On September 22, 2026, representatives of Bomberos Búsqueda y Rescate España (BBRE) were present in Malaga for the event organized by the Andalusian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FAMP) to commemorate World Cooperant Day and highlight the role of international cooperation from the local level.
The meeting took place at the Russian Museum of Malaga, located in the Tabacalera building, and brought together representatives from institutions, local entities, social organizations, and individuals linked to the field of cooperation and international aid.
For BBRE, being present at an event of this nature is an opportunity to share space with organizations and individuals who, from different fields, work to respond to situations of vulnerability and contribute to improving the lives of other people and communities.
Representatives of Bomberos Búsqueda y Rescate España during the Cooperation for Development awards organized by the FAMP in Malaga.
A Day Dedicated to International Cooperation
The event was promoted by the FAMP, with the support of the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation (AACID) and the collaboration of the Malaga City Council.
The objective of the meeting was to highlight international cooperation for development at the local level, emphasizing the role that city councils and provincial governments can play as agents of decentralized cooperation.
During the event, the importance of creating alliances between public administrations, social entities, and organizations working on the ground was discussed, as well as the need for transparent and responsible management of resources allocated to cooperation.
The program included various interventions and a best practices panel in which representatives from the city councils of Beas, Malaga, and Jaen, as well as the Provincial Council of Cordoba, participated. José María Vera, executive director of UNICEF Spain, also spoke with a conference on the relevance of municipal cooperation for development.
Recognizing Those Who Work for Cooperation
One of the main moments of the day was the awarding of the Public Cooperant Recognition awards, intended to acknowledge the trajectory and commitment of local entities, NGOs, associations, and individuals linked to international cooperation and the defense of human rights.
Among the recognized entities were the Seville City Council, the Mancomunidad del Valle del Guadiato, Infancia Solidaria Andalucía, Ayuda Urgente a África, the Association of Friends of the Saharawi People, Quesada Solidaria, and the Madre Coraje Foundation.
Several individuals linked to cooperation and missionary work were also recognized, including Carlos Javier Moreno, missionary Virginia Alfaro, representatives of the Foundation for the Promotion and Development of Bangassou, and the Cordoba missionary and bishop Juan José Aguirre. Additionally, a posthumous award was given to the journalist from Huelva, Óscar Toro, who died in the Adamuz train accident.
From BBRE, we want to take advantage of this meeting to extend our congratulations to all the recognized individuals, organizations, and institutions, and especially, our recognition to those who carry out their work in contexts where cooperation and humanitarian aid are fundamental.
Cooperation is Also Built from the Local Level
One of the central messages of the day was precisely the importance of municipalities and provincial councils as actors in decentralized cooperation.
The second vice-president of the FAMP and mayor of Alhaurín de la Torre, Joaquín Villanova, highlighted during the meeting that cooperation is also built from proximity and the ability of local entities to share knowledge, experience, and resources with other territories.
At BBRE, we share the importance of this collaboration between administrations, social entities, and professionals.
Our work in search and rescue, emergency response, and humanitarian aid stems precisely from collaboration and the ability to combine knowledge, experience, and resources.
A large-scale emergency requires much more than an intervention team. It requires coordination, preparation, logistics, training, and collaboration among different organizations.
BBRE, an NGO Linked to Emergency Response
Bomberos Búsqueda y Rescate España is made up of emergency professionals who put their knowledge and experience at the service of situations requiring specialized search, rescue, and disaster response capabilities.
Over the past few years, our professionals have participated in various emergencies and operations related to earthquakes, floods, collapses, humanitarian emergencies, and other highly complex situations.
Experiences such as our participation in the Turkey and Syria earthquake in 2023, the DANA in Valencia, the Morocco earthquake, the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma, or various humanitarian aid operations are part of our trajectory.
In each of them, there is a common element: the need to be prepared before the emergency occurs.
The Importance of Creating Alliances
The FAMP event also served to remind us that cooperation does not depend solely on one administration, one organization, or a group of professionals.
Response to major emergencies requires alliances.
Public administrations, NGOs, emergency services, companies, professionals, and citizens can contribute different capabilities that, when coordinated correctly, improve the response to complex situations.
For an organization like BBRE, being part of these spaces also means being able to learn about other initiatives, share experiences, and continue building relationships with entities working in areas related to cooperation and humanitarian aid.
Thank You for Including BBRE
From Bomberos Búsqueda y Rescate España, we want to thank the FAMP for organizing this event and for their work in focusing on the people and organizations working in international cooperation.
We also want to thank the Malaga City Council and all the institutions, entities, and professionals who made this meeting possible.
And, especially, we want to take away an idea that perfectly represents our way of understanding cooperation:
when different capabilities come together, the response can go further.
From BBRE, we will continue working to put our experience and knowledge at the service of emergencies and people who may need help.
Because preparing to help is also a form of cooperation.