Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ENGAGE (Engage Society for Risk Awareness and Resilience)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-07-01 bis 2023-12-31
Through case studies, validation exercises and cooperation with a wide Community of Practice involving practitioners (e.g. first responders, authorities, and members of civil society organizations), ENGAGE has succeeded in building knowledge about societal resilience. This effort included better understanding the contributions of the population in past events, the perception of these contributions and the requirements for their success. This knowledge has guided the development of the Catalogue of Solutions, as well as policy briefs and recommendations.
These results were developed through the involvement of external stakeholders, especially members of the KI-CoP (Knowledge Innovation Community of Practice). This network of domain practitioners, researchers, community and technology providers was established to involve different stakeholders and gather their perspectives. In parallel, ENGAGE was actively involved in the Societal Resilience Cluster of projects from the DRS01 programme, participating in dissemination events, synergies activities and the development of a common policy brief.
The project used a set of exercises to validate the effectiveness and usability of solutions and other outcomes (e.g. usability and effectiveness of the Knowledge Platform). Four exercises were organised in Italy, Spain, Norway and Romania to include a variety of situations and contexts. Exercises were fictitious events or disasters delineated in collaboration with the local stakeholders (e.g. authorities, emergency organizations) using their extensive experience with similar events, representing a real test bed for the solutions identified in the project.
Dissemination activities and strategies aimed to enhance the reach of the project beyond the most commonly used channels (e.g social media and the ENGAGE website), strengthening and extending established links and networks (e.g with the DRS01 cluster projects), and ensuring reach to stakeholder groups. Beyond the project, ENGAGE and its results will be presented in identified practice- and research-focused events (e.g. European Civil Protection Forum), and various publications are planned. An exploitation strategy and plan was updated throughout the life of the project. Some partners continue to work together around the implementation of some solutions. Several members of the Consortium prepared joint proposals for national and European projects to promote the knowledge and results of ENGAGE. For instance, Horizon Europe projects SYNERGIES and RESILIAGE, developed partly as a follow-up of ENGAGE and involving some of its partners, started in 2023. Several results from ENGAGE are already planned to be used (some further developed) in these projects, especially the Knowledge Platform and Catalogue of Solutions.
The project developed best practices for communication and social media, and a guide for engaging and empowering citizens in co-creating resilience related research. In addition, the project produced advances on design for innovative uses of communication through an AI-based chatbot blueprint and functional prototype. The blueprint presents an innovative architectural design tailored to the unique demands of disaster management. The Chatbot prototype is already integrated in a Public Warning System and has the potential to relieve 112 centres from congestion and surge in requests for emergency assistance and information.
The long-term vision of the ENGAGE project was to support to achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Developments Goals (SDG), with particular effect on the objective eleven: make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Also, the solutions proposed by ENGAGE contribute to the SENDAI Framework for Disaster and Risk Reduction, managing to establish a broader, people-centric approach to disaster risk. Based in part on analyses of the priorities of the Sendai Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ENGAGE developed two policy papers synthesized from ENGAGE research and results, as well as a white paper which outlines the work of ENGAGE and how the project’s outputs contribute individually and collectively to enhancing the overall resilience of societies. ENGAGE also participated in policy working group meetings with H2020 projects LINKS, PARATUS, BuildERS, CORE, and RiskPacc in order to outline joint policy priorities and develop common outcomes. These collaborations led to a joint policy brief published early 2024.