization that is in charge of representing its user community with respect to the GMES Emergency Response Service.
The User Focal Point is the contact point in each country and in the EC services establishing the user needs and requirements of the civil protection community and EC services. During the initial project phase all User Focal Points will be supported in identifying, whenever needed, their capacity to:
- convey information/mapping orders (area of interest, product type, constraints, maximum delivery times, tolerances, etc...);
- browse map/product catalogues express alternative information/mapping needs;
- take responsibility for delivered map and information products, by integrating them in the operational disaster/crisis response workflows at European or national level of the first and second line responders at strategic, tactical and operational levels.
The User Focal Point should as well facilitate the local organisation of training sessions offered by the Commission and the service providers to the user community.
In the GMES Emergency Response Service architecture, the National / EC user Focal Point is the national organization that, in case of emergency:
- is responsible for collecting all the requests for information (area of interest, type of disaster, type of products, time constraints, etc.) coming from national end users (e.g. police, fire brigades, Ministry of Interior, national agencies, etc.);
- harmonizes the several requests for information in a single request to the GMES Emergency Response Service in terms of type of product required, area of interest, etc.
- once the requests are harmonized, the National / EC user Focal Point (NFP) can “push the button” and trigger an activation of the GMES Emergency Response Service. On the GMES Emergency Response Service side, there is a Focal Point that is 24/7 available by phone and e-mail to support your request and for follow up activities
- once the GMES Emergency Response Service is active, required products will be delivered to the NFP that can accept them and make them visible to its local end users.
At the end of an activation, all the users are requested to fill in a feedback form.
The National / EC user Focal Point is asked to define its local end users, being able to manage the whole activation process (user management, requests management, requests merging, modules assisted filling, etc.) using a web application: the GMES ERS toolbox.