Samaritan International kicks off new flagship initiative SPIRIT

The launch of the „Social Preparedness and Resilience Initiative (SPIRIT)“ marks an important step forward for Samaritan International and will contribute to reinforce Social Europe in the face of growing internal and external challenges. The initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of social services and social cohesion, as well as to strongly embed social considerations in disaster preparedness and response.

At its core, SPIRIT is designed to address five key principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), examining how these principles contribute to and are affected by social resilience. The initiative arrives at a critical moment, as Europe faces increasing pressure on its social systems from demographic shifts, labour shortages, and the rising frequency of natural disasters that threaten the continuity of essential services—especially for vulnerable populations.

A Whole-of-Society Approach

SPIRIT builds on the “whole-of-society approach” outlined in the Niinistö report, as well as the direction set by the Preparedness Union Strategy. These frameworks emphasize that resilience is not solely the responsibility of governments or emergency responders, but a shared effort that includes citizens, civil society, and social service providers.

By aligning with this vision, SPIRIT seeks to elevate the role of the social sector in preparedness planning—an area that has often been underrepresented in traditional emergency management discussions.

Kick-Off Activities

The project officially began with a series of collaborative events, including meetings of SAM.I.‘s Competence Center Social combined with a dedicated workshop focused on the European Pillar of Social Rights. These sessions brought together experts and practitioners from across the network to exchange perspectives and define priorities for the project’s implementation.

The workshop in particular provided a solid foundation to the Pillar and ist principles —featuring experts from the European Commission and other civil society organisations.

Building Capacity and Influence

A central objective of SPIRIT is to build capacity among its member organisations, including both providers of social service providers and in civil protection. By enhancing their ability to respond to crises and contribute to policy discussions, the initiative aims to ensure that real-world experience and expertise inform EU-level decision-making.

Through mutual learning, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, SPIRIT will generate insights that support the sustainable implementation of EPSR principles. This includes identifying vulnerabilities within current systems and proposing solutions that enhance both preparedness and long-term resilience.

Strengthening the Social Model

Ultimately, SPIRIT underscores the importance of people—both as beneficiaries and active contributors to resilience. By recognising the role of individual citizens and voluntary engagement, the initiative promotes a more inclusive and participatory approach to preparedness.

SPIRIT is co-funded by the European Union, under a framework partnership agreement through the ESF+ Employment and Social Innovation Strand.