The Technische Hilfswerk (THW) coordinates with all the participants in the country’s civil protection, providing technical assistance wherever it is needed. The effect of this broad cooperation can be seen in the agreements on responsibilities in emergencies, joint exercises to learn from each other’s experience, and specific crisis management plans for operations with particular focus areas.

Everyone benefits from this cooperation. This includes the civil protection partners in their daily activities, but the main beneficiaries are the population, who can rely on quick and reliable assistance in an emergency.

Relief organisations in Germany

Good preparation is essential for an emergency. For this reason, the THW cooperates with various aid organisations at the local level. Training courses and joint exercises are held to bring the volunteers from the different organisations together so they can better coordinate their relief and prepare for future emergencies.

Other organisations in Germany

Cooperation with other organisations is highly valued by THW operatives during their work. Designated as inter-agency assistance, state organisations can provide support for each other in many operational situations.
Cooperation agreements with economic stakeholders such as Deutsche Bahn or RWE are also important because their infrastructure is used by large parts of the population. In the event of outages, assistance needs to be provided quickly and without bureaucracy.

International organisations / NGO

Disasters such as the war in Ukraine since 2022, the storm that hit Madagascar in 2022, or the earthquake in Turkey in 2023 all show how quickly a region or an entire country can end up in an emergency state. This makes it especially important to ensure good worldwide cooperation among aid organisations. With a global network of agreements and joint projects, the THW has a diverse capacity and is well prepared for potential hazards.