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Conference Agenda

Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).

Daily Overview

Session

WR3_2_1: Symposium: From Participation to Co-creation: Social Participation Shaping Health-Enhancing Physical Activity
Location: White room 3
Session Chair: Katja Čič

Presentation 1

From Participation to Co-creation: Social Participation Shaping Health-Enhancing Physical Activity

Chair(s): Katja Čič (NIJZ, Slovenia); Vesna Kerstin Petrič (Ministry of Health, Slovenia)

Background and Aim

Social participation is increasingly recognised as a critical determinant of health, particularly in HEPA context. While policy frameworks emphasise participation, current evidence focuses on top-down programme implementation rather than on participatory approaches that actively involve communities in shaping interventions. This symposium explores how social participation can evolve from simple involvement towards genuine co-creation across life course by addressing a knowledge gap regarding mechanisms through which community actors—such as civil society organisations, youth groups, and international coordinating bodies—can influence the design, implementation, and sustainability of HEPA initiatives. Complementary perspectives highlight practical strategies for embedding participatory approaches into public health action.

Summary

The symposium contains an overview of international efforts to redefine, institutionalise, and establish social participation as a core component of public health policies, within the HEPA context.

1st presentation discusses the need for institutionalising social participation, outlining how to promote good practice exchange and coordinate research, policy, and practice efforts internationally to strengthen participatory approaches in HEPA promotion.

2nd and 4th presentation focus on organised youth engagement through advocacy and peer-to-peer initiatives. They highlight how youth-led networks mobilise social participation to influence policy agendas and encourage active lifestyles among young people.

3rd presentation examines the role of non-governmental organisations in addressing frailty and promoting healthy ageing. It explores how NGOs facilitate community-based participation and support physical activity initiatives that strengthen resilience and social connectedness across generations.

Added Value

Symposium offers a cross-sectoral and life-course perspective on social participation in HEPA. It's a unique opportunity to examine participatory approaches operating at multiple levels through emerging evidence and practical insights on translating participation into co-creation.

Conclusion

Social participation when institutionalized is a driver of sustainable HEPA initiatives across life.

Community and youth organisations play a pivotal role in shaping locally relevant interventions.

Institutional coordination strengthens scaling and integration of participatory approaches.

Co-creation enhances ownership, relevance, and long-term impact.

Monitoring impact of social participation on HEPA across population groups is essential for ensuring sustainable public investment in community-based initiatives.

Overall, the symposium will demonstrate how institutionalizing social participation can empower communities to become active HEPA partners.

Presentations of the Symposium

Institutionalizing social participation in HEPA promotion

Vesna Kerstin Petrič
Ministry of Health, Slovenia

Background and Aim

The adoption of WHO Resolution on Social Participation for Universal Health Coverage and Health and Wellbeing has recognized social participation as a fundamental component in successfully developing and implementing public health policies. It encourages institutionalisation of social participation throughout entire policy cycle, from situation analysis and priority setting, to budgeting, implementation, and evaluation, across all levels, from local communities to national frameworks.

This study examines how social participation has been institutionalized in Slovenia within promotion of HEPA, through inclusive governance, financial mechanisms, institutional support, and monitoring and reporting of health data at the municipal level.

Methods

Evaluating institutionalisation using four key dimensions outlined by WHO EURO for understanding effectiveness and inclusivity: legitimacy&trust, impact&efficiency, social justice, and matters of ownership&involvement.

Results

Significant contributions to improving equitable access to physical activity programs, fostering trust among stakeholders at various levels of governance, contributing to sustainability of public health programs. By involving civil society and local communities in decision-making and implementation processes, HEPA initiatives have become more inclusive and responsive to local needs.

Conclusions

Institutionalising social participation has strengthened capacities of civil society, public health, primary healthcare, and local communities - vital in reaching vulnerable and hard-to-reach population groups with targeted HEPA activities. To ensure the long-term sustainability of investments, it is essential that impact be further assessed by using commonly adopted indicators that will enable systematic measurement of effectiveness and guide future policy and investment decisions.

Keywords: institutionalisation of social participation; HEPA promotion; inclusive governance; impact assessment; sustainable investment

By Youth, For Youth: Mobilising Youth for Healthier Futures

Katja Čič
NIJZ, Slovenia

Background and Aim
Youth participation is an essential component of effective public health strategies addressing NCDs, yet rarely meaningful. Youth Advisory Group of JA PreventNCD was established to strengthen youth engagement in European public health, promote youth advocacy around NCD prevention&HEPA, and empower organised youth to contribute to policy dialogue, communication strategies, and peer-led activities- Its innovative aspect lies in embedding youth participation directly within a large European policy initiative.

