Is the city ready for everyone when the next crisis strikes?

What happens when a city is hit by a pandemic, natural disaster or other major crisis? And who risks being left behind when society has to adapt? These are some of the questions at the heart of Sonar-Cities, a European research project involving the Swedish Defence University and eleven partner organisations.

The Sonar-Cities project aims to make European cities more resilient by strengthening preparedness for disasters and public health emergencies, with a particular focus on people experiencing different forms of vulnerability.

From research about people to research with people

Co-creation is a central part of Sonar-Cities. Researchers are working alongside people with lived experience of vulnerability, crisis management professionals and decision-makers to develop solutions for future crisis preparedness. The aim is to create a tool that can be used before, during and after a crisis.

“We don't just want to conduct research about people affected by crises, but also with them. Their experiences can provide valuable insights into how preparedness can become more inclusive and better adapted to the needs of society”, says Lindy Newlove-Eriksson, principal investigator for Sonar-Cities at the Swedish Defence University.

What can we learn from past crises?

Sonar-Cities examines experiences of previous disasters and public health emergencies in six European cities. An important perspective is the concept of One Health, which recognises the interconnectedness of human health, animals, the environment and society.

The project is based on the understanding that crises do not affect everyone equally. People with limited access to information, healthcare, resources or social support may be at greater risk of being severely affected. At the same time, crises place considerable demands on cities' ability to communicate, make decisions and coordinate responses.

By examining past experiences, the project aims to identify what has worked, where shortcomings have occurred and what needs to be improved to make future crisis preparedness more inclusive.

From research to pilot testing

Sonar-Cities is currently preparing a pilot study in which the co-created tool will be developed and tested together with the groups the project aims to support. The ambition is to strengthen crisis communication, decision-making and inclusive preparedness for people experiencing vulnerability, crisis management professionals and decision-makers.

The project will also produce publications and an interactive knowledge platform, making research findings and tools accessible to a wider audience. In the longer term, the results are intended to support public authorities and other organisations in improving their crisis preparedness.

A European research collaboration

Sonar-Cities is coordinated by the Institut Pasteur in France and brings together twelve organisations from several European countries. The Swedish Defence University contributes expertise in social sciences through researchers at the Department of Political Science.

For the Swedish Defence University, the project is not only an opportunity to contribute to research on crises and disasters, but also to participate in a broader European research collaboration that brings together issues of security, preparedness, governance and society.

“We cannot predict the next crisis. But we can influence how we prepare for it. Through Sonar-Cities, our ambition is to do this together with the people who will have to live through, respond to and make decisions when a crisis strikes”, says Lindy Newlove-Eriksson.