The STEP-UP project was born out of the urgent need to learn from the challenges that countries around the world faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of enhancing preparedness and response capacity for future health emergencies. Acknowledging the crucial role played by communities and non-medical actors during crises, the project aims to empower key groups—including social care professionals, community leaders, informal caregivers, and volunteers—with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage and respond to similar emergency situations in the future.
To achieve this, STEP-UP is developing an innovative, interactive training tool, designed to introduce these target groups to the real-world impact of individual and collective behaviours on the spread of pandemics or other health-related emergencies. By raising awareness and fostering practical understanding, the tool will help participants make informed decisions, act responsibly, and support their communities more effectively during times of crisis.
At the heart of the STEP-UP project is a digital educational game, which serves as both a training platform and a simulation environment. In the game, participants are tasked with the challenge of containing the spread of a pandemic, using a range of public health and social measures. Players are presented with a list of possible interventions and must analyze, understand, and strategically select those that would most effectively stop the virus from spreading—while minimising the negative consequences for the economy and maximising public acceptance of the measures.
This approach encourages experiential learning, allowing users to explore cause-and-effect relationships in a safe, simulated environment. Through the game, players will gain a deeper understanding of the complex trade-offs involved in pandemic management, such as balancing public health with economic stability, and ensuring compliance through clear communication and trust-building.
Ultimately, STEP-UP promotes a culture of readiness, resilience, and social responsibility, equipping key societal actors with the tools they need to play an active role in future emergency responses. The project highlights the importance of community-based action and behavioural insight in public health strategy, contributing to more informed, cohesive, and adaptive societies.
FULL PARTNER – CO-LEADER of IO2: main task will be related to the preparation of the manual for policy recommendations that will be easy to access and to use by stakeholders.