Methods
YAG was developed through a collaborative process within the framework of Joint Action. Representatives from youth organisations, student networks, and public health groups across Europe were recruited to ensure diverse perspectives. YAG contributes to project implementation by providing feedback on policy and research activities, co-developing communication outputs, and supporting youth-focused advocacy initiatives, like consultations, workshops, project meetings, peer-to-peer outreach through youth networks and social media.

Results
The initiative has strengthened youth representation in NCD prevention discussions and increased visibility of youth perspectives in policy processes. Institutional support, structured participation mechanisms, and collaboration with established public health networks proved key, while facing challenges in varying levels of youth engagement across countries, and translating youth input into formal policy processes

Conclusions
Integrating organised youth into public health initiatives can enhance relevance, legitimacy, and reach of HEPA and NCD prevention strategies. The experience of JA PreventNCD Youth Advisory Group demonstrates the potential of structured youth participation and peer-to-peer advocacy to contribute to more inclusive and effective public health policymaking in Europe.

Keywords: youth participation; advocacy; peer-to-peer engagement; empowerment; NCD prevention

Co-creating Active Ageing: Civil Society Participation in Community-based Physical Activity for Frailty Prevention

Urška Erklavec
NIJZ, Slovenia

Background and Aim
Social participation is increasingly recognised as an important determinant of wellbeing and a key enabling factor for HEPA. Despite strong policy support, participation in public health programmes remains limited to consultation or programme uptake rather than genuine involvement in shaping interventions. This contribution explores how participatory approaches can move towards co-creation by integrating civil society organisations into design and implementation of HEPA initiatives for healthy ageing and frailty prevention.

Methods
The presentation draws on Slovenian national frailty prevention project and the institutional establishment of Service for NGOs at the National Institute of Public Health. Within this framework, NGOs are systematically involved in pilot local environments where they collaborate with public health institutions and community stakeholders. The approach includes stakeholder mapping, evaluation of NGOs role on frailty prevention, structured engagement of NGOs, development of local partnerships, and implementation of community-based activities promoting physical activity, social participation, and health literacy among older adults.

Results
Early experiences from pilot environments indicate that NGOs play an important role as connectors between communities and public health systems. Their involvement facilitates locally adapted HEPA activities, strengthens outreach to older adults, and supports social participation and community cohesion. The pilot approach generates practical learning on how participatory structures can be embedded within health programmes.

Conclusions
Institutional mechanisms that integrate civil society into public health planning can help move from participation towards co-creation. Such approaches strengthen sustainability, community ownership, and responsiveness of HEPA initiatives aimed at supporting healthy ageing.

Keywords: social participation; NGO; healthy ageing; frailty prevention; community engagement

Trailblazing in Global Health: The WHO Youth Council and HEPA Advocacy

Katja Čič
NIJZ, Slovenia

Background and Aim
Physical inactivity is a major risk factor globally, while youth are recognised as important actors in shaping agendas. WHO Youth Council was established to strengthen youth engagement in global health governance and ensure young people contribute meaningfully to policy discussions. Exploring the role of WHO Youth Council in advocating for HEPA within public health policy by highlighting how organised youth can influence policy dialogue, promote active lifestyles, and strengthen integration of youth perspectives into strategies addressing physical inactivity.

Methods
This analysis draws on the experience of Youth Council members involved in international advocacy activities related to HEPA: the establishment of Youth Council as a formal advisory platform for youth engagement in WHO processes; implementation of activities - consultations, policy dialogues, and international meetings, as well as collaborations to promote physical activity and healthy environments; evaluation, based on documented engagement in policy processes, feedback from stakeholders, and reflections on youth participation mechanisms; dissemination through global health forums and youth platforms aimed at amplifying youth perspectives.

Results
Engagement has increased visibility of youth perspectives on physical activity and NCD prevention. Enabling factors include institutional recognition of youth voices, collaboration, and youth-led advocacy, barriers include limited resources, uneven representation, and challenges in translating youth inputs into concrete policy commitments.

Conclusions
WHO Youth Council demonstrates that meaningful youth engagement can contribute to stronger advocacy for HEPA within global public health policy, enhance policy relevance, foster peer-driven promotion of inclusive active lifestyles.

Keywords: youth participation; public health advocacy; noncommunicable diseases; global health policy