The Platform was founded entirely based on self- initiative for the purpose of easier organisation, networking and coordination of activities with the aim of influencing disaster risk reduction and forming a functional system for protection and rescue in the Republic of Croatia, increasing possibilities to build own capacities as a response to catastrophic events and a more suitable application model for European Union, United Nations and other grants.

UNDP Croatia has rated the Platform initiative for self- organization as extremely significant and useful for the strength of local and regional self- government units in responding to natural and non- natural disasters.

The Platform aims a few key activities, among which is offering help and support to counties and cities with the development of project proposals focusing on prevention and disaster risk reduction on their territory and enabling their easier recognition and financial support of the European Union and the United Nations.

The Platform has got regular and supporting members. Regular members are counties and county capitals, whereas supporting members are other local self- government units in the Republic of Croatia, private and public sectors, international organisations and non- governmental organisations.

The Platform has got managing bodies as follows: a president, a vice president, a secretary, an executive and a supervisory committee.

The goals of the platform are connecting, coordinating, empowering and joint activities of the members in order to facilitate cooperation, exchanging experiences and ideas, joint projects and activities, as well as providing mutual support and practical help in the catastrophe risk prevention and reduction and response to catastrophes.

The scope of activities of the Platform in accordance with its goals are protection and rescue, international cooperation, education, science and research.

The following are the activities to achieve the goals of the Platform:

– participating in building and improving the capacities of counties and towns as responses to large-scale disasters, catastrophes and other extraordinary situations, improving management systems in extraordinary conditions,
– mutual connecting by improving practises and solving mutual issues on local and regional levels in order to improve the safety of the population,
– developing project proposals in the area of prevention and preparedness to react in catastrophes and developing programmes and projects for international cooperation with related organisations in the Republic of Croatia and abroad,
– fostering transnational cooperation and exchanging good practices of networking local and regional units in the risk prevention and management,
– promoting solidarity and mutual help,
– reinforcing the roles and importance of counties and cities in developing integrated protection and rescue systems in the Republic of Croatia,
– forming opinions for developing protection and rescue legislation,
– cooperating with scientific and educational institutions, economic and non-governmental organisations in the Republic of Croatia and with international organisations concerning project proposals,
– cooperating with the Croatian Disaster Risk Reduction Platform, the National Protection and Rescue Directorate and other bodies of public government,
– organising counselling, seminars, public discussions/forums and other types of meetings on prevention and response to large-scale disasters and catastrophes,
– providing help with organising meetings, topical and educational sessions, seminars and conferences
– communicating with the public,
– organising activities to facilitate the achievement of goals of the Platform in accordance with the provisions of the Republic of Croatia and the European Union.